Dog Bather, Full-Time
Doggie Salon & Spa · 2252 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo
$18 to $19/hr + tips (about $22.50 to $24/hr with tips)
Tuesday to Saturday, 7:45am to 4:30pm. OT available as needed.
We're a busy grooming salon on Broad Street with a loyal client base, including more than 100 Bath Club members who come in every month. Every dog we groom starts in the tub, so the bath team sets the pace for the whole shop.
We're hiring one person who shows up on time for every scheduled shift and takes pride in doing the work right. If you want a steady job that pays well and a team that counts on you, read on.
What you'll earn
- $18/hr to start (up to $20 with experience), rising to $18.75 to $20.75 on January 1
- Plus tips. You keep 100% of the tips on every bath you do, plus 30% of the tip on every groom you prep. Our experienced bathers average about $4.50/hr in tips; expect a little less your first few months while you build speed
- That's about $22.50 to $24 an hour in pay and tips once you're up to speed
- Your tips qualify for the federal "no tax on tips" deduction: no federal income tax on up to $25,000 of tips a year
- $300 bonus at 90 days, and $500 more at your one-year anniversary
- Plus a monthly team bonus when the bath team hits its goals
In 2026, our experienced bathers averaged about $25 an hour in total pay, tips, bonuses, paid time off and 401(k) match.
Benefits
- 401(k) match: we match 100% of what you put in, up to 6% of your pay (tips included), yours from day one (vested immediately). Eligible after 3 months
- Paid time off: 1 hour for every 30 hours worked
- Birthday bonus every year
- 50% off grooming for your own pets
- Paid holiday closure, December 24 to January 1, when the team hits its annual goals
- Hands-on training from our lead groomer
Want to learn to groom? Once you're solid in the tub, we offer virtual training, hands-on practice with our experienced groomers, and supervised apprentice grooms. This is a bathing job first. Groomer openings depend on the salon's needs.
What a day looks like
- Bathe, dry and brush out about 8-10 dogs a day, including prep baths for our groomers and Bath Club appointments
- Work from the daily dog assignments set by our lead groomer
- Handle dogs of every size and temperament safely. Large dogs are always a two-person lift
- Spot and report skin, coat, ear or behavior concerns to the groomer
- Keep tubs, dryers and your station clean, and help with laundry and closing
What we expect
- You're here, on time, for every scheduled shift. The whole day's schedule runs through the bath team, so one missed shift moves every appointment behind it
- Steady and safe beats fast and rough. Speed comes with practice
- You pitch in. When your tub is empty, you help a teammate
What's hard (read this)
- It's physical: on your feet all day, wet, loud, lifting dogs up to 50 lbs (larger dogs with a teammate)
- It's a pace job. Your bonus is tied to how many dogs the team completes per hour
- Some dogs do not want a bath. You need to stay calm when they fight it
What you need to have
- Available Tuesday to Saturday, 32 to 40 hours a week, year-round
- Able to be on your feet for a full shift and handle dogs of every size (large dogs are always a two-person lift)
The bather we're looking for
- On time, every time. You're at your tub and ready at 8:00, not walking in at 8:00. If something comes up, you text your manager before your shift starts, not after.
- You own your work. If a dog comes out with a missed spot or you nick a nail, you say so right away. Mistakes happen; hiding one is the only mistake we can't work with.
- You speak up early. You tell the groomer about a hot spot, a lump, an ear smell or a nervous dog before they pick it up. You tell your manager you're falling behind while there's still time to fix it.
- You find the next thing to do. When your tub is empty, you check the board, restock towels and shampoo, sweep, or help the next tub. Your manager should rarely have to find you something to do.
- You ask before you guess. New coat type, new product, a dog that seems off? Ask. We'd rather answer ten questions than redo one bath.
- You make the team better. You help a teammate who's behind without being asked, share what works, and bring ideas that make the day run smoother. When we hire the next bather, you're the one we'd want training them.
- Calm with dogs, easy to work with. Dogs pick up on stress, and so do teammates. You stay steady on a busy Saturday and keep a good attitude when the schedule changes.
This probably isn't the job for you if:
- You prefer a job with downtime between tasks
- You'd rather wait for instructions than find the next thing to do
- You're looking to become a groomer in a few months. This is a bathing job first