How Much Do Pet Sitters Make?

Pet sitters generally earn somewhere in the range of $15–$100 per session. Pet sitting rates are typically flat rates charged per session rather than hourly rates, and they vary depending on factors like the duration of the sit (drop-in visit or overnight sit) and number of pets.

A survey conducted by Pet Sitters International found that US pet sitters earned an average gross revenue of $68,699 per year in 2021. The table below give a breakdown of their average earnings according to the extent of pet sitting services provided.

Average Pet Sitting Fees in the United States

Source: Pet Sitters International’s 2022 State of the Industry Survey.

Because of the way pet sitters charge for their services, it’s tricky to estimate the average pet sitter’s hourly salary. However, to give you a general idea, Salary.com estimates that pet sitters earn an average salary of $16 per hour, $34,071 per year, and $2,839 per month, as of May 2024. 1

We spoke to one professional pet sitter, Jennifer D., who told us that pet sitting is a good side hustle, but it’s not an ideal full-time source of income. “Your bookings are not guaranteed,” she said. She also warned that cancellations also happen sometimes. “I recommend doing this because you love the pets,” she added. “And then any money earned is a bonus.”

Cat sitter vs. dog sitter salary

In terms of how much dog sitters make, their average salary is roughly $16 per hour, with higher earnings for extra services like dog walking. 2 Cat sitter earnings aren’t much different, typically ranging from $14.50 to $17.30 per hour. 3

However, generally speaking, the amount dog sitters make per day is often higher than how much cat sitters make per day. This is because cats often just need one drop-in visit per day, whereas dogs would need multiple visits and walks per day.

While dogs and cats may be the first pets to come to mind at the mention of a pet sitting side hustle, professional pet sitters often care for a variety of pets, including small animals (like hamsters, rats, or guinea pigs), birds, fish, reptiles, or even livestock or horses.

Different types of pets have different needs, which can lead to variation in pet sitting rates. For example, exotic pets may require special care when it comes to feeding or temperature control.

Pet owners have different methods of paying pet sitters, depending on the type of care required. There are three payment structures that are most common:

• Hourly: Pet sitting services can be charged hourly, but an hourly rate often isn’t a practical option for either the pet sitter or owner. This is most common for short visits that extend beyond a simple check-in but don’t involve staying overnight.
• Per visit: Many pet sitters charge a daily or per-visit rate, where a flat fee covers each trip.
• Overnight: Some pet sitters offer overnight stays, providing in-home pet sitting or house sitting on top of their standard pet sitting services.

Regardless of the payment model used, pet sitter rates are typically decided in advance between the sitter and client, tailored according to the number of pets, type of pet, extent of services required, and even the amount of travel time involved for the pet sitter. Doing so helps to manage expectations for both parties.

Not all pet sitters charge the same rates, and even one individual sitter’s earnings can fluctuate depending on a few key factors. Understanding the variables that’ll affect your salary will help you make the most possible money from a pet sitting side hustle.

Location

You’ll earn more as a pet sitter if you’re located in an urban area as opposed to a rural area. The same is true if you live in an area with a higher cost of living—although the flip side is that your pet sitting expenses may also be higher.

As a pet sitter, you’ll get more business if you live in an area where residents frequently go on long trips or vacations. This may be more common in higher-income areas and cities where major businesses are located.

Highest Paying Cities for Pet Sitters

Source: Indeed.

Qualifications and experience

As a pet sitter, you’re responsible for the well-being and safety of your clients’ beloved nonhuman family members. This makes pet sitting more delicate work than many other jobs or side hustles, and it means potential clients will pay particularly close attention to your background and qualifications when deciding whether to hire you and how much to pay you.

If you’re a pro pet sitter with a certification related to animal care or solid references from pet owners you’ve worked with in the past, you’ll be able to charge higher rates than if you were a hobby pet sitter with little or no professional experience. Even animal-related work experience like volunteering at an animal shelter or assisting a veterinarian can do wonders for your earning potential.

That’s not to say that pet sitting is a wash for someone with no experience—it’s a side hustle with a low barrier to entry, and although certifications and references are nice to have, they’re not strict necessities.

Types of pet sitting services offered

You may be able to earn more as a pet sitter if you provide care for pets with special care needs, watch multiple pets at the same time, provide additional services such as house sitting or dog walking or training, or accommodate special requests from pet owners.

A good example is the difference in rates you can charge for a puppy sitting vs. adult dog sitting business. Puppies require extra attention and maybe even cleanup or training. You can expect to earn less if you only offer basic pet sitting services.

Use of third-party apps and websites

If you’re doing pet sitting as a casual side gig or you’re just getting your feet wet in the industry, you may choose to sign up for pet-sitting apps or websites that can help you connect with pet owners in your area. This can affect your income from pet sitting in a couple of key ways.

On the plus side, it’s easier to find clients, and there’s less work involved in terms of handling scheduling and payments. If you’re short on contacts, this can mean more business and greater earnings.

However, most pet sitting platforms charge some sort of commission or subscription fee for using their services. This can eat into your profits, and it means you may earn less than you would if you advertised your services on your own and sought out your own pet sitting clients.

Getting into pet sitting is pretty easy, but if you want to reach the highest earning bracket, you’ll need to take a few steps to make yourself stand out.

Get an animal care certification

Getting a pet care certification from a program like the NAPPS Certification Course, a pet behavioral training course, or a first aid certification course is a great way to build trust among clients and command higher rates.

Network with other professionals

Associating with veterinarians and pet stores is a great way to expand your client base and get more business. They may refer you to their own clients if they hear they’re going out of town.

You can also try getting connected with other pet sitters in your area. This can work out well for you both. If they’re all booked up when a prospective client requests their services, they may refer the client to you instead. You can do the same for them, effectively maintaining beneficial connections and happy customers.

Build an online presence

Use social media and create a professional website to better advertise your pet sitting services and expand your reach. This will also allow you to collect reviews and testimonials for easy reference when a potential client is looking you up.

This isn’t just a great option for people running their own independent pet sitting business. Jennifer primarily uses Rover, but she also advertises her pet sitting services on Craigslist to expand her reach.

Offer extra services

“Offering extra services can help increase your earnings on a pet-sitting job,” Jennifer told us. She offers light housekeeping services as well as errand-running services.

These types of add-ons would appeal to people who will be out of town for a long time, and they can net you an extra few bucks with minimal effort. Even better, doing more for your clients can boost customer satisfaction and increase your chance of referrals.

Get referrals from pet owners

In care-related fields like dog sitting or cat sitting, positive recommendations go a long way in taking your business to the next level. Jennifer agrees. “Your business is built on referrals,” she said.

Getting positive reviews and referrals boils down to one simple principle: Be a good pet sitter. As long as you’re consistent and reliable, your clients will usually be happy to recommend you to other pet owners through word-of-mouth referrals.

Expand your pet sitting business

If your client list is growing, you can bring in more money by expanding your pet sitting business and hiring staff to help you out. You’ll have more expenses but also a higher income.

Pet sitting is a great way to make a living, especially if you’re a pet lover who enjoys spending time with animals. Whether you’re getting into pet sitting as a side hustle or embarking on a full-blown career, knowing what income you can expect and what variables can impact your earnings will ensure the work is worthwhile and fulfilling.