Data report · Updated October 2026
Dog walker salary, dog sitter rates and boarding cost per night: US data for 2026
Animal caretakers, the federal job category that includes dog walkers, pet sitters and kennel staff, earned a median $17.00 an hour in May 2025. Yearly pay was $35,360, BLS data show. Pay ranged from a $21.25 median in DC to $12.97 in Mississippi. On Rover, the average dog walk listed at $22 to $28 in five big cities in October 2026, and boarding at $44 to $62 a night.
Key findings
- US animal caretakers earned a median $17.00 an hour and $35,360 a year in May 2025, up from $10.10 an hour in May 2015.
- The best-paid tenth earned $24.07 an hour or more; the lowest-paid tenth earned $13.10 or less.
- DC had the highest median wage at $21.25 an hour, followed by Washington at $19.51; Mississippi was lowest at $12.97.
- Among metro areas with at least 500 caretakers, San Jose and Seattle tied for the top median at $21.19 an hour.
- Pet care and other personal services firms employed 146,190 animal caretakers, 54.8% of the national total.
- Rover listed the average dog walk at $28 in Seattle and $24 in New York and Los Angeles in October 2026.
- Average Rover boarding ran from $44 a night in Houston to $62 in New York; house sitting from $48 to $67.
- The CPI for pet services, which covers grooming, boarding and similar care, rose 4.6% in the year to August 2026, against 3.4% for all items.
How much do dog walkers make?
The closest official measure is the Bureau of Labor Statistics job category animal caretakers. It covers people who feed, walk, groom, bathe and exercise animals, from kennel staff to pet sitters.
In May 2025, the median animal caretaker earned $17.00 an hour, or $35,360 a year. Half earned more and half less. The mean was higher, at $17.94 an hour and $37,300 a year.
There were 266,910 animal caretaker jobs in the BLS survey. The count leaves out the self-employed, so many independent dog walkers and app-based sitters are not in it.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, occupation 39-2021 animal caretakers. Excludes the self-employed.
Show the numbers
| Label | $ |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $21.25 |
| Washington | $19.51 |
| Hawaii | $19.29 |
| Massachusetts | $19.06 |
| California | $18.60 |
| Arizona | $18.35 |
| New York | $18.19 |
| Colorado | $18.00 |
| Connecticut | $17.94 |
| Maine | $17.90 |
| Rhode Island | $17.85 |
| Maryland | $17.68 |
| United States | $17.00 |
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| Percentile | Hourly wage ($) | Yearly wage ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | 13.10 | 27,250 |
| 25th | 14.34 | 29,820 |
| 50th (median) | 17.00 | 35,360 |
| 75th | 19.26 | 40,050 |
| 90th | 24.07 | 50,060 |
| Mean | 17.94 | 37,300 |
The spread is fairly narrow. The 90th percentile earner made $24.07 an hour, about 1.8 times the $13.10 earned at the 10th percentile.
BLS does not publish a separate figure for dog walkers. Groomers, kennel attendants, zoo keepers and stable workers are counted in the same group.
Dog walker and pet sitter pay by state
Pay follows living costs. DC had the highest median wage for animal caretakers in May 2025, at $21.25 an hour. Washington was next at $19.51, then Hawaii at $19.29 and Massachusetts at $19.06.
Mississippi paid the least, at $12.97 an hour. Louisiana, at $13.42, and Alabama, at $13.62, were next. The gap between DC and Mississippi was $8.28 an hour.
Seventeen states and DC had a median above the national $17.00. The other 33 states were below it.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025, occupation 39-2021.
