NOC 65220: Pet groomers and animal care workers
What pet groomers and animal care workers do
Animal care workers feed, handle, train and groom animals and assist veterinarians, animal health technologists and technicians and animal breeders. Pet groomers clip coats, bathe and otherwise groom pets. They are employed by animal hospitals and clinics, animal shelters, breeding and boarding kennels, zoos, laboratories, retail pet shops, dog training schools, pet grooming establishments, or may be self-employed.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Prepare food and feed animals, fish or birds at scheduled intervals
- Clean and disinfect cages, pens and surrounding areas
- Shampoo, clip and groom animals
- Assist veterinarians and animal health technologists and technicians to inoculate and treat animals
- Assist animal breeders to handle and nurture animals
- Assist scientists and researchers in conducting laboratory tests with animals
- Monitor and document animal behaviour
- Train dogs to obey commands and perform specific duties in response to signals.
Job titles under NOC 65220
31 job titles are classified here, including animal care worker (except farm), dog groomer, dog trainer.
- animal attendant
- animal attendants supervisor
- animal care worker (except farm)
- animal groomer (except horses)
- animal health care assistant
- animal trainer (except horses or marine mammals)
- aquarist
- certified dog master
- dog groomer
- dog handler
- dog master
- dog master trainer
- dog trainer
- groom - horse race track
- horse hot-walker
- kennel attendant
- kennel keeper
- kennelman/woman
- laboratory animal attendant
- laboratory animal care worker
- pet groomer
- pet master groomer
- pet shop attendant
- pet-sitter
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Depending on the type of work performed, training courses in animal handling, grooming or dog training are usually required. Animal health or veterinary assistant college courses may be required for animal care workers.
Pet groomers and animal care workers wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $15.00/hr | $18.00/hr | $25.50/hr |
Toronto ON | $17.60/hr | $20.00/hr | $27.50/hr |
Montréal QC | $16.10/hr | $19.00/hr | $22.00/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $17.85/hr | $19.00/hr | $25.00/hr |
Calgary AB | $15.00/hr | $17.00/hr | $32.50/hr |
Edmonton AB | $15.75/hr | $18.00/hr | $21.00/hr |
Ottawa ON | $17.60/hr | $18.00/hr | $24.00/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $16.00/hr | $16.00/hr | $26.91/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $16.10/hr | $18.57/hr | $25.00/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $17.60/hr | $17.86/hr | $24.00/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $17.60/hr | $18.75/hr | $31.00/hr |
London ON | $17.60/hr | $19.00/hr | $26.00/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $17.85/hr | $19.50/hr | $25.00/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $15.35/hr | $15.35/hr | $32.00/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $15.35/hr | $15.35/hr | $20.00/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00/hr | $16.10/hr | $26.00/hr |
Nova Scotia | $16.50/hr | $16.50/hr | $25.00/hr |
New Brunswick | $15.65/hr | $16.25/hr | $24.00/hr |
Quebec | $16.10/hr | $18.57/hr | $25.00/hr |
Ontario | $17.60/hr | $19.00/hr | $26.00/hr |
Manitoba | $16.00/hr | $16.00/hr | $25.00/hr |
Saskatchewan | $15.35/hr | $15.35/hr | $20.00/hr |
Alberta | $15.00/hr | $17.00/hr | $32.50/hr |
British Columbia | $17.85/hr | $19.50/hr | $25.00/hr |
Using NOC 65220 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 31 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104)
- Animal nutritionist (NOC 21110)
- Horseshoer (NOC 72999)
- Marine mammal trainer (NOC 21110)
- Sheep shearer (NOC 84120)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for pet groomers and animal care workers?
Pet groomers and animal care workers are NOC 2021 unit group 65220. Example job titles in this group include animal care worker (except farm), dog groomer, dog trainer, kennel attendant.
What TEER is NOC 65220?
NOC 65220 is TEER 5 (Short work demonstration). Usually requires a short work demonstration and no formal education. TEER 4 and 5 work does not count as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker or Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do pet groomers and animal care workers earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $18.00/hr, about $35,000 a year full-time, with a range of $15.00/hr to $25.50/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.