Pet Groomers and Animal Care Workers

(NOC 6563)

in All Sales and Service

Animal care workers feed, handle, train, and groom animals and help veterinarians, animal health technologists and technicians and animal breeders. Pet groomers clip coats, bathe and otherwise groom pets. Workers in this group work for animal hospitals and clinics, animal shelters, breeding and boarding kennels, zoos, laboratories, retail pet shops, dog training schools, pet grooming companies, or may be self-employed.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 75 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Sales and Service

  • Estimate 10325 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 17495 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$14.50

Minimum

$14.50

Median

$18.50

Maximum

Annual Pay

$783

Minimum

$11,358

Median

$31,320

Maximum

Compared to: All Sales and Service

Hourly Pay

$12.95

Minimum

$15.00

Median

$25.60

Maximum

Annual Pay

$2,949

Minimum

$16,629

Median

$45,086

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Animal care workers feed, handle, train, and groom animals and help veterinarians, animal health technologists and technicians and animal breeders. Pet groomers clip coats, bathe and otherwise groom pets. Workers in this group work for animal hospitals and clinics, animal shelters, breeding and boarding kennels, zoos, laboratories, retail pet shops, dog training schools, pet grooming companies, or may be self-employed.

Job duties

Workers in this group:

  • Prepare food and feed animals, fish, or birds at scheduled intervals.
  • Clean and disinfect cages, pens, and surrounding areas.
  • Shampoo, clip, and groom animals.
  • Help veterinarians and animal health technologists and technicians inoculate and treat animals.
  • Help animal breeders handle and nurture animals.
  • Help scientists and researchers conduct laboratory tests with animals.
  • Monitor and document animal behaviour.
  • Train dogs to obey commands and perform specific duties in response to signals.

Sample job titles

  • animal attendant
  • animal care worker (except farm)
  • animal health care assistant
  • animal trainer (except horses or marine mammals)
  • dog trainer
  • kennel attendant
  • laboratory animal care worker
  • pet groomer
  • veterinary attendant

Skills

  • This work demands good communication skills and the ability to cooperate with others. You must be able to pay close attention to detail. To work with animals, you must have good manual dexterity and be comfortable working with instruments and technology.

Job requirements

  • High school is usually required.
  • Depending on the type of work performed, training courses in animal handling, grooming or dog training are usually required. Animal health or veterinary assistant college courses may be required for animal care workers.

Other considerations

  • Progression to animal health technology positions is possible with additional training.

By the numbers

Quick look

765

employed in 2016

61.0%

employed full-time

51.9%

self employed

81.8%
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18.2%
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41.4

median age

Compared to: All Sales and Service

102,605

employed in 2016

56.4%

employed full-time

5.8%

self employed

60.1%
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39.9%
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37

median age

Where will I likely work?

45.5%

Halifax

$10,394 median annual income
18.2%

Annapolis Valley

$14,403 median annual income
16.2%

Southern

$8,862 median annual income
13.0%

North Shore

$18,528 median annual income
7.1%

Cape Breton

$6,555 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

75.6%

Other services (except public administration)

13.0%

Retail trade

3.3%

Professional, scientific and technical services

1.6%

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

1.6%

Educational services

What is the age of Employment?

25.0%

45-54

20.0%

15-24

17.0%

35-44

17.0%

25-34

16.0%

55-64

6.0%

65+

Compared to: All Sales and Service

30.0%

15-24

17.2%

45-54

17.2%

25-34

16.1%

55-64

13.8%

35-44

Top levels of education

27.9%

High school

$10,839 median annual income
24.0%

College Diploma

$12,406 median annual income
15.6%

Less than high school

$3,770 median annual income
14.9%

Trade Certification

$15,585 median annual income
12.3%

Bachelor

$13,056 median annual income

Compared to: All Sales and Service

39.8%

High school

$15,705 median annual income
19.7%

Less than high school

$9,866 median annual income
19.5%

College Diploma

$20,644 median annual income
9.9%

Bachelor

$21,262 median annual income
8.0%

Trade Certification

$21,234 median annual income

Education & training

Animal Behaviour and Ethology

College or University Program

These programs focus on the scientific study of the psychological and neurological bases of animal sensation, perception, cognition, behaviour, and behavioural interactions within and outside the species. They include courses in ethology, behavioural neuroscience, neurobiology, behavioural evolution, cognition and sensory perception, motivators, learning and instinct, hormonal controls, reproductive and developmental biology, community ecology, functional behaviour, and applications to specific behaviours and patterns as well as to specific phyla and species.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Veterinary/Animal Health Technician and Vterinary Assistant

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students, under the supervision of veterinarians, laboratory animal specialists, and zoological professionals, to provide patient management, care, and clinical procedures assistance as well as owner communication. They include courses in animal nursing care, animal health and nutrition, animal handling, clinical pathology, radiology, anesthesiology, dental prophylaxis, surgical assisting, clinical laboratory procedures, office administration skills, patient and owner management, and applicable standards and regulations.

Institutions providing this program

Maritime Business College

Lower Sackville, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Dartmouth, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.