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Senior Groomer / Salon Manager

Personal Services

You're the one who handles the aggressive dogs, the show-quality cuts, and the matted nightmares that make other groomers say 'nope.' You've been bitten enough times to have a sixth sense for when a dog is about to snap, and you can do a hand-scissored poodle cut that would win at Westminster. You also manage the shop's schedule, train new groomers, and handle the clients who think their dog should look like something from a dog show when it's built like a potato. The title is 'senior groomer' but the job is really 'the person everyone relies on.'

Salary Range

Low

$32k

Median

$42k

High

$55k

10-Year Growth

10%

US Workers

90K

Education

3+ years grooming experience + breed-specific styling certifications

Environment

indoor

Tools & Technical Skills

  • Advanced breed-specific styling (200+ breed standards)
  • Hand-scissoring & show grooming techniques
  • Aggressive dog handling & behavior assessment
  • Staff training & quality control
  • Scheduling & salon workflow management
  • Equipment maintenance (clippers, blades, dryers)

People & Mindset Skills

  • Animal intuition
  • Patience
  • Leadership
  • Customer service
  • Physical stamina
  • Teaching ability
  • Problem solving

Learn the skills

Courses and certifications to get you job-ready

What you'll actually do

  • 01Handle the difficult dogs that newer groomers won't touch — or can't
  • 02Perform advanced breed-specific cuts that require knowing 200+ breed standards
  • 03Train and supervise junior groomers who are still learning not to nick ears
  • 04Manage the shop's daily schedule and juggle walk-ins with appointments
  • 05Deal with owners who want to argue about pricing when their 80-pound doodle is one giant mat
  • 06Inventory supplies, maintain equipment, and make sure the dryers don't catch fire