Green Card Groom Jobs
Groom roles at U.S. equestrian facilities, racetracks, and boarding stables can qualify for EB-3 skilled-worker sponsorship through PERM labor certification. Employers must document recruitment efforts and file an I-140 petition before you can adjust status. Finding an employer willing to commit to that process is the central challenge of green card sponsorship for this role.
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INTRODUCTION
Want to help pets live their best lives?
We’re proud to be where the pets go and where the pet people go. If you want to make a real difference, create an exciting career path, feel welcome to be your whole self and nurture your wellbeing, Petco is the place for you.
Our core values capture that spirit as we work to improve lives by doing what’s right for pets and people.
- Pet First – Protect & Empower. All pets should Live their Best Life. We put the needs of pets and pet parents at the center of everything we do.
- Foster the Fun – Connect & Bond. Our Passion for pets brings us together! We celebrate the journey of pet parenthood through district experiences, products, and services.
- Let’s Go! Own & Commit. We are stronger as One Petco team. We bring our unique superpowers and champion authenticity in everyone to drive success.
ABOUT PETCO
We’re proud to be "where the pets go" to find everything they need to live their best lives for more than 60 years — from their favorite meals and toys, to trusted supplies and expert support from people who get it, because we live it. We believe in the universal truths of pet parenthood — the boundless boops, missing slippers, late night zoomies and everything in between. And we’re here for it. Every tail wag, every vet visit, every step of the way. We are 29,000+ strong and together we nurture the pet-human bond in more than 1,500 Petco stores across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics and eight distribution centers. In 1999, we founded Petco Love. Together, we support thousands of local animal welfare groups nationwide and have helped find homes for approximately 7 million animals through in-store adoption events.
YOUR PETCO GROOMING CAREER
As a Grooming Salon Leader at Petco, you will lead salon operations and salon team members, while delivering expert grooming services to our valued customers' pets. Your passion for people and for pets will ensure a positive experience for our partners and exceptional care for every pet, leaving them looking and feeling their best.
In addition to the opportunity to lead with purpose and showcase your grooming skills, creativity and passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including:
- Competitive Pay + Incentive based on salon performance + Tips (Payment in accordance to the Grooming Salon Leader Incentive Plan details)
- Medical, dental, vision and more
- 401k and more
- Paid Time Off
- Petco Discounts
- All the supplies & equipment you need, including, brushes, nail trimmers, clippers, blades, shampoo, sprays, tools, etc.
- State of the art equipment, including bathing system, kennels, tables, and dryers
- Career development and growth opportunities, such as Grooming Mentor and Grooming Instructor
JOB SUMMARY
The Grooming Salon Leaders primary purpose is to lead and manage grooming salon operations and grooming salon team members. The Grooming Salon Leader is responsible for delivering a high level of customer satisfaction, fostering a positive work environment, driving salon performance, and developing and coaching both entry-level and seasoned groomers. In addition, the Grooming Salon Leader is responsible for performing expert-level grooming services, including bathing, drying, brushing, haircuts and styling, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning, while also prioritizing the safety, comfort, and well-being of the pets in our care. This is an excellent opportunity for experienced groomers with proven technical expertise and leadership skills who are interested in growing and developing a team.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
The incumbent must be able to consistently perform all of the following duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Oversee day-to-day operations of the grooming salon, ensure smooth and efficient workflows, optimize scheduling and grooming capacity, manage inventory levels in the salon, and execute staffing plans
- Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level grooming staff, provide coaching, feedback, training, and performance evaluations, while fostering a positive and collaborative work environment that encourages teamwork, professional growth, and continuous learning and development
- Create and manage efficient grooming schedules that optimize salon capacity, maximize productivity, and accommodate customer demand, balance team availability with business needs, ensuring coverage during peak hours
- Monitor salon performance metrics such as revenue, customer satisfaction, and partner productivity, analyze data to identify areas for improvement, and develop action plans
- Collaborate with store management to achieve sales targets and salon objectives, implementing strategies to drive growth, expand the customer base, and boost profitability
- Interact professionally and effectively with pet parents, provide exceptional customer service, address grooming related inquiries, offer grooming recommendations, and provide timely and proactive resolution to questions or concerns
- Stay abreast of grooming industry trends and best practices to enhance your grooming skills and your teams' skills
- Independently perform professional grooming services including bathing, drying, brushing, haircuts and styling, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning, according to pet parent's instructions and adhering to breed standards and company policies and procedures
- Operate and maintain various grooming instruments, including clippers, blades, shears, brushes, and dryers
- Evaluate individual needs of each pet, taking into consideration coat, type, skin conditions, temperament
- Educate and provide custom recommendations to pet parents on grooming maintenance and home care practices & products to promote the overall well-being of the pet
- Always ensure the well-being and safety of every animal in the salon, monitor pets for any signs of discomfort, illness, or injury, and promptly report any concerns to pet owners and store management
- Perform quality checks to maintain a clean and safe grooming area and salon, disinfect and sanitize grooming tools and equipment, perform daily and weekly cleaning duties in the salon and in adherence to Petco hygiene and sanitation policies, other cleaning and maintenance tasks as assigned, including but not limited to cleaning air filters, vents, and drains