Show the numbers
| Label | $ |
|---|---|
| United States | $17.00 |
| Mississippi | $12.97 |
| Louisiana | $13.42 |
| Alabama | $13.62 |
| West Virginia | $13.73 |
| Oklahoma | $13.92 |
| Wyoming | $13.98 |
| Kansas | $14.34 |
| Georgia | $14.36 |
| Indiana | $14.42 |
| Iowa | $14.46 |
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| State | Jobs | Jobs per 1,000 | Median hourly ($) | Mean hourly ($) | Median yearly ($) | 10th pct hourly ($) | 90th pct hourly ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4,100 | 1.94 | 13.62 | 15.05 | 28,330 | 10.45 | 22.05 |
| Alaska | 550 | 1.70 | 17.61 | 19.45 | 36,640 | 12.99 | 28.08 |
| Arizona | 6,330 | 1.96 | 18.35 | 21.46 | 38,180 | 16.02 | 32.74 |
| Arkansas | 2,040 | 1.56 | 14.54 | 16.40 | 30,230 | 13.12 | 23.07 |
| California | 25,710 | 1.41 | 18.60 | 20.54 | 38,700 | 17.14 | 27.05 |
| Colorado | 6,290 | 2.19 | 18.00 | 19.72 | 37,430 | 15.42 | 26.59 |
| Connecticut | 3,000 | 1.77 | 17.94 | 20.54 | 37,310 | 16.90 | 30.07 |
| Delaware | 1,230 | 2.53 | 16.30 | 17.28 | 33,910 | 15.00 | 20.43 |
| District of Columbia | 460 | 0.66 | 21.25 | 22.36 | 44,210 | 18.19 | 30.91 |
| Florida | 17,210 | 1.73 | 16.42 | 17.70 | 34,150 | 13.92 | 24.10 |
| Georgia | 9,110 | 1.86 | 14.36 | 15.51 | 29,860 | 10.27 | 22.72 |
| Hawaii | 570 | 0.91 | 19.29 | 21.45 | 40,130 | 14.95 | 31.83 |
| Idaho | 1,760 | 2.05 | 15.47 | 16.81 | 32,170 | 10.58 | 22.59 |
| Illinois | 11,070 | 1.81 | 17.10 | 18.59 | 35,570 | 15.00 | 24.12 |
| Indiana | 6,420 | 2.01 | 14.42 | 15.34 | 29,990 | 10.79 | 20.80 |
| Iowa | 3,480 | 2.23 | 14.46 | 15.82 | 30,080 | 10.80 | 21.93 |
| Kansas | 3,000 | 2.09 | 14.34 | 16.41 | 29,830 | 10.44 | 23.77 |
| Kentucky | 6,140 | 3.07 | 14.77 | 16.38 | 30,720 | 10.86 | 22.74 |
| Louisiana | 2,660 | 1.37 | 13.42 | 14.35 | 27,910 | 10.39 | 19.23 |
| Maine | 1,430 | 2.23 | 17.90 | 19.13 | 37,230 | 15.08 | 23.33 |
| Maryland | 5,570 | 2.02 | 17.68 | 20.11 | 36,780 | 15.14 | 27.28 |
| Massachusetts | 6,900 | 1.90 | 19.06 | 21.67 | 39,650 | 15.82 | 30.80 |
| Michigan | 6,290 | 1.43 | 14.58 | 16.27 | 30,320 | 13.35 | 21.86 |
| Minnesota | 4,250 | 1.44 | 17.51 | 18.43 | 36,430 | 14.16 | 23.10 |
| Mississippi | 1,900 | 1.64 | 12.97 | 13.59 | 26,970 | 10.18 | 17.78 |
| Missouri | 5,820 | 1.98 | 15.02 | 16.59 | 31,230 | 13.75 | 21.60 |
| Montana | 1,200 | 2.35 | 16.45 | 17.39 | 34,210 | 12.58 | 23.59 |
| Nebraska | 2,100 | 2.05 | 15.23 | 18.08 | 31,680 | 13.50 | 25.01 |
| Nevada | 2,470 | 1.59 | 14.58 | 16.54 | 30,320 | 13.12 | 24.54 |
| New Hampshire | 1,810 | 2.65 | 16.73 | 17.86 | 34,790 | 13.38 | 24.54 |
