If you want to do something right, you have to get your hands dirty.
So if you want to be a dog groomer, you need to invest in your education and training.
Each step, from enrolling in a grooming school to entering the workforce, will show how diligent you are.
Fortunately, Nebraska has great schools that can make a professional groomer out of you.
If you want to know how, read on to learn more.
Table of Contents
What is Dog Grooming?
Dog grooming is a professional career like all the others.
But, there is something special about this job.
It’s the enormous care and love for all dogs that make grooming a one-of-a-kind career.
It’s all about maintaining a dog’s perfect health status while making it look pretty too.
Good looks are tightly connected with the inner state.
That’s why your job is to use those grooming skills to help poor pups shine again.
A Dog Groomer’s Duties
Every groomer has a day full of tasks to complete.
It starts with creating a schedule and making appointments.
That’s why it’s quite important to be a people person besides being a dog person.
Good charisma and communication skills can take you a long way.
When a dog walks in, it’s time for the actual grooming to start.
The usual grooming process looks a lot like this:
- Physical examination
- Bathing
- Drying
- Trimming hair
- Clipping nails
- Cleaning ears, teeth, and eye-tear stains
- Final styling
The physical examination is a mandatory step, no matter what grooming treatment is required.
You must be sure there are no skin or coat conditions that could put the dog’s health in danger.
As for other tasks, they are essential steps to maintain the dog’s physical health.
In some cases, you may be required to apply hand scissoring and hand stripping to handle long and tangled hair.
Also, pet owners may have special demands like hair coloring or a manicure.
For this, you must use non-toxic hair products or nail polish that aren’t harmful to dogs.
Note as well that grooming can be traumatic for some dogs.
Dogs feel trouble and they won’t trust everyone at first.
So proper handling is the key to a stressless grooming process.
Different calming techniques for different dog breeds will be taught to you during training.
Establishing a trusting relationship with both the dog and its owner will result in long-term collaboration.
Grooming Dogs in Nebraska
The weather in Nebraska is different in all four seasons.
Summers can get pretty warm with temperatures going up to 80 degrees.
For instance, the summer months are the season for shedding, which can be pretty tiring.
And so, it requires the use of various grooming methods.
You don’t apply the same treatment to heavy-coated and long-haired dogs to short-haired dogs.
These different dog breeds can’t be treated with the same grooming tools as well.
That’s why you need to invest in multiple tools, especially in shedding blades and standing dryers.
Using them to get rid of excess fur and any stray hairs is essential during the hot Nebraska summer.
In other words, quality shedding blades make the job half-done.
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Veterinary AssistantVeterinary TechnicianDog ObediencePet GroomingSponsored Online Programs.Education Requirements in Nebraska
The best way for you to get educated is to combine theoretical knowledge with practical work.
As such, there are two educational paths a future Nebraska groomer can take.
- Formal grooming schools
- Direct apprenticeships
Both options let you be proficient and skilled in dog grooming.
Yes, you can be as book smart as you want.
But know that you won’t become a real groomer if you don’t spend some time working with dogs.
Also, consider getting a membership and a certification from the National Dog Grooming Association of America.
These things will bring opportunities that are good for your career.
Job Opportunities in Nebraska
Dog grooming is a modern career that offers plenty of job opportunities.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that animal caretakers like dog groomers are projected to grow by 34% by 2030.
In fact, as of May 2020, Nebraska has opened 1,530 jobs.
So, upon graduating from a dog grooming program, consider applying at these places:
- Dog kennels
- Animal shelters
- Pet and vet clinics
- Pet stores
- Grooming salons
Of course, there’s always the option of starting your own grooming business if you want to.
After all, dog groomers have different career profiles.
Some would enjoy working at dog kennels, while others prefer a less stressful work environment.
But as long as you’re practicing grooming correctly, it doesn’t matter where you work.
Potential Salary in Nebraska
How much you earn depends on several factors.
- Education
- Skills and abilities
- Location
- Certification, if any
Right now, the salary for Nebraska groomers is quite satisfying.
According to Salary.com, the average annual salary is $32,701 as of January 2022.
Typically, the salary range falls around $26,000 to $40,000.
