One of the most common questions we hear from new pet care professionals is, “How much can I expect to make with my dog walking and pet sitting business?” The short answer: it depends! Several factors like your location, the services you offer, how quickly you can grow your business, and whether you’ll be working at a part-time or full-time capacity all play a role in determining your potential earnings. The long answer? Keep reading to learn more!
First off, if you love dogs and enjoy spending time outdoors, becoming a dog walker might just be the perfect job for you! Not only is it a great way to stay active and earn some extra income, but it can also turn into a full-time, lucrative career for those who are passionate about animal care and dedicated to growing their business.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the average hourly and yearly earnings for dog walkers and other pet care professionals, share some tips on how to start your own dog walking business, and tell you some ways to maximize your earnings right off the bat. Check out our additional content for new pet care business owners on our blog and within our Time To Pet Academy that will help take your business to the next level!
Hourly Earnings for Dog Walkers and Pet Sitters
Dog walkers and pet sitters typically charge “per event” for their pet care services. How you set your rates is a vital part of building a successful pet care business, and there are several factors to consider when making that decision. Whether you’re just starting the process of setting up your company service rates and have a few questions, or you already have some figures in mind and want to ensure you didn’t miss anything, we highly recommend taking a look at our Ultimate Guide To Setting Your Dog Walking And Pet Sitting Rates post. It's one of our most popular blogs and will give you everything you need to set yourself up for success.
To determine what your hourly earnings may be for your business, let’s first take a look at some of the average rates dog walking companies charge around the country. Time To Pet has an excellent Dog Walking Rate Calculator that you can use to see what other businesses in your area are charging for their walks on average. As of early 2025, the national average for a 30-minute dog walk is around $30.
Does that mean that most dog walkers make almost $60 an hour? Not quite! Unless all of your clients are located within walking distance of one another, it’s a bit more complicated than that. When calculating your typical hourly earnings as a dog walker, you need to factor in all of your time, including the distance you’re traveling between appointments. While you may have clients that live super close to one another, it may not matter if their visit windows are at opposite times of the day. That means completing two walks per hour, while ideal, isn’t always realistic.
Does that mean that most dog walkers make almost $50 an hour? Not quite! Unless all of your clients are located within walking distance of one another, it’s a bit more complicated than that. When calculating your typical hourly earnings as a dog walker, you need to factor in all of your time, including the distance you’re traveling between appointments. While you may have clients that live super close to one another, it may not matter if their visit windows are at opposite times of the day. That means completing two walks per hour, while ideal, isn’t always realistic.
As a business owner, you should also take into consideration what will be taken from your revenue to cover your company’s business expenses. This will include transportation, supplies, marketing, and promotional materials that will all be out-of-pocket expenses, so you should familiarize yourself with those costs and price your rates accordingly to determine how much you will need to make to cover these expenses while still making a profit. After factoring in all of the time and expenses it takes to carry out your services, it is not uncommon for professional dog walkers and pet sitters to earn between $15 and $25 per hour. As a caveat, though, your hourly earnings may look a little different depending on your level of experience, the amount of work on your schedule, how you get around, and the average cost of a dog walk in your area. For more information on how much it costs to start a new dog walking or pet sitting business, check out our post here: The Costs to Start a Pet Sitting or Dog Walking Business.
As your business and reputation grow, you’ll notice an increase in demand for your services, a fuller schedule, and the opportunity to charge more for your time and care. In the meantime, if you are still looking for that first client, check out our Academy article on Getting Your First Pet Sitting or Dog Walking Client for some great tips.
Yearly Earnings for Dog Walkers & Pet Sitters
Now that you have a better idea of potential hourly rates as a professional dog walker, let’s figure out how much you will make in an entire year. It isn’t as simple as multiplying your hourly rate by 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. In the pet care industry, certain times of the year are much busier and more lucrative than others. For example, the months of November, December, and January are typically peak months for pet care companies thanks to the holidays and all of the travel pet parents tend to do at that time of year. So, if your business offers overnight pet sitting services or you board out of your home, you can expect any of the usual “travel” times of year to be super booked.
On the other hand, if you exclusively offer dog walking services, you may actually experience a slowdown during these times. Many of your clients are off work or kids are home from school, so they can handle the midday walks themselves. Your peak months will probably be the spring and fall when kids are in school and pet parents are working during the day, needing that extra helping hand. For that reason, many of our customers try to offer a mix of dog walking and pet sitting services to help keep themselves (and their team) busy year-round.
To give some rough numbers of what you might expect to make, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the median pay for Animal Care and Service Work is currently around $31,830 per year. This figure covers a variety of animal-related jobs, from kennel attendants to pet groomers, so as a dog walker of pet sitter, you could earn more than the median. This is especially true if you’re working full-time, have a booked and busy schedule, and are charging higher rates for your services.
How to Start a Dog Walking Business
If you’re thinking about starting your own dog walking business, there are several steps you’ll need to take to get started. We’ve listed some insightful tips below to help you launch into your venture, but if you want a more detailed guide, we recommend checking out our How To Start a Dog Walking Business post which has all the resources you need to get started.
1. Research Your Local Market
Before you start advertising your dog walking or pet sitting services, it’s essential to research your local market to see what other dog walkers and pet care providers are already operating in your area. This will help you understand which services are in demand, what rates other professionals are charging, and how you can stand out from the competition. It can also give you ideas for additional services you might want to offer, especially if other businesses in your area aren’t providing them and pet parents are actively seeking out those services. Social media platforms, like Facebook groups where neighbors share advice and recommendations, are also great places to see what services pet parents are seeking and where opportunities might exist for you.
2. Get Certified
While it isn’t required to become a dog walker or pet sitter, a certification can help you stand out from your competition by showing your commitment to providing high-quality care to the animals and clients you service. There are several organizations that offer certification programs for dog walkers and pet sitters, including Pet Sitters International (PSI) and the National Association Of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). For more information on how to become certified and what it can mean for your business, we've got a great video below or you can check out our blog here: Understanding Pet Sitting Certifications.
3. Create a Business Plan
Once you've done your research and obtained any necessary certifications, it’s time to put together a business plan for your dog walking business. Your business plan should cover details such as your target market, pricing strategy, marketing plan, and financial projections. The SBA (the U.S. Small Business Administration) has plenty of helpful information on Writing a Business Plan.
4. Build Your Brand
To attract clients to your new dog walking business, you must build a strong brand that resonates with pet parents in your local area. This might involve creating a logo, building a website, creating promotional materials, and establishing a social media presence. All of these will encourage pet parents to interact with your new business.
5. Advertise Your Services
Once you’ve completed the steps above, it’s finally time to start spreading the word! Advertising your services can include placing ads in local businesses, pinning your business card on community bulletin boards, distributing flyers in your neighborhood, or using social media to reach a wider audience. Whatever you decide to do, ensure your advertising promotes your brand, sets you apart from competitors, and clearly shows how prospective clients can reach you for more information about your services and availability.
By following these steps and providing excellent care to your clients and their pets, you can build a successful dog walking business that lets you to earn a living doing what you love!