| New Jersey | 5,890 | 1.37 | 17.24 | 19.20 | 35,850 | 15.49 | 23.86 |
| New Mexico | 1,710 | 1.96 | 16.14 | 16.85 | 33,570 | 13.45 | 21.16 |
| New York | 12,470 | 1.29 | 18.19 | 19.49 | 37,840 | 16.25 | 23.43 |
| North Carolina | 9,730 | 1.97 | 14.84 | 16.29 | 30,870 | 11.16 | 22.17 |
| North Dakota | 770 | 1.80 | 16.37 | 18.97 | 34,040 | 14.40 | 29.89 |
| Ohio | 9,350 | 1.68 | 14.57 | 16.68 | 30,310 | 11.60 | 23.78 |
| Oklahoma | 3,170 | 1.85 | 13.92 | 14.91 | 28,940 | 10.25 | 21.10 |
| Oregon | 3,470 | 1.76 | 17.59 | 19.42 | 36,580 | 16.11 | 26.21 |
| Pennsylvania | 9,910 | 1.63 | 15.08 | 16.40 | 31,360 | 11.26 | 23.06 |
| Rhode Island | 1,020 | 2.04 | 17.85 | 20.20 | 37,120 | 15.15 | 30.35 |
| South Carolina | 4,090 | 1.77 | 15.04 | 16.17 | 31,280 | 11.00 | 22.19 |
| South Dakota | 1,110 | 2.43 | 14.61 | 16.20 | 30,390 | 13.11 | 21.61 |
| Tennessee | 6,110 | 1.86 | 14.69 | 16.40 | 30,550 | 11.53 | 22.60 |
| Texas | 20,450 | 1.45 | 15.74 | 17.30 | 32,730 | 11.18 | 23.87 |
| Utah | 2,350 | 1.35 | 16.71 | 18.08 | 34,750 | 12.65 | 27.28 |
| Vermont | 430 | 1.43 | 17.35 | 18.49 | 36,090 | 15.38 | 22.77 |
| Virginia | 10,070 | 2.45 | 16.53 | 17.34 | 34,380 | 13.49 | 22.20 |
| Washington | 6,620 | 1.86 | 19.51 | 22.19 | 40,570 | 17.36 | 31.05 |
| West Virginia | 1,160 | 1.65 | 13.73 | 15.17 | 28,550 | 10.60 | 21.55 |
| Wisconsin | 5,720 | 1.95 | 14.50 | 16.50 | 30,160 | 11.50 | 22.93 |
| Wyoming | 460 | 1.62 | 13.98 | 16.42 | 29,080 | 10.26 | 24.18 |
California had the most animal caretaker jobs, at 25,710. Texas had 20,450, Florida 17,210, New York 12,470 and Illinois 11,070. Those five states held 32.6% of the national total.
Kentucky had the highest concentration, with 3.07 animal caretaker jobs per 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.79 means the job is 1.79 times as common there as nationally. DC's job count is the least precise, with a 37.9% relative standard error.
Pet sitter pay in the biggest metro areas
Among the 93 metro areas with at least 500 animal caretakers and a published median, San Jose and Seattle paid the most. Both had a median of $21.19 an hour in May 2025.
San Francisco followed at $20.98, then Boston at $19.16 and Phoenix at $18.77. Birmingham, Alabama, had the lowest median in this group, at $13.80.
The New York metro area had the most animal caretakers, 11,430, with a median of $18.22. Los Angeles had 9,000 at $18.52 and Chicago 8,510 at $17.36.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Metro areas with at least 500 animal caretakers.
