Your pet sitting side gig in Chicago
A few regular clients near Lincoln Park and Wicker Park can fill your week. Set your own rates and keep up to 90% of every booking with sitter cashback.
Petme is live in Chicago. Get verified and start accepting requests in your neighborhood.
Local know-how pays off in Chicago
December through March brings sub-zero wind chills, lake-effect snow, and heavy road salt along the Lakefront Trail. Chicago sitters rinse salt off paws between blocks, keep walks short during a polar vortex, and switch to indoor enrichment when the wind chill turns dangerous.
When demand peaks
Boarding peaks over the winter-holiday travel window and the June-to-August vacation stretch; daily lunchtime walks run steady year-round for downtown and North Side commuters. Lollapalooza weekend and the October marathon lift short-notice demand.
Know your Chicago areas
Most bookings cluster Lincoln Park to Hyde Park. Owners look for sitters who know the area and can reach them without a long trip.
Breeds you will meet in Chicago
Owners here mostly keep Labrador, Goldendoodle, French Bulldog, German Shepherd. Knowing how those breeds behave, and saying so on your profile, is what turns a first booking into a repeat client.
Choose your services, set your own rates
Typical Petme rates in Chicago. You set your own price for each service, and keep up to 90% of every booking with sitter cashback.
Dog walking
$17 to $28 per 30 to 60 minute walk
Drop-in visits
$18 to $28 per 20 to 30 minute visit
Doggy daycare
$32 to $58 per day
Dog boarding
$45 to $80 per night
House sitting
$45 to $80 per night
Chicago areas that book the most
Petme bookings in Chicago come from neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Lakeview, across walks, drop-in visits, daycare, and boarding.
Illinois requires no state pet-sitter licence. Chicago enforces a citywide leash-and-waste ordinance, and the Park District restricts off-leash play to permitted Dog Friendly Areas that need an annual tag. Pet-sitting income is self-employment income on a federal Schedule C, with a 1099-NEC from Petme once your annual earnings pass the federal reporting threshold plus the flat Illinois state income tax.
Built for sitters in Chicago
Keep up to 90%
You set your rate. Petme keeps a low service fee, and sitter cashback pushes your take-home toward 90% of every booking.
Full schedule control
No assigned shifts and no minimum hours. Accept or decline each request and pause your profile whenever you need to.
Protected on every booking
$22,000 in vet protection comes with every confirmed booking, so you are never on the hook alone if something goes wrong.
Pet Sitting Jobs in Chicago
What new sitters ask before signing up on Petme in Chicago.
How much can I earn as a pet sitter in Chicago?
On Petme in Chicago, dog walking at $17 to $28 per 30 to 60 minute walk, drop-in visits at $18 to $28 per 20 to 30 minute visit, doggy daycare at $32 to $58 per day, dog boarding at $45 to $80 per night, house sitting at $45 to $80 per night. With sitter cashback you keep up to 90% of every booking.
Can I set my own rates and hours in Chicago?
Yes. You set a rate for each service and your own available hours, and you accept or decline each request, whether the booking is in Lincoln Park or Wicker Park. No assigned shifts, no minimum hours.
What protection comes with each booking?
Every Petme booking includes $22,000 in vet protection for the pet in your care, at no cost to you or the owner. The same cover applies whether you sