Grooming pay isn't one-size-fits-all — most salons use one of a few common structures, and which one applies to you usually depends on how long you've been in the role. This tool models three of the most common setups so you can see exactly where you stand each week, not just guess at it from a pay stub after the fact.
Straight hourly (training period)
New groomers are often paid a flat hourly rate while they're still building speed and skill, with no commission involved yet. It's simple: hours worked times your rate, plus whatever tips you bring in on top. This is usually a temporary stage before you move to a commission-based structure.
Hourly vs. commission
This is the most common structure once training ends. Each week, your pay is whichever is higher: your hourly rate times hours worked, or your commission percentage times total grooming revenue you generated. Early in the week you're usually earning your hourly floor. Once your commission math passes your hourly total, you've "commissioned out" — and every additional groom past that point earns you more than your hourly rate would have.
Blended: base plus bonus
Some salons guarantee your full hourly pay no matter what, then add a commission bonus only on revenue above what your hours would have earned. This removes the downside risk of a slow week while still rewarding a busy one — you're never worse off than your hourly base, but a strong week still pays more.
What "commissioning out" actually means
It's the point in the week where your commission math overtakes your hourly math. Below that point, your hourly rate is effectively your real pay. Above it, commission is what's actually landing in your check — so every groom after that point is worth more to you than the ones before it. Knowing roughly how many dogs it takes to get there (this tool's goal tracker estimates that for you) helps you understand which days of the week actually move your paycheck.
Typical pay ranges in the industry
Groomer pay varies a lot by salon, region, and experience, so treat any single number as a rough anchor rather than a promise. Industry salary trackers commonly put average grooming pay somewhere in the low-to-mid $20s per hour once you include commission and tips, with entry-level and training-period pay lower and experienced stylists in busy salons earning meaningfully more. Tips are almost always separate from the base/commission math and go to the groomer directly.
Do I keep 100% of my tips?
In this tool's model, yes — tips are added on top of your calculated gross pay under every method, with no split applied. Some salons do split tips between groomers and bathers, so check your own salon's policy; this calculator assumes you keep what you're logging.
What's the difference between the two commission tiers?
They're just two preset percentages — 50% for a standard groomer tier and 55% for a more senior "stylist" tier — reflecting how some salons scale commission with experience or certification level. Swap between them any time in the settings panel to see how the difference plays out over a real week.
Does this account for taxes or deductions?
No. Every number here is a pre-tax estimate based only on what you enter. Actual take-home pay will be lower once federal, state, and any local withholding is applied — use this as a planning tool, not a paycheck guarantee.
Why does my pay method matter so much?
Because the three models genuinely produce different outcomes for the same week of work. A slow week protects you differently under "hourly vs. commission" than under "blended," and knowing which one your salon actually uses is the difference between an accurate estimate and a misleading one.
Is this affiliated with Petco?
No. This is an independent tool built to model commonly used grooming-industry pay structures, including patterns similar to what's publicly described in Petco's grooming career materials. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Petco Holdings, Inc.