Show the numbers
| Label | $ |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $21.19 |
| Seattle, WA | $21.19 |
| San Francisco, CA | $20.98 |
| Boston, MA-NH | $19.16 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $18.77 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $18.67 |
| Portland, ME | $18.55 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $18.52 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $18.36 |
| New York, NY-NJ | $18.22 |
| San Diego, CA | $18.21 |
| Sacramento, CA | $18.17 |
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| Metro area | Jobs | Median hourly ($) | Median yearly ($) | Mean hourly ($) | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 11,430 | 18.22 | 37,900 | 19.94 | 0.70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 9,000 | 18.52 | 38,520 | 20.05 | 0.84 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 8,510 | 17.36 | 36,110 | 19.10 | 1.10 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 6,590 | 18.13 | 37,710 | 19.67 | 1.22 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 6,110 | 16.49 | 34,310 | 18.19 | 0.88 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 6,010 | 14.47 | 30,090 | 15.75 | 1.21 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 5,590 | 19.16 | 39,850 | 21.75 | 1.20 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5,480 | 16.81 | 34,970 | 17.95 | 1.10 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 4,650 | 14.87 | 30,930 | 16.65 | 0.82 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 4,480 | 18.77 | 39,030 | 22.14 | 1.10 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,950 | 21.19 | 44,060 | 22.99 | 1.10 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,820 | 16.90 | 35,160 | 18.78 | 0.79 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 3,560 | 18.10 | 37,640 | 20.03 | 1.29 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,440 | 20.98 | 43,640 | 22.58 | 0.85 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 3,100 | 15.16 | 31,530 | 16.84 | 1.35 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 3,030 | 18.21 | 37,870 | 20.66 | 1.15 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 3,020 | 16.74 | 34,830 | 17.67 | 1.24 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 2,810 | 14.63 | 30,440 | 15.59 | 1.48 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 2,800 | 14.92 | 31,040 | 16.71 | 0.86 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,760 | 17.68 | 36,780 | 18.91 | 0.82 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 2,690 | 16.12 | 33,530 | 16.82 | 1.15 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 2,620 | 17.03 | 35,420 | 19.63 | 1.12 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 2,510 | 16.85 | 35,040 | 18.11 | 1.13 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 2,470 | 15.46 | 32,150 | 17.33 | 1.31 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 2,400 | 16.63 | 34,590 | 17.20 | 4.88 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 2,400 | 16.58 | 34,490 | 17.66 | 0.97 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 2,320 | 14.68 | 30,540 | 17.05 | 1.23 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 2,300 | 15.77 | 32,810 | 17.22 | 1.22 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,240 | 17.97 | 37,370 | 20.37 | 1.08 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 2,170 | 17.81 | 37,050 | 19.44 | 0.74 |
Among those 30 metros, Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky, had by far the highest concentration of animal caretakers. Its location quotient of 4.88 means the job is almost five times as common there as nationally.
Dog walker pay has risen 68% in ten years
The median hourly wage for animal caretakers rose from $10.10 in May 2015 to $17.00 in May 2025. The rise was 68.3% in current dollars.
Pay rose every year in the series. The largest yearly gains were in 2021, up $1.21 to $13.75, and 2024, up $1.09 to $16.09. The 2025 median was 5.7% above 2024.
Jobs grew too, from 174,060 in 2015 to a peak of 277,300 in 2024. The May 2025 estimate, 266,910, was 3.7% lower.
Source: BLS OEWS national estimates for each May. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation. BLS cautions against reading OEWS as a precise time series.
Show the numbers
| Label | $ |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $10.10 |
| 2016 | $10.57 |
| 2017 | $11.03 |
| 2018 | $11.42 |
| 2019 | $11.91 |
| 2020 | $12.54 |
| 2021 | $13.75 |
| 2022 | $14.20 |
| 2023 | $15.00 |
| 2024 | $16.09 |
| 2025 | $17.00 |
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Source: BLS OEWS. Wage and salary jobs only; excludes the self-employed.
