Senior Groomer / Salon Manager
Personal ServicesYou'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
Scheduling & salon workflow management
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
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