How to Become a Dog Groomer in Louisiana

winning groomed dog

Not all animal lovers are born to work as veterinarians.

There are other jobs where you can express your love for these adorable pets.

One of them is dog grooming.

Do you know what that is?

It’s a job where you do multiple tasks to maintain a dog’s health and make it look beautiful.

If you’re wondering how to become one of the best dog groomers in Louisiana, we’ve got you covered.

This page will tell you all you need to know about becoming a dog groomer and working as one.

Let’s get your future as a dog groomer started!

Education Requirements in Louisiana

Potential dog groomers of Louisiana should have a high-school diploma or a similar certification.

Having one is a major plus point for you when you start to enroll in a program or directly to this career.

So make sure you’ve got that piece of paper in hand!

How to Become a Dog Groomer in Louisiana

We have good news for those who don’t like spending hours and hours in stuffy classrooms.

The state of Louisiana offers online grooming programs.

However, there are still traditional schooling options.

They can be found in:

  • Lafayette
  • Hammond
  • Shreveport
  • New Orleans

In order to receive a quality education, a student must choose an accredited school.

Also, don’t forget to pick a type of career training these schools offer.

Don’t think that studying for a groomer is about books and theoretical knowledge only.

Dog grooming schools find practical experience a crucial value.

The practical work will teach you different techniques to make a dog appear simply fabulous.

The whole course is divided into several topics and covers:

  • Bathing
  • Dog welfare
  • Dental hygiene
  • Dog health issues
  • Clinical techniques
  • Kennel management

The topics this program is covering don’t end here.

There are also helpful lessons on the:

  • Safe ways of handling problematic behavior
  • Sanitation techniques for grooming tools and workstations

No doubt that you’ll learn a lot.

What’s important for you to know is that all the studying will pay off.

Some classes will give you an opportunity to work with dogs to get those practical skills sharp.

So be a good student and all the assessments you need to pass won’t be difficult at all.

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Getting a Dog Groomer’s Certification

You can get a certificate through the National Dog Groomers Association of America.

In fact, we suggest that you make it a priority after graduation.

Or if you’ve gotten an informal education through direct apprenticeship, once you’ve gotten approval from your mentor.

To qualify, you must attend at least one training workshop.

Only then can you take the exam where you’ll display your knowledge and skills.

This document gets reactivated yearly by attending official NDGAA workshops and seminars.

What’s more, this certificate allows you to socialize with other groomers, enabling you to:

  • Build a network
  • Connect with fellow groomers locally and nationwide
  • Learn new industry trends

Dog Grooming Internship

Getting an internship after graduating is a great kickstart.

It benefits you in a lot of fields and will get you familiar with the job faster.

Nothing beats getting the much-needed practical experience while working with experienced groomers.

If you’re not sure how to get this internship, ask your grooming school to step in.

A lot of grooming schools are already connected with different businesses to help students with building that hands-on knowledge.

A Dog Groomer’s Duties

pet and owner in matching outfits

Now that you know how to become a dog groomer, let’s see what a groomer’s day looks like.

First, you must make sure that all schedules and appointments are in order.

Second, the way you communicate with dog owners is highly important.

You need to establish a trusting relationship with them.

Otherwise, you’ll ruin your reputation, resulting in fewer clients hiring you.

Later on, when a dog is finally on your workstation, you will:

  • Examine their skin and hair for potential problems
  • Bathe and dry them
  • Comb and detangle fur
  • Clip nails and hair
  • Hairstyling
  • Clean ears, eye-tear stains, if any, and teeth

Now all that’s left to do is to hand over a pretty pup to its owner, clean your tools, and get ready for the next furry friend.

Business Licensing in Louisiana

Louisiana doesn’t allow you to take shortcuts.

To work as a dog groomer, you’ll need to have a relevant business license.

The best way to achieve it is to contact the Louisiana Secretary of State for licensing info and business permits.

We know paperwork and formalities are boring.

But once you’ve completely handled it, you’ll be ready to work in the grooming industry independently.

Potential Salary in Louisiana

According to Salary.com, the average annual salary a Louisiana groomer gets is $34,101 as of December 2021.

Depending on the city and your qualifications, the salary can go from as low as about $22,000 to as high as $50,000.

It’s still a great way of income considering how lovely the job is.

Below you’ll see how much you can potentially earn if you belong to a certain percentile.

Percentile Salary
10% $22,256
25% $27,901
50% $34,101
75% $42,601
90% $50,340

We also provided you with the average salary per year of each city in Louisiana.