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| Label | thousand |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 174,060 |
| 2016 | 187,360 |
| 2017 | 190,520 |
| 2018 | 199,850 |
| 2019 | 212,450 |
| 2020 | 193,660 |
| 2021 | 225,680 |
| 2022 | 256,670 |
| 2023 | 268,830 |
| 2024 | 277,300 |
| 2025 | 266,910 |
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| Year | Jobs | Median hourly ($) | Mean hourly ($) | 10th pct hourly ($) | 90th pct hourly ($) | Median yearly ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 266,910 | 17.00 | 17.94 | 13.10 | 24.07 | 35,360 |
| 2024 | 277,300 | 16.09 | 16.71 | 11.78 | 22.35 | 33,470 |
| 2023 | 268,830 | 15.00 | 16.12 | 11.15 | 21.67 | 31,200 |
| 2022 | 256,670 | 14.20 | 15.46 | 10.70 | 21.29 | 29,530 |
| 2021 | 225,680 | 13.75 | 14.19 | 10.28 | 18.63 | 28,600 |
| 2020 | 193,660 | 12.54 | 13.65 | 9.29 | 19.33 | 26,080 |
| 2019 | 212,450 | 11.91 | 13.01 | 8.96 | 18.57 | 24,780 |
| 2018 | 199,850 | 11.42 | 12.45 | 8.73 | 17.91 | 23,760 |
| 2017 | 190,520 | 11.03 | 12.10 | 8.60 | 17.61 | 22,950 |
| 2016 | 187,360 | 10.57 | 11.74 | 8.44 | 17.24 | 21,990 |
| 2015 | 174,060 | 10.10 | 11.36 | 8.25 | 16.72 | 21,010 |
Low-end pay rose fastest. The 10th percentile wage went from $8.25 an hour in 2015 to $13.10 in 2025, a 58.8% rise.
Where animal caretakers work
Most work in pet care businesses. The industry BLS calls other personal services, which includes pet care services and animal shelters, employed 146,190 animal caretakers in May 2025. They made up 54.8% of the total.
Veterinary clinics employed 33,720 and paid the lowest median of the large employers, $15.46 an hour. Retailers, a group that includes pet stores, employed 32,480 at a median of $16.96.
Social advocacy groups, which include animal welfare groups and humane societies without shelters, employed 10,170. Zoos, museums and similar sites employed 8,250 at $18.91, and local governments 7,980 at $18.96.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 national industry estimates (4-digit NAICS; veterinary services from the 5-digit file, NAICS 54194). Industry labels shortened. Animal shelters, including humane societies with shelters, are classed under pet care services (NAICS 812910).
Show the numbers
| Label | jobs |
|---|---|
| Other personal services (incl. pet care and animal shelters) | 146,190 |
| Veterinary services | 33,720 |
| Other miscellaneous retailers (incl. pet stores) | 32,480 |
| Social advocacy organizations (incl. animal welfare groups) | 10,170 |
| Museums, historical sites and similar (incl. zoos) | 8,250 |
| Local government | 7,980 |
| Spectator sports | 6,530 |
| Support activities for animal production | 5,820 |
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| Industry | Jobs | Median hourly ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Other personal services (incl. pet care and animal shelters) | 146,190 | 16.92 |
| Veterinary services | 33,720 | 15.46 |
| Other miscellaneous retailers (incl. pet stores) | 32,480 | 16.96 |
| Social advocacy organizations (incl. animal welfare groups) | 10,170 | 16.70 |
| Museums, historical sites and similar (incl. zoos) | 8,250 | 18.91 |
| Local government | 7,980 | 18.96 |
| Spectator sports | 6,530 | 17.30 |
| Support activities for animal production | 5,820 | 17.29 |
How much does dog boarding cost per night?
On Rover, a large pet care marketplace, the average dog boarding stay listed at $44 to $62 a night in five big cities in October 2026. New York was highest at $62 and Houston lowest at $44.
Seattle averaged $59 a night, Chicago $55 and Los Angeles $49. Rover says most New York bookings fell between $37 and $102 a night.
These are prices on one platform, as Rover publishes them on its city pages. Sitters set their own rates, and kennels and boarding facilities may charge differently.
Source: Rover.com city pages, 'average cost of dog boarding', as of October 2026. Listed marketplace prices, not a survey of all boarding kennels.
