Petme sitter guide · Australia

A side job with pets in Australia

Sydney sitters charge London rates while paying Australian rent. Pet sitting in Australia has quietly become one of the highest-earning flexible-hours options in the country.

Australian pet ownership exploded post-2020 and demand for sitters has stayed structurally high since. This guide answers what you actually need to know to start: earnings by city, the unfussy ATO side, and how to actually fill your calendar.

Apply to be a Petme sitter in Australia

Up to 90%

of every booking kept by the sitter

20,000

Protection Plan maximum for eligible vet costs

200k+

pet parents on the platform

4.9 / 5

average sitter rating

Earnings snapshot

What Petme sitters actually earn in Australia

You keep up to 90% of every booking one of the strongest take-home rates in the industry. The numbers below are the live rate bands in Australia. Sitters set their own price within these bands, and most active sitters earn $688 to $1,720 per month, depending on the mix of services and how many overnight stays they take.

Service	Rate range	Per
Dog walking	$20 to $40	walk
Drop-in visit	$20 to $35	visit
Pet boarding (at sitter's home)	$45 to $85	night
House sitting (at owner's home)	$55 to $100	night
Doggy day care	$35 to $60	day

Top Australia cities for sitter demand right now:

SydneyMelbourneBrisbanePerthAdelaideGold CoastCanberraHobart

Ready to set up a profile and pick your rates? Start your application.

The practical side

Everything sitters in Australia need to know before signing up

Earnings are only half the picture. Below are the tax, scheduling, protection, and payout realities of running a Petme sitter profile in Australia. We've written them out the way an experienced sitter would explain them to a friend.

Cashback for high performers

Beyond the up to 90% you keep on every booking, Petme pays cashback on top. The more you sit and the stronger your reviews, the larger the cashback tier you unlock. High-performing sitters with consistent 5-star reviews and steady booking volume earn the biggest bonus. Automatic, no claim paperwork, paid out alongside your normal weekly payouts.

Apply in Australia

Protection on every booking

The Petme Protection Plan provides up to 20,000 on every reservation. Automatic on every booking. No separate purchase required. The 24/7 support team is there for emergencies, so you are never alone with a problem at 3am.

Seasonal demand

Australian demand peaks around the Christmas-New-Year window and the Easter and June-July school holidays. Coastal cities (Sydney, Gold Coast) see an additional surge through January.

Payouts within 2 days

Petme releases your payout automatically once a booking is marked complete. The money lands in your bank account within 2 business days. No invoicing, no chasing the owner. The platform takes care of it.

Set your own schedule

Accept only the bookings you want. Pause your profile any time. There are no minimum hours and no schedule lock-in. Most Petme sitters in Australia start while holding another job and only go full time once their calendar fills naturally.

FAQ

Pet sitter questions about Australia, answered straight

These are the questions Petme sitters in Australia actually ask before signing up, and the ones they wish they had asked sooner. Each answer is specific to Australia, not a generic template.

How much do pet sitters earn in Australia?

Earnings depend on the services you offer and the hours you put in. As a worked example at Australia rates, eight dog walks a week at the lowest walk rate come to about $688 a month, and four nights of house sitting a week at the top rate to about $1720. Overnight boarding and house sitting pay the most per booking, drop-ins and walks the least. You keep up to 90% of every booking: Petme's service fee is 10-20%.

What does a typical week look like for a Petme sitter in Australia?

You set the week yourself. One example: 4 dog walks during weekday lunchtimes, 2 drop-in visits in the evenings and one overnight stay at the weekend. At the lowest Australia rates that week comes to about $175. Taking more overnight stays is the quickest way to raise it, because they pay the most per booking.

How much do dog walkers make in Australia?

Dog walking pays $20–$40 per walk on Petme. A 30-minute neighbourhood walk is typically priced near the lower end; longer walks, multi-dog walks, or walks in busy city centres command the upper end. You set your own rate when you build your profile.

How much does overnight pet boarding pay in Australia?

Boarding at the sitter's home pays $45–$85 per night, and house sitting (you stay at the owner's home) pays $55–$100 per night. Overnight care pays more per booking than any other Petme service, so a few stays a month move your income the most.

How does Petme's service fee work?

Petme takes 10-20% from each completed booking and the sitter keeps up to 90%. The fee covers payment processing, customer support, and the Petme Protection Plan for eligible vet costs.

How fast do payouts arrive in Australia?

