Dog walking jobs in the US

How to become a dog walker in the US

To become a dog walker, open a Petme sitter profile, set your rate and area, pass the ID and background check, and accept the walks that fit your week. You keep up to 90% of every booking.

No assigned shifts and no minimum hours. Here are the steps, what walkers list per walk in five big cities, and the park rules worth knowing.

Start Walking DogsUp to 90% kept. $22,000 Protection Plan.

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$21

median listed price of a 30-minute walk, November 2026

Up to 90%

of every walk kept by the walker

$22,000

Protection Plan for eligible vet costs

4.9 / 5

average sitter rating on Petme

Step by step

How to become a dog walker, step by step

You do not need a degree or a dog walking course. Owners book on trust, so every step below is about showing you can be trusted with their dog.

1. Download Petme and start a sitter profile

Get the Petme app from the App Store or Google Play and open a sitter profile. You need to be 18 or over and have a smartphone.

2. Add real photos and a short bio

Owners choose a walker they can picture with their dog. Clear photos and a plain description of the dogs you are comfortable with do more than a long resume.

3. Pick your services and set your rate

Choose dog walking, and any other services you want to offer. You set the price for each one, so start from what walkers near you list.

4. Choose your area and your hours

List the neighborhoods you can reach on foot or by a short ride, and the hours you are free. There are no assigned shifts and no minimum hours.

5. Pass the ID and background check

Every Petme sitter goes through ID verification and a background check before owners book them. It is what lets an owner hand a stranger the leash.

6. Take your first walks and ask for reviews

Accept the requests that fit your area and schedule. Do them well, then ask each owner for a review. Reviews are what bring the next requests.

Pay, November 2026

What dog walkers list per walk

Petme sitters across 10 US cities list a 30-minute walk at a median of $21, with the middle half between $19 and $26 (99 sitters, November 2026). By city, here is what walkers within 30 km of the centre list. These are listed prices, not completed bookings, and you set your own.

New York, 30-minute walk

$25 median (middle half $19 to $25), from 31 sitters

Los Angeles, 30-minute walk

$25 median (middle half $20 to $30), from 25 sitters

Chicago, 30-minute walk

$22 median (middle half $15 to $26), from 10 sitters

San Francisco, 30-minute walk

$32 median (middle half $20 to $35), from 6 sitters

Miami, 30-minute walk

$15 median (middle half $15 to $25), from 7 sitters

Local rules

The rules you meet on a walk

Rules for walkers are set by each city and park district, so check yours before you take several dogs out at once. Three examples from official sources:

Chicago dog-friendly areas

Each dog needs a Chicago Park District permit and tag from a participating vet, $10 per dog for the calendar year, and one person may bring only three dogs.

Seattle parks

Dogs must be on a leash at all times in Seattle parks, except inside the city's designated off-leash areas.

New York City

All dogs in New York City must be licensed. That is the owner's duty, so it is fair to ask an owner whether the license is current.

Before you sign up

Becoming a dog walker, answered

How do I become a dog walker in the US?

Download Petme, build a sitter profile with real photos, set your rate, choose your area and hours, and pass the ID and background check. You need to be 18 or over. After that you accept the walk requests that fit, and you keep up to 90% of every booking.

How do I become a dog walker near me?

List the neighborhoods you can actually reach in your Petme profile, because owners look for a walker close to home. Keep your area tight at first, two or three neighborhoods, so you can take back-to-back walks without long trips between them.

How much do dog walkers make?

Petme sitters across 10 US cities list a 30-minute walk at a median of $21, with the middle half between $19 and $26, from 99 sitters (November 2026). Walkers set their own rate, and on Petme they keep up to 90% of each booking.

How do I find dog walking jobs?

On Petme the work comes as requests from owners near you, so a complete profile and a clear service area matter most. Each US city also has its own dog walking jobs page with local pay and neighborhoods, linked from this guide.

Are there dog walking apps that pay?

Yes. On Petme owners book and pay through the app, you set your own rate, and you keep up to 90% of each booking. The Petme Protection Plan offers up to $22,000 toward eligible vet costs for the dog in your care, subject to its terms.

Do you need a license to be a dog walker?

Rules are set city by city, so check your own city. In Chicago, each dog in a Park District dog-friendly area needs a $10 permit and tag, and one person may bring only three dogs. In Seattle, dogs must be leashed outside the designated off-leash areas.

Is dog walking employed or self-employed work?

On Petme you work for yourself. You choose the services, the rate, the area and the hours, and you accept or decline each request. That income is self-employment income, so keep simple records of what you earn.

US cities

Dog walking jobs by US city

Petme is hiring walkers across the country. Pick your city to see local rates and where demand is strongest.

Get started

Start walking dogs near you

Set your own rate, area and hours. Up to $22,000 through the Protection Plan for eligible vet costs, and you keep up to 90% of every booking.

Start Walking Dogs