Average Salary By City

Location Avg. Annual Salary
Abbeville $30,610
Abita Springs $33,216
Acme $29,616
Addis $31,029
Aimwell $29,616
Akers $32,782
Albany $30,759
Alexandria $29,885
Ama $33,414
Amelia $30,759
Amite $30,759
Anacoco $29,616
Angie $29,474
Angola $30,759
Arabi $33,486
Arcadia $30,645
Archibald $30,580
Arnaudville $30,753
Ashland $30,742
Athens $30,742
Atlanta $29,616
Avery Island $30,537
Baker $31,029
Baldwin $30,556
Ball $29,885
Barataria $33,378
Barksdale Afb $31,012
Basile $30,413
Baskin $30,580
Bastrop $30,652
Batchelor $30,708
Baton Rouge $31,029
Belcher $30,868
Bell City $30,458
Belle Chasse $33,486
Belle Rose $30,759
Belmont $30,742
Bentley $29,777
Benton $30,958
Bernice $30,580
Berwick $30,759
Bethany $30,886
Bienville $30,742
Blanchard $31,012
Bogalusa $29,474
Bonita $33,216
Boothville $29,616
Bordelonville $31,012
Bossier City $33,216
Bourg $33,324
Boutte $33,324
Boyce $29,760
Braithwaite $33,216
Branch $30,664
Breaux Bridge $30,789
Brittany $30,795
Broussard $30,789
Brusly $31,029
Bunkie $29,616
Buras $33,216
Burnside $30,831
Bush $33,216
Cade $30,753
Calhoun $30,778
Calvin $30,098
Cameron $30,780
Campti $30,179
Carencro $30,789
Carville $30,903
Castor $30,742
Cecilia $30,753
Center Point $29,814
Centerville $30,520
Chalmette $33,486
Charenton $30,579
Chase $30,580
Chataignier $30,478
Chatham $30,580
Chauvin $33,216
Cheneyville $29,723
Choudrant $30,616
Church Point $30,664
Clarence $30,616
Clarks $30,580
Clayton $30,098
Clinton $30,759
Cloutierville $30,616
Colfax $29,633
Collinston $30,724
Columbia $30,580
Convent $31,441
Converse $30,742
Cotton Valley $30,742
Cottonport $29,616
Coushatta $30,742
Covington $33,216
Creole $30,362
Crowley $30,564
Crowville $30,580
Cullen $30,742
Cut Off $33,216
Darrow $30,759
Delcambre $30,610
Delhi $30,580
Delta $29,713
Denham Springs $30,957
Dequincy $30,458
Deridder $30,296
Des Allemands $33,216
Destrehan $33,360
Deville $29,777
Dodson $30,580
Donaldsonville $30,759
Donner $31,987
Downsville $30,688
Doyline $30,832
Dry Creek $30,296
Dry Prong $29,670
Dubach $30,580
Dubberly $30,742
Dulac $33,216
Duplessis $30,867
Dupont $29,736
Duson $30,771
Echo $29,795
Edgar $33,002
Effie $29,777
Egan $30,456
Elizabeth $29,616
Elm Grove $30,850
Elmer $29,777
Elton $30,360
Empire $33,216
Enterprise $30,580
Epps $30,580
Erath $30,610
Eros $30,652
Erwinville $30,957
Estherwood $30,473
Ethel $30,759
Eunice $30,520
Evangeline $30,419
Evans $30,296
Evergreen $29,616
Fairbanks $30,850
Farmerville $30,598
Fenton $30,404
Ferriday $29,616
Fisher $29,616
Flatwoods $29,616
Flora $29,616
Florien $29,616
Fluker $30,759
Folsom $29,616
Fordoche $30,661
Forest $30,068
Forest Hill $29,777
Forest Necessity $30,580
Fort Polk $29,616
Franklin $30,546
Franklinton $31,987
French Settlement $30,759
Frierson $30,832
Galliano $33,216
Garden City $30,520
Gardner $29,777
Garyville $32,468
Geismar $30,885
Georgetown $29,616
Gheens $33,216
Gibsland $30,742
Gibson $31,987
Gilbert $30,580
Gilliam $30,796
Glenmora $29,652
Gloster $30,796
Glynn $30,939
Golden Meadow $33,216
Goldonna $30,313
Gonzales $30,795
Gorum $29,616
Grambling $30,580
Gramercy $32,099
Grand Cane $30,742
Grand Chenier $30,296
Grand Coteau $30,753
Grand Isle $29,616
Grant $30,087
Gray $33,216
Grayson $30,580
Greensburg $30,759
Greenwell Springs $30,993
Greenwood $30,940
Gretna $33,486
Grosse Tete $30,939
Gueydan $30,461
Hackberry $31,078
Hahnville $33,288
Hall Summit $30,742
Hamburg $29,616
Hammond $31,783
Harrisonburg $29,616
Harvey $33,486
Haughton $30,922
Hayes $30,404
Haynesville $30,742
Heflin $30,742
Hessmer $29,652
Hester $31,865
Hineston $29,670
Hodge $30,580
Holden $30,759
Homer $30,742
Hornbeck $29,616
Hosston $30,742
Houma $33,216
Husser $31,987
Ida $30,742
Independence $30,759
Innis $30,711
Iota $30,462
Iowa $30,548
Jackson $30,759
Jamestown $30,742
Jarreau $30,885
Jeanerette $30,551
Jena $29,616
Jennings $30,384
Jigger $30,580
Jones $30,052
Jonesboro $30,580
Jonesville $29,616
Joyce $29,905
Kamplan $30,556
Keatchie $30,742
Keithville $30,868
Kelly $30,580
Kenner $33,486
Kentwood $30,759
Kilbourne $29,683