Show the numbers
| Label | $ |
|---|---|
| New York | $62 |
| Seattle | $59 |
| Chicago | $55 |
| Los Angeles | $49 |
| Houston | $44 |
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| City | Service | Average ($) | Typical low ($) | Typical high ($) | Sitters offering it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Dog walking (per walk) | 24 | 16 | 39 | 28,869 |
| New York | Dog boarding (per night) | 62 | 37 | 102 | 14,196 |
| New York | House sitting (per night) | 67 | 33 | 111 | 19,402 |
| New York | Doggy day care (per day) | 46 | 30 | 77 | 11,470 |
| Los Angeles | Dog walking (per walk) | 24 | 16 | 38 | 20,779 |
| Los Angeles | Dog boarding (per night) | 49 | 32 | 81 | 9,768 |
| Los Angeles | House sitting (per night) | 56 | 31 | 94 | 14,659 |
| Los Angeles | Doggy day care (per day) | 44 | 27 | 65 | 8,370 |
| Chicago | Dog walking (per walk) | 22 | 13 | 33 | 12,345 |
| Chicago | Dog boarding (per night) | 55 | 32 | 81 | 5,069 |
| Chicago | House sitting (per night) | 56 | 31 | 98 | 7,701 |
| Chicago | Doggy day care (per day) | 42 | 27 | 61 | 3,609 |
| Houston | Dog walking (per walk) | 22 | 12 | 31 | 6,262 |
| Houston | Dog boarding (per night) | 44 | 28 | 66 | 3,393 |
| Houston | House sitting (per night) | 48 | 28 | 89 | 3,976 |
| Seattle | Dog walking (per walk) | 28 | 16 | 47 | 12,422 |
| Seattle | Dog boarding (per night) | 59 | 34 | 94 | 5,900 |
| Seattle | House sitting (per night) | 61 | 31 | 122 | 8,299 |
| Seattle | Doggy day care (per day) | 49 | 30 | 72 | 4,129 |
For a week away, those averages work out to $308 in Houston and $434 in New York for seven nights, before any extras.
How much do dog sitters charge?
House sitting, where the sitter stays overnight in your home, averaged $48 to $67 a night on Rover in October 2026. New York was highest at $67 and Houston lowest at $48.
A single dog walk averaged $22 to $28. Seattle was highest at $28, New York and Los Angeles were $24, and Chicago and Houston were $22.
Doggy day care averaged $42 to $49 a day in the four cities with a published figure. Seattle led at $49, then New York at $46.
Source: Rover.com city pages, as of October 2026.
Show the numbers
| Label | $ |
|---|---|
| Seattle | $28 |
| New York | $24 |
| Los Angeles | $24 |
| Chicago | $22 |
| Houston | $22 |
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| Service | Lowest city average ($) | Highest city average ($) | Cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog walking (per walk) | 22 | 28 | 5 |
| Dog boarding (per night) | 44 | 62 | 5 |
| House sitting (per night) | 48 | 67 | 5 |
| Doggy day care (per day) | 42 | 49 | 4 |
Rover had 28,869 sitters offering dog walking in New York and 20,779 in Los Angeles in October 2026. Rover is a company, and these are its own figures.
Rover also estimates that walking, day care and training cost a typical dog owner $210 to $375 a year. It says owners in high-cost cities may spend over $900. Our cost of owning a dog report covers the full budget.
Prices for grooming and boarding keep climbing
The consumer price index for pet services, which covers grooming, boarding and similar care, rose 4.6% from August 2025 to August 2026. All consumer prices rose 3.4%.
The biggest jump was in 2024, when pet services prices rose 11.5% from December to December. They rose another 5.0% in 2025.
From May 2015 to May 2025, pet services prices rose 46.7%. Over the same ten years, the median animal caretaker wage rose 68.3%.
Source: BLS CPI-U, pet services (CUUR0000SS62053), US city average, not seasonally adjusted. Our calculation from index levels.
Show the numbers
| Label | % |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 3.1% |
| 2016 | 1.3% |
| 2017 | 1.3% |
| 2018 | 3.3% |
| 2019 | 2.1% |
| 2020 | 1.7% |
| 2021 | 6.2% |
| 2022 | 7.5% |
| 2023 | 0.7% |
| 2024 | 11.5% |
| 2025 | 5.0% |
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| Year | Pet services change (%) | All items change (%) | Pet services index (Dec) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5.0 | 2.7 | 272.224 |
| 2024 | 11.5 | 2.9 | 259.354 |
| 2023 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 232.512 |
| 2022 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 230.847 |
| 2021 | 6.2 | 7.0 | 214.763 |
| 2020 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 202.153 |
| 2019 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 198.701 |
| 2018 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 194.520 |
| 2017 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 188.390 |
| 2016 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 185.895 |
| 2015 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 183.447 |
Pet services beat overall inflation in 6 of the 11 years from 2015 to 2025. Our vet cost and pet food inflation report tracks the other pet price indexes.