Here’s a closer look at how much you can earn if you belong to a certain percentile.
| Percentile | Salary |
| 10% | $21,238 |
| 25% | $26,701 |
| 50% | $32,701 |
| 75% | $40,801 |
| 90% | $48,176 |
Meanwhile, the table below shows the salaries in every city in Nebraska.
Average Annual Salary by City
| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Abie | $31,238 |
| Adams | $31,238 |
| Ainsworth | $27,419 |
| Albion | $31,238 |
| Alda | $31,238 |
| Alexandria | $31,238 |
| Allen | $27,781 |
| Alliance | $30,095 |
| Alma | $31,238 |
| Alvo | $31,443 |
| Amelia | $37,760 |
| Ames | $31,380 |
| Amherst | $31,238 |
| Angora | $30,095 |
| Anselmo | $29,499 |
| Ansley | $31,238 |
| Arapahoe | $31,238 |
| Arcadia | $31,238 |
| Archer | $31,238 |
| Arlington | $31,429 |
| Arnold | $31,238 |
| Arthur | $30,095 |
| Ashby | $29,432 |
| Ashland | $31,368 |
| Ashton | $31,238 |
| Atiknson | $28,408 |
| Atlanta | $31,238 |
| Auburn | $31,238 |
| Aurora | $31,238 |
| Avoca | $31,339 |
| Axtell | $31,238 |
| Ayr | $31,238 |
| Bancroft | $27,760 |
| Barneston | $31,238 |
| Bartlett | $29,499 |
| Bartley | $31,238 |
| Bassett | $27,491 |
| Cattle Creek | $27,760 |
| Bayard | $30,095 |
| Beatrice | $31,238 |
| Beaver City | $31,238 |
| Beaver Crossing | $31,238 |
| Bee | $31,326 |
| Beemer | $27,760 |
| Belden | $27,760 |
| Belgrade | $31,238 |
| Bellevue | $31,890 |
| Bellwood | $31,238 |
| Belvidere | $31,238 |
| Benedict | $31,238 |
| Benkelman | $32,768 |
| Bennet | $31,530 |
| Bennington | $31,803 |
| Bertrand | $31,238 |
| Big Springs | $30,095 |
| Bingham | $29,432 |
| Bladen | $31,238 |
| Blair | $31,540 |
| Bloomfield | $27,760 |
| Bloomington | $31,238 |
| Blue Hill | $31,238 |
| Blue Springs | $31,238 |
| Boelus | $31,238 |
| Boys Town | $31,890 |
| Bradshaw | $31,238 |
| Braidy | $31,238 |
| Brainard | $31,238 |
| Brewster | $28,830 |
| Bridgeport | $30,095 |
| Bristow | $28,408 |
| Broadwater | $30,095 |
| Brock | $31,238 |
| Broken Bow | $31,238 |
| Brownville | $31,345 |
| Brule | $30,095 |
| Bruning | $31,238 |
| Bruno | $31,238 |
| Brunswick | $27,760 |
| Burchard | $31,238 |
| Burr | $31,238 |
| Burwell | $29,499 |
| Bushnell | $30,095 |
| Butte | $28,102 |
| Byron | $31,238 |
| Cairo | $31,238 |
| Callaway | $31,238 |
| Cambridge | $31,238 |
| Campbell | $31,238 |
| Carleton | $31,238 |
| Carleton | $31,238 |
| Carroll | $27,760 |
| Cedar Bluffs | $31,363 |
| Cedar Creek | $31,628 |
| Cedar Rapids | $31,238 |
| Center | $27,760 |
| Central City | $31,238 |
| Ceresco | $31,501 |
| Chadron | $28,769 |
| Chambers | $27,760 |
| Champion | $30,358 |
| Chapman | $31,238 |
| Chappell | $30,095 |
| Chester | $31,238 |
| Clarks | $31,238 |
| Clarkson | $30,150 |
| Clatonia | $31,238 |
| Clay Center | $31,238 |
| Clearwater | $27,760 |
| Cody | $28,130 |
| Coleridge | $27,760 |
| Colon | $31,338 |
| Columbus | $31,238 |
| Comstock | $31,238 |
| Concord | $27,760 |
| Cook | $31,238 |
| Cordova | $31,238 |
| Cortland | $31,326 |
| Cozad | $31,238 |