Kinder $30,296
Kraemer $33,216
Krotz Springs $30,613
Kurthwood $29,616
La Place $33,113
Labadieville $30,759
Lacassine $30,458
Lacombe $33,216
Lafayette $30,789
Lafitte $33,342
Lake Arthur $30,373
Lake Charles $30,566
Lake Providence $29,683
Lakeland $30,921
Larose $33,216
Lawtell $30,573
Lebeau $30,445
Leblanc $30,314
Lecompte $29,831
Leesville $29,616
Lena $29,616
Leonville $30,681
Lettsworth $30,432
Libuse $29,885
Lillie $30,580
Lisbon $30,580
Livingston $30,759
Livonia $30,697
Lockport $33,216
Logansport $30,742
Longleaf $29,723
Longstreet $30,742
Longville $30,296
Loranger $33,216
Loreauville $30,624
Lottie $30,648
Luling $33,360
Lutcher $31,987
Lydia $30,520
Madisonville $33,216
Mamou $30,234
Mandeville $33,216
Mangham $30,580
Mansfield $30,742
Mansura $29,616
Many $30,179
Maringouin $30,849
Marion $30,580
Marksville $29,652
Marrero $33,486
Marthaville $30,742
Mathews $33,216
Maurepas $31,643
Maurice $30,753
Melrose $29,616
Melville $30,631
Mer Rouge $30,580
Meraux $33,486
Mermentau $30,416
Merryville $30,296
Metairie $33,486
Milton $30,789
Minden $30,742
Mittie $30,248
Monroe $30,580
Montegut $33,216
Monterey $29,616
Montgomery $29,616
Mooringsport $30,886
Mora $29,616
Moreauville $29,616
Morgan City $30,759
Morganza $30,688
Morrow $30,022
Morse $30,462
Mount Airy $32,361
Mount Hermon $31,987
Napoleonville $30,759
Natalbany $31,305
Natchez $29,616
Natchitoches $29,616
Negreet $30,179
New Iberia $30,610
New Llano $29,616
New Orleans $33,486
New Roads $30,759
New Sarpy $33,324
Newelton $30,147
Noble $30,742
Norco $33,306
Norwood $30,759
Oak Grove $29,811
Oak Ridge $30,652
Oakdale $29,616
Oberlin $30,296
Oil City $30,754
Olla $30,098
Opelousas $30,610
Oscar $30,867
Otis $29,723
Paincourtville $30,759
Palmetto $30,522
Paradis $33,252
Patterson $30,639
Paulina $31,578
Pearl River $31,252
Pelican $30,742
Perry $30,537
Pierre Part $30,759
Pilottown $33,216
Pine Grove $30,759
Pine Prairie $29,831
Pineville $29,885
Pioneer $30,281
Pitkin $29,616
Plain Dealing $30,742
Plaquemine $30,993
Plattenville $30,759
Plaucheville $29,616
Pleasant Hill $30,742
Pointe A La Hache $33,216
Pollock $29,741
Ponchatoula $32,233
Port Allen $31,029
Port Barre $30,597
Port Sulphur $33,216
Powhatan $30,742
Prairieville $30,921
Pride $30,831
Princeton $30,886
Provencal $29,616
Quitman $30,580
Raceland $33,216
Ragley $30,386
Rayne $30,699
Rayville $30,652
Reddell $30,113
Reeves $30,350
Reserve $32,789
Rhinehart $29,616
Ringgold $30,742
Roanoke $30,342
Robeline $30,179
Robert $33,216
Rodessa $30,742
Rosedale $30,921
Roseland $30,759
Rosepine $30,296
Rougon $30,939
Ruby $29,849
Rouston $30,580
Saint Amant $31,169
Saint Benedict $33,216
saint Bernard $31,939
Saint Francisville $30,759
Saint Gabriel $30,957
Saint James $31,087
Saint Joseph $30,580
Saint Landry $29,657
Saint Martinville $30,735
Saint Maurice $29,616
Saint Rose $33,414
Saline $30,661
Sarepta $30,742
Schiever $33,216
Scott $30,789
Shongaloo $30,742
Shreveport $31,012
Sibley $30,742
Sicily Island $30,580
Sieper $29,670
Skies $30,580
Simmesport $29,616
Simpson $29,616
Simsboro $30,580
Singer $30,296
Slagle $29,616
Slaughter $30,885
Slidell $31,937
Sondheimer $30,132
Sorrento $30,759
Spearsville $30,580
Springfield $31,626
Springhill $30,742
Starks $31,287
Start $30,778
Sterlington $30,814
Stonewall $30,886
Sugartown $30,049
Sulphur $30,566
Summerfield $30,580
Sun $31,286
Sunset $30,753
Sunshine $31,011
Swartz $30,850
Talisheek $32,186
Tallulah $30,147
Tangipahoa $30,759
Taylor $30,742
Theriot $33,216
Thibodaux $33,216
Tickfaw $30,759
Tioga $29,885
Transylvania $29,683
Trout $29,616
Tullos $29,616
Tunica $30,759
Turkey Creek $29,616
Uncle Sam $31,664
Urania $29,879
Vacherie $32,397
Varnado $29,474
Venice $33,216
Ventress $30,849
Vidalia $29,616
Ville Platte $30,166
Vinton $31,227
Violet $33,468
Vivian $30,742
Wakefield $30,759
Walker $30,849
Washington $30,520
Waterproof $30,098
Watson $30,921
Welsh $30,345
West Monroe $30,850
Westlake $30,566
Westwego $33,486
Weyanoke $30,759
White Castle $30,849
Wildsville $29,616
Wilson $30,759
Winnfield $29,616
Winnsboro $30,580
Wisner $30,580

