Petsmart groomer trainees do get paid, but their wage is significantly lower than that of a licensed professional. In most cases, a trainee will make minimum wage or just above.
The exception to this is if the trainee is also working as a kennel technician or some other position in the store; in that case, they may be making slightly more.
Petsmart does offer a grooming academy, which is a more formalized training program that takes place over the course of several weeks. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate.
It is unclear if there is any pay increase associated with completing the academy.
In general, it seems that Petsmart groomer trainees are not paid very well, and are mostly reliant on tips to make ends meet. If you’re considering becoming a trainee, you may want to look into other options first.
