Pet groomers and animal care workers
Occupation · NOC 2021 65220 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 65220
- TEER
- 5
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 238
- Median wage, Canada
- C$18.00 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 1,164
OC<CANPET<GROOMERS<AND<ANIMAL<CARE<WORKERS<< 652203<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6
About this occupation
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.
Example job titles
- animal care worker (except farm)
- dog groomer
- dog trainer
- kennel attendant
- laboratory animal attendant
- pet groomer
- pound attendant
- veterinary attendant
- zoo attendant
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.
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.
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2016 | 28 |
| 2017 | 23 |
| 2018 | 23 |
| 2019 | 30 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 30 |
| 2023 | 38 |
| 2024 | 37 |
| 2025 | 9 |
- G. Cox Racing INC26
- Horsemens Benevolent And Protective Association Of Manitoba Inc.25
- Kingfield Racing Stable Ltd14
- Viking Stables Inc.11
- CAVALIA Inc11
- Oh My Dog Spa and Grooming Corp8
- African Lion Safari & Game Farm Ltd.6
- Gemini Thoroughbred Farm5
- 2299443 ONTARIO INC5
- Dogs' Avenue Enterprises Inc.4
- Critter Care Wildlife Society4
- 1838689 Ontario Limited4
- KNIGHTQUEST STABLES INC4
- Ontario Nutri Lab Inc.4
- GREATER VANCOUVER ZOO LTD.4
Work permits
Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP permits | IMP permits |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2019 | 15 | 0 |
| 2018 | 5 | 15 |
| 2017 | 0 | 10 |
| 2016 | 10 | 20 |
| 2015 | 0 | 5 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 30 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$15.00 | C$18.00 | C$25.50 |
| Alberta | C$15.00 | C$17.00 | C$32.50 |
| British Columbia | C$17.85 | C$19.50 | C$25.00 |
| Manitoba | C$16.00 | C$16.00 | C$25.00 |
| New Brunswick | C$15.65 | C$16.25 | C$24.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | C$16.00 | C$16.10 | C$26.00 |
| Nova Scotia | C$16.50 | C$16.50 | C$25.00 |
| Ontario | C$17.60 | C$19.00 | C$26.00 |
| Quebec | C$16.10 | C$18.57 | C$25.00 |
| Saskatchewan | C$15.35 | C$15.35 | C$20.00 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 1,164
- Vacancies advertised
- 1,295
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$19.00
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