What these numbers do not cover
BLS wage data cover employees only. Self-employed dog walkers and sitters, including most people working through apps, are not counted, and their earnings may be higher or lower.
The animal caretaker group is broad. It mixes dog walkers with groomers, kennel attendants, zoo keepers and horse stable workers.
Rover prices come from one platform's city pages for five large cities. They show what Rover lists, not what every walker, sitter or kennel in the US charges.
- Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025, the newest release, for occupation 39-2021.
- Prices: Rover.com city pages, as of October 2026, for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Seattle.
- Inflation: BLS CPI pet services index through August 2026.
- Not covered: tips, platform fees paid by sitters, and prices at independent kennels.
Frequently asked questions
How much do dog walkers make an hour?
BLS has no dog walker category, but animal caretakers, which include dog walkers, earned a median $17.00 an hour in May 2025. The top tenth earned $24.07 or more. Self-employed walkers are not counted.
What is the average dog walker salary per year?
The median animal caretaker earned $35,360 a year in May 2025, and the mean was $37,300. BLS calculates yearly pay as the hourly wage times 2,080 hours, so part-time workers earn less.
Which state pays dog walkers and pet sitters the most?
DC had the highest median wage for animal caretakers in May 2025, at $21.25 an hour. Washington state was next at $19.51 and Hawaii at $19.29. Mississippi was lowest at $12.97.
How much does a dog walker charge per walk?
On Rover, the average dog walk listed at $22 to $28 in five big cities in October 2026. Seattle was highest at $28, and Chicago and Houston lowest at $22.
How much does dog boarding cost per day?
Rover's average dog boarding price ran from $44 a night in Houston to $62 in New York in October 2026. Doggy day care averaged $42 to $49 a day.
How much do dog sitters charge per night?
House sitting averaged $48 to $67 a night on Rover in October 2026 across five large cities. New York was the most expensive and Houston the least.
Are pet sitting and boarding prices going up?
Yes. The CPI for pet services rose 4.6% in the year to August 2026, faster than the 3.4% for all prices. It rose 11.5% in 2024 alone.
How many dog walkers and pet sitters are there?
BLS counted 266,910 animal caretaker jobs in May 2025, down from 277,300 in 2024. That excludes self-employed walkers and sitters, so the true number of people doing the work is higher.
Methodology and limitations
Wage and job figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 release, occupation 39-2021 animal caretakers. We downloaded the national, state, metro and national industry files from bls.gov on October 11, 2026, and earlier national files for May 2015 to May 2024.
State rankings cover the 50 states and DC. Metro rankings cover areas with at least 500 animal caretakers and a published median. Percent changes are our calculations.
Prices are the averages and typical ranges Rover states on its city pages for dog walking, dog boarding, house sitting and doggy day care, read on October 11, 2026. Rover dated each figure October 2026; Houston's day care page could not be loaded.
Pet services inflation uses the BLS CPI-U series CUUR0000SS62053, downloaded from the BLS public data API for our vet cost report.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS profile: 39-2021 Animal Caretakers, May 2025, National wages, percentiles, top industries, states and metros
- BLS OEWS data tables, May 2015 to May 2025 (national, state, metro and industry files), State, metro, industry and yearly figures
- Rover.com city service pages (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Seattle), October 2026, Average listed prices for walking, boarding, house sitting and day care
- Also consulted: BLS, CPI-U pet services (CUUR0000SS62053), BLS, CPI-U all items, Rover.com, Dog boarding in New York, Rover, How much does a dog cost (2026, company estimate).
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