| Crab Orchard | $31,238 |
| Craig | $31,042 |
| Crawford | $28,769 |
| Creighton | $27,760 |
| Creston | $29,499 |
| Crete | $31,413 |
| Crofton | $27,760 |
| Crookston | $27,491 |
| Culbertson | $30,358 |
| Curtis | $31,328 |
| Dakota City | $28,064 |
| Dalton | $30,095 |
| Danbury | $31,328 |
| Dannebrog | $31,328 |
| Davenport | $31,328 |
| Davey | $31,647 |
| David City | $31,328 |
| Dawson | $31,328 |
| Daykin | $31,328 |
| De Witt | $31,328 |
| Decatur | $27,760 |
| Denton | $31,676 |
| Deshler | $31,328 |
| Deweese | $31,328 |
| Dickens | $31,235 |
| Diller | $31,328 |
| Dix | $30,095 |
| Dixon | $27,760 |
| Dodge | $30,150 |
| Doniphan | $31,328 |
| Dorchester | $31,267 |
| Douglas | $31,296 |
| Du Bois | $31,218 |
| Dunbar | $31,319 |
| Duncan | $31,328 |
| Dunning | $28,830 |
| Dwight | $31,267 |
| Eagle | $31,530 |
| Eddyville | $31,328 |
| Edgar | $31,328 |
| Edison | $31,328 |
| Elba | $31,328 |
| Elgin | $27,760 |
| Elk Creek | $31,328 |
| Elkhorn | $31,744 |
| Ellsworth | $29,432 |
| Elm Creek | $31,328 |
| Elmwood | $31,370 |
| Elsie | $31,235 |
| Elsmere | $27,491 |
| Elwood | $31,328 |
| Elyria | $29,499 |
| Emerson | $27,801 |
| Emmet | $28,408 |
| Enders | $30,358 |
| Endicott | $31,328 |
| Ericson | $29,499 |
| Eustis | $31,328 |
| Ewing | $27,760 |
| Exeter | $31,328 |
| Fairbury | $31,328 |
| Fairfield | $31,328 |
| Fairmont | $31,328 |
| Falls City | $31,198 |
| Farnam | $31,238 |
| Farwell | $31,238 |
| Filley | $31,238 |
| Firth | $31,355 |
| Fordyce | $27,760 |
| Fort Calhoun | $31,773 |
| Franklin | $31,238 |
| Fremont | $31,400 |
| Friend | $31,238 |
| Fullerton | $31,238 |
| Funk | $31,238 |
| Garland | $31,501 |
| Geneva | $31,238 |
| Genoa | $31,238 |
| Gering | $30,095 |
| Gibbon | $31,238 |
| Gilead | $31,238 |
| Giltner | $31,238 |
| Glenvil | $31,238 |
| Goehner | $31,238 |
| Gordon | $28,769 |
| Gothenburg | $31,238 |
| Grafton | $31,238 |
| Grand Island | $31,238 |
| Grant | $31,235 |
| Greeley | $31,238 |
| Greenwood | $31,472 |
| Gresham | $31,238 |
| Gretna | $31,656 |
| Guide Rock | $31,238 |
| Gurley | $30,095 |
| Hadar | $27,760 |
| Haigler | $32,768 |
| Hallam | $31,384 |
| Halsey | $27,491 |
| Hampton | $31,238 |
| Hardy | $31,238 |
| Harrisburg | $30,095 |
| Harrison | $28,769 |
| Hartington | $27,760 |
| Harvard | $31,238 |
| Hastings | $31,238 |
| Hay Springs | $28,769 |
| Hayes Center | $30,082 |
| Hazard | $31,238 |
| Heartwell | $31,238 |
| Hebron | $31,238 |
| Hemingford | $29,432 |
| Henderson | $31,238 |
| Hendley | $31,238 |
| Herman | $31,452 |
| Hershey | $31,235 |
| Hickman | $31,559 |
| Hildreth | $31,238 |
| Holbrook | $31,238 |
| Holdrege | $31,238 |
| Holstein | $31,238 |
| Homer | $28,003 |
| Hooper | $31,452 |
| Hordville | $31,238 |
| Hoskins | $27,760 |
| Hoswells | $30,150 |
| Hubbard | $28,003 |
| Hubbell | $31,238 |
| Humboldt | $31,238 |
| Humphrey | $29,499 |
| Hyannis | $29,432 |
| Imperial | $30,358 |
| Inavale | $31,238 |
| Indianola | $31,238 |
