Through this article, you’ll learn what you need to do to become a dog groomer in West Virginia.
We collected the information related to the formation you need as well as the median salary you can expect after a while.
Page Navigation
Dog Groomer Job Description and Duties in West Virginia
In case you don’t know what this job is all about, you’re responsible for completing two types of activities:
- Directly involving animals
- Administrative tasks
This is a list of the activities involving pets directly:
- Cutting, clipping, and styling a dog’s coat
- Bathing dogs
- Clipping a dog’s nails
- Interacting with dog owners
- Knowing the hygienic care for each dog breed
- Teeth brushing
- Knowing how to restrain animals
- Calming the dogs
- Identify problem areas
Here is a list of administrative tasks, so to say:
- Cleaning and maintenance of the workplace
- Cleaning and maintaining your tools
- Knowing which tools to use for what task
- Safely operating the tools
- Staying updated with styling trends
- Staying informed on the industry changes
These are not definite lists and more tasks may be added to these lists.
The extra tasks may depend on who you work for.
Dog Groomer Job Requirements in West Virginia
Most employers will look for a specific person, though by the law in West Virginia, you don’t have to meet any specific requirements.
These are common requirements not only for this position but for many:
- Being over 18 years of age
- Having a high school diploma or GED
- Having some experience in working with animals
- Clean criminal record
- Getting the vaccine against rabies
The rabies vaccine is mandatory when working with animals since there’s always a risk of getting bitten.
Most importantly, those who want to become pet stylists don’t have to earn a degree.
Having certain personality traits is more than a degree for this occupation.
Here they are:
- Patience
- Kindness
- Empathy
- Calm
- Attention to details
- Good communication skills
- Physically strong
- Self-control
You’ll see these attributes being very useful when receiving certain customers or scared or aggressive animals.
Dog Groomers’ Education and Certification in West Virginia
Since you don’t need to get a degree for a position as a dog groomer, you can start working rather fast in this state.
Your career will be more successful if you decide to enroll in a forming course and earn a diploma.
Dog Groomers’ Education
The training course for a dog stylist will teach you the correct techniques and tools to use when grooming pets.
You’ll also learn how to groom other animals, not just dogs.
The best training programs meet these criteria:
- Accreditation from the National Dog Groomers Association of America
- Plenty of practice hours
The classes accredited by the NDGAA have national recognition.
Most programs, even those without accreditation, have a duration of about 2 months.
Most classes also cost well under $1000, and the schools offering them may even offer discounts to those paying in full.
This is the structure of most of the programs:
- Introduction to Pet Grooming
- Introduction to Dogs and Cats
- Pre-Grooming Procedures
- Dog Grooming, Part 1
- Dog Grooming, Part 2
- Dog Grooming, Part 3
- Dog Personalities and Behavior
- Cat Grooming
- Business Practices
Dog Groomers’ Certification
As you can expect, all the programs end with an exam where your knowledge and skills must shine.
You may have to sign up for the test as well as to pay a fee.
Depending on the school and institution where you get your diploma from, you’ll have different regulations to follow regarding the renewal process.
The renewal period could be a year or two and you’ll need an application and a fee.
It’s highly recommended for pet groomers to continue their education and earn more diplomas.
A business license and a permit to sell goods will be needed by those who choose to start a pet grooming salon.
Dog Groomers’ Employment and Salary in West Virginia
Here is where you can find a job after getting certified:
- Dog rescues
- Veterinary clinics
- Pet grooming salons
- Pet shops
- Dog daycare centers
Below you can see the median annual salaries in several major cities across West Virginia.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Dog Groomers in West Virginia
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Charleston | $32,701 |
| Huntington | $32,001 |
| Parkersburg | $31,801 |
| Wheeling | $35,101 |
| Morgantown | $35,101 |
| Weirton | $35,001 |
| Fairmont | $35,101 |
| Beckley | $32,401 |
| Clarksburg | $31,601 |
| Martinsburg | $39,701 |
Regional Salary in West Virginia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beckley, WV | 50 | $26,150 | $12.57 | $32,390 | $20,700 |
| Charleston, WV | 210 | $27,640 | $13.29 | $35,770 | $21,520 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 190 | $28,140 | $13.53 | $36,550 | $21,460 |
| Morgantown, WV | 100 | $28,150 | $13.53 | $36,060 | $22,080 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 80 | $27,300 | $13.13 | $34,820 | $22,240 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 50 | $27,790 | $13.36 | $35,360 | $21,320 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 130 | $28,490 | $13.7 | $35,820 | $21,500 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information for Dog Groomers in West Virginia
These are the most commonly used resources for finding classes and jobs in this field, in this state:
- National Dog Groomers Association of America
- International Professional Groomers
- The National Association of Professional Creative Groomers
- American Kennel Club (AKC)
- Berkeley County Humane Society
- Taylor County Humane Society
- Mon County Humane Society
Keep in mind that NDGAA requires becoming a member of those passing their exam.