Regional Salary in Louisiana

Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Alexandria, LA80$24,960$12$32,240$17,910
Baton Rouge, LA540$27,320$13.14$36,240$18,890
Hammond, LA50$27,470$13.21$37,800$18,510
Houma-Thibodaux, LA50$25,050$12.05$34,580$18,450
Lafayette, LA370$25,800$12.4$36,350$18,320
Lake Charles, LA120$26,160$12.58$35,880$18,010
Monroe, LA120$23,820$11.45$30,230$17,060
New Orleans-Metairie, LA1,150$27,150$13.06$37,680$18,780
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA270$25,690$12.35$35,790$18,110
* Salary information based on the May 2022 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Animal Caretakers, OCC Code 39-2021, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Helpful Grooming Resources

searching online

Louisiana has a lot of organizations that could provide you with all the needed job info, as well as:

  • Different dog breeds and personalities
  • Latest grooming tips, techniques, and tricks

Here are just some of them:

Organizations like NDGAA offer workshops and seminars for your improvement as a dog groomer.

You might find a job or even a volunteering option among them.

So don’t forget to check out these websites—whether you’re a newbie or seeking a new career opportunity.

Final Words

It takes a lot of hard work to become a dog groomer in Louisiana.

Not only will you take care of dogs and owners, but you also have to connect and share knowledge with fellow groomers.

So if you’re not serious or passionate about it, we suggest that you don’t pursue it.

Louisiana dogs need groomers who’ll show love and compassion to them.

Someone with great skills to make them look pretty inside and out.

And with the helpful resources we’ve provided, you’ll definitely find an employer you’ll like from this one big job-hunting base.

Now ask yourself this: Do I have what it takes to pursue this loveable career path?

USA How to Become a Dog/Pet Groomer by State