| Inland | $31,238 |
| Inman | $27,760 |
| Ithaca | $31,327 |
| Jackson | $28,064 |
| Jansen | $31,238 |
| Johnson | $31,238 |
| Johnstown | $27,491 |
| Julian | $31,238 |
| Juniata | $31,238 |
| Kearney | $31,238 |
| Kenesaw | $31,238 |
| Kennard | $31,598 |
| Keystone | $30,095 |
| Kilgore | $27,491 |
| Kimball | $30,095 |
| La Vista | $31,890 |
| Lakeside | $29,432 |
| Laurel | $27,760 |
| Lawerence | $31,238 |
| Lebanon | $31,238 |
| Leigh | $29,499 |
| Lemoyne | $30,095 |
| Lewellen | $30,095 |
| Lewiston | $31,238 |
| Lexington | $31,238 |
| Liberty | $31,238 |
| Lincoln | $31,676 |
| Lindsay | $29,499 |
| Linwood | $31,238 |
| Lisco | $30,095 |
| Litchfield | $31,238 |
| Lodgepole | $30,095 |
| Long Pine | $27,491 |
| Loomis | $31,238 |
| Lorton | $31,284 |
| Louisville | $31,417 |
| Loup City | $31,238 |
| Lyman | $30,095 |
| Lynch | $28,408 |
| Lyons | $27,760 |
| Macy | $27,760 |
| Madison | $27,760 |
| Madrid | $31,235 |
| Magnet | $27,760 |
| Malcom | $31,676 |
| Malmo | $31,304 |
| Manley | $31,350 |
| Marquette | $31,238 |
| Marsland | $29,432 |
| Martell | $31,618 |
| Maskell | $27,760 |
| Mason City | $31,238 |
| Max | $32,768 |
| Maxwell | $31,238 |
| Maywood | $30,666 |
| Mc Cook | $30,666 |
| Mc Cool Junction | $31,238 |
| Mcgrew | $30,095 |
| Mclean | $27,760 |
| Mead | $31,347 |
| Meadow Grove | $27,760 |
| Melbetha | $30,095 |
| Memphis | $31,352 |
| Merna | $31,238 |
| Merriman | $28,769 |
| Milford | $31,443 |
| Miller | $31,238 |
| Milligan | $31,238 |
| Mills | $27,491 |
| Minatare | $30,095 |
| Minden | $31,238 |
| Mitchell | $30,095 |
| Monroe | $31,238 |
| Moorefield | $31,238 |
| Morrill | $30,095 |
| Morse Bluff | $31,330 |
| Mullen | $28,130 |
| Murdock | $31,347 |
| Murray | $31,424 |
| Napper | $27,491 |
| Naponee | $31,238 |
| Nebraska City | $31,386 |
| Nehawka | $31,369 |
| Neligh | $27,760 |
| Nelson | $31,238 |
| Nemaha | $31,345 |
| Nenzel | $27,491 |
| Newcastle | $27,760 |
| Newman Grove | $29,499 |
| Newport | $27,491 |
| Nickerson | $31,452 |
| Niobrara | $28,408 |
| Norfolk | $27,760 |
| North Bend | $31,323 |
| North Loup | $31,238 |
| North Platte | $30,300 |
| Oak | $31,238 |
| Oakdale | $27,760 |
| Oakland | $28,991 |
| Oconto | $31,238 |
| Odell | $31,238 |
| Odessa | $31,238 |
| Offutt A F B | $31,861 |
| Ogallala | $30,095 |
| Ohiowa | $31,238 |
| Omaha | $31,890 |
| Oneill | $28,408 |
| Ong | $31,238 |
| Orchard | $27,760 |
| Ord | $31,238 |
| Orleans | $31,238 |
| Osceola | $31,238 |
| Oshkosh | $30,095 |
| Osmond | $27,760 |
| Otoe | $31,319 |
| Overton | $31,238 |
| Oxford | $31,238 |
| Page | $27,760 |
| Palisade | $30,358 |
| Palmer | $31,238 |
| Palmyra | $31,413 |
| Panama | $31,413 |
| Papillion | $31,890 |
| Parks | $32,768 |
| Pawnee City | $31,238 |
| Paxton | $31,235 |
| Pender | $27,760 |
| Peru | $31,345 |
| Petersburg | $29,499 |
| Phillips | $31,238 |
| Pickrell | $31,238 |
| Pierce | $27,760 |
| Pilger | $27,760 |
| Plainview | $27,760 |
| Platte Center | $31,238 |