Payouts are released automatically once a booking is marked complete in the Petme app. The money lands in your bank account within 2 business days. You don't need to invoice the owner or chase payment: the platform handles it end-to-end.

What protections do sitters get on every booking?

The Petme Protection Plan, which can contribute up to $32,000 toward eligible vet costs if something happens to the pet in your care. It is a discretionary fund, not insurance. Petme also offers 24/7 customer support so you're never left handling an emergency alone.

What do I need to start as a Petme sitter?

You need to be 18 or older, own a smartphone capable of running the app, complete ID verification, and demonstrate genuine experience around animals during your profile review. Some local rules apply for commercial-scale boarding: see the country-specific question below.

How quickly can I get my first booking?

It depends on the services you offer, your rates and how many owners near you are looking, so there is no fixed wait. What you control is the profile owners choose from: at least 4 clear photos, a written bio, clear service descriptions and rates in line with Australia. Opening your calendar over school holidays and Christmas, when owners travel, puts you in front of more requests.

Can I pet sit alongside my regular job?

Yes. You set your own availability and accept only the bookings that fit, so sitting in Australia can run alongside a full-time job: dog walks fit lunchtime windows, drop-in visits fit evenings, and weekend boarding fits around a Monday-to-Friday week.

What are the busiest cities for pet sitting in Australia?

Sydney and Melbourne lead by a wide margin. Brisbane and Perth form the second tier. In Adelaide, Canberra, the Gold Coast or anywhere else, you set your own rates and choose the areas you cover.

Do I need to declare pet sitting income for tax in Australia?

Yes. Pet sitting income is taxable and goes on your annual return as personal services or business income. You don't need an ABN to start, but you should get one for GST registration if you cross A$75,000 gross. Expenses (gear, vehicle costs, a share of home utilities for boarding) are deductible.

How does pet sitting in Australia compare to Uber or Menulog?

Uber drivers in Sydney and Melbourne typically clear A$22-28 per hour after fuel and vehicle costs. Petme pet sitting clears A$25-40 hourly with no vehicle wear and a stronger repeat-client base. Boarding rates push effective hourly well above that.

What's the going rate for boarding in Sydney vs Brisbane?

Sydney boarding sits at A$60-85 per night, Melbourne slightly under at A$55-80, Brisbane at A$50-70. Perth and Adelaide land in the A$45-65 range. Houses with a backyard book faster and charge higher than apartment-based sitters in every city.

When is the busiest season for pet sitters in Australia?

The Christmas to mid-January window is the single biggest peak (long summer holidays). Easter, June-July school holidays, and the September-October stretch are smaller but reliable. Many Australian sitters take their own holiday in February to recharge.

Are there local rules around boarding dogs at home in Australia?

No federal licensing requirement. Some councils (especially in Sydney and Melbourne) have caps on the number of dogs per household: usually 2-3 without a permit. Strata-titled apartments often restrict commercial pet activity, so check your strata bylaws before listing boarding.

Is pet sitting more profitable than working in retail or hospitality in Australia?

Yes for most sitters. Retail and hospitality award rates sit around A$25-30 per hour. Petme dog walkers clear A$28-40 hourly effectively, boarding sitters higher. And you set your own schedule.

How does pet sitting in Australia differ from New Zealand?

Australian rates are 25-35% higher in absolute terms (A$ vs NZ$) and the market is much deeper. NZ sitters typically operate as solo specialists in Auckland and Wellington; Australian sitters can build broader portfolios across multiple suburbs.

What's it like sitting for popular Australian dog breeds?

Cavoodles, Staffies, Border Collies, and Labradors are the most common. Cavoodles are small, easy, and need brushing. Staffies are usually well-trained and chilled. Border Collies need serious exercise. Summer heat is a real consideration: afternoon walks need shade and water for every breed.

What's one thing Australian sitters wish they knew before starting?

"Buy a decent slip-lead and a second water bowl on day one. Most of the issues you'll face in the first month are heat-and-water issues, not behavioural ones." (Emma K., Sydney)"

Where do I go to apply as a pet sitter in Australia?

Start at petme.social/au/become-a-pet-sitter. You describe your experience with pets and pick the services you want to list. After identity verification your profile is live, and local owners contact you directly in the app.

Ready when you are

Apply to become a Petme pet sitter in Australia

The full apply page has the signup form, service-by-service rate setting, and ID verification flow.

Start your application