- Utilize expert knowledge and understanding of Petco's grooming policies, standards, and guidelines to ensure safety, quality, and consistency in all activities and areas of the grooming business, ensuring standards are maintained in grooming salon, holding salon team members accountable for safety and quality standards
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
- 2 or more years' experience as a professional groomer and/or completion of a technical grooming training program
- Strong leadership skills, with the desire to lead, train, and develop people, with 1-2 years previous experience of salon management, or related field, preferred
- High-school diploma or GED preferred, though not required
- Very strong verbal and written communication skills for interactions with pet parents and grooming team members
- Expert knowledge of various dog breeds, grooming requirements, common health issues and behaviors
- Expert-level proficiency in breed-specific cuts, styling techniques, and grooming standards
- Genuine passion for animals with a desire to continue a career in pet grooming
- Strong decision making and problem-solving skills, using grooming experience and knowledge to solve problems in moderately complex situations, with guidance from Solutions Manager or Store General Manager when necessary
- Results-driven, with focused commitment on salon productivity, performance, growth, and improvement
- Strong attention to detail, ensuring grooming services are executed accurately and to the highest standards
- Capable of handling pets of all sizes and temperaments with care and empathy
- Available to work full time at a minimum of 35 per week, including weekends, evenings, and holidays, as needed by the Pet Care Center's grooming schedule
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The majority of job duties are conducted indoors in the grooming salon. Position requires bending, kneeling, lifting (up to 30 pounds, as necessary) and standing for long periods of time. Position may require exposure to heights using a two-step ladder or other support tools, such as vacuums, to perform assigned cleaning and maintenance duties. A large amount of this partner's time will be spent in direct contact with our pet parents and their dogs, and the remaining time will be with the other salon partners. The work environment can be noisy and wet.
For a more detailed overview of Petco Total Rewards, including health and financial benefits, 401K, incentives, and PTO - see https://careers.petco.com/us/en/key-benefits (opens in new window)
LOCATION
Location: 400 N. Stadium Blvd, Columbia, MO 65203 United States
Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship in Groom
Document your hands-on equine care credentials
Compile certificates from accredited horsemanship programs, farrier courses, or veterinary assistant training alongside reference letters from licensed trainers. USCIS and DOL reviewers look for evidence of specialized skill that distinguishes your experience from general stable labor.
Target racing and show facilities with stable workforces
Thoroughbred racetracks, Olympic-level show barns, and large breeding farms hire year-round and have HR infrastructure capable of managing a multi-year PERM filing. Smaller hobby stables rarely have the legal budget or patience for the process.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with green card filing history
Search Migrate Mate by occupation and location to identify equine employers who have sponsored foreign workers before. Prior PERM filings signal that the employer already understands the timeline and won't abandon the process mid-filing.
Verify the prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the prevailing wage for groom or animal caretaker roles in your target county. Your offered wage must meet or exceed this figure or DOL will reject the PERM application, so confirm it before the offer letter is drafted.
Understand the PERM recruitment window affects your start date
Your employer must complete a mandatory DOL-supervised recruitment process before filing PERM, typically spanning 60 to 90 days. Factor this into your timeline so you don't sign a lease or give notice at a current position prematurely.
Ask employers about concurrent I-140 and adjustment of status filing
Once the PERM is certified, workers from most countries can file the I-140 petition and I-485 adjustment of status concurrently if a visa number is immediately available. Confirm whether your employer's attorney plans to use this approach to shorten your overall wait.
Green Card Groom: Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Groom role qualify for EB-3 green card sponsorship?
Yes. Groom positions typically qualify under the EB-3 skilled worker category when the employer can demonstrate the role requires at least two years of training or experience. The employer files a PERM labor certification with DOL to prove no qualified U.S. worker is available, then follows with an I-140 petition and your adjustment of status application.
How does green card sponsorship differ from H-1B sponsorship for a Groom?
H-1B visa requires a specialty occupation with a bachelor's degree requirement, which most Groom roles don't meet, making H-1B essentially unavailable for this job title. EB-3 green card sponsorship through PERM is the practical route. There's no annual lottery at the EB-3 petition stage, and the outcome is permanent residency rather than a temporary, employer-tied status that expires.
How long does the PERM and green card process take for a Groom position?
Expect a minimum of two to three years from PERM filing to a green card in hand for most nationalities, assuming no backlogs. The PERM recruitment phase alone takes 60 to 90 days, DOL adjudication can run six months or longer, and USCIS processing adds additional time. Workers born in countries with visa backlogs, such as India or China, may face significantly longer waits.
Where can I find equine employers who have sponsored green cards before?
Migrate Mate filters job listings by employers with documented green card sponsorship history, so you can focus your search on stables, racetracks, and breeding farms that have already navigated the PERM process. Approaching employers who have sponsored before saves months of educating hiring managers about what the commitment involves.
Does the O*NET classification for Groom affect PERM eligibility?
Yes. The O*NET occupational profile for Nonfarm Animal Caretakers includes the Standard Occupational Classification code that DOL uses to determine job zone and prevailing wage. Your employer's attorney will reference this profile when drafting the PERM job description, so the duties listed in your offer letter need to align with the O*NET definition to avoid a DOL audit or denial.