| Plattsmouth | $31,656 |
| Pleasant Dale | $31,618 |
| Pleasanton | $31,238 |
| Plymouth | $31,238 |
| Polk | $31,238 |
| Ponca | $27,492 |
| Potter | $30,095 |
| Prague | $31,289 |
| Primrose | $31,238 |
| Purdum | $27,491 |
| Ragan | $31,238 |
| Randolph | $27,760 |
| Ravenna | $31,238 |
| Raymond | $31,676 |
| Red Cloud | $31,238 |
| Republican City | $31,238 |
| Reynolds | $31,238 |
| Rising City | $31,238 |
| Riverdale | $31,238 |
| Riverton | $31,238 |
| Roca | $31,618 |
| Rockville | $31,238 |
| Rogers | $31,238 |
| Rosalie | $27,760 |
| Roseland | $31,238 |
| Royal | $27,760 |
| Rulo | $30,008 |
| Rushville | $28,769 |
| Ruskin | $31,238 |
| Saint Edward | $31,238 |
| Saint Helena | $27,760 |
| Saint Libory | $31,238 |
| Saint Paul | $31,238 |
| Salem | $31,218 |
| Sargent | $31,238 |
| Saronville | $31,238 |
| Schyler | $31,238 |
| Scotia | $31,238 |
| Scottsbluff | $30,095 |
| Scribner | $31,452 |
| Seneca | $28,130 |
| Seward | $31,355 |
| Shelby | $31,238 |
| Shelton | $31,238 |
| Shickley | $31,238 |
| Shubert | $31,345 |
| Sidney | $30,095 |
| Silver Creek | $31,238 |
| Smithfield | $31,238 |
| Snyder | $29,606 |
| South Bend | $31,370 |
| South Sioux City | $28,064 |
| Spalding | $31,238 |
| Sparks | $27,491 |
| Spencer | $28,408 |
| Sprague | $31,559 |
| Springfield | $31,715 |
| Springview | $27,491 |
| St Columbans | $31,803 |
| Stamford | $31,238 |
| Stanton | $27,760 |
| Staplehurst | $31,238 |
| Stapleton | $28,830 |
| Steele City | $31,238 |
| Steinauer | $31,238 |
| Stella | $31,238 |
| Sterling | $31,238 |
| Stockville | $31,238 |
| Strang | $31,238 |
| Stratton | $30,324 |
| Stromsburg | $31,238 |
| Stuart | $28,102 |
| Sumner | $31,238 |
| Superior | $31,238 |
| Surprise | $31,238 |
| Sutherland | $31,235 |
| Sutton | $31,238 |
| Swanton | $31,238 |
| Syracuse | $31,287 |
| Table Rock | $31,238 |
| Talmage | $31,238 |
| Taylor | $29,499 |
| Tecumseh | $31,238 |
| Tekamah | $31,452 |
| Thedford | $27,491 |
| Thurston | $27,760 |
| Tilden | $27,760 |
| Tobias | $31,238 |
Regional Salary in Nebraska
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Island, NE | 70 | $28,500 | $13.7 | $37,780 | $21,100 |
| Lincoln, NE | 380 | $30,090 | $14.46 | $39,560 | $22,470 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 1,170 | $32,100 | $15.43 | $48,790 | $22,250 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Helpful Resources
Every groomer needs to stay in touch with the latest news about the grooming industry.
And so, these websites can help you with that.
- Nebraska Humane Society
- Isle of Dogs
- National Dog Groomers Association of America
- American Kennel Club
Conclusion
Following your dreams is highly important because you’ll end up with a job you actually love doing.
And isn’t that the whole point of educating yourself to become a dog groomer?
Study hard, work even harder, and the end result will be a fulfilling career.
—A workplace you’d love to keep coming back to.
How to Become a Dog/Pet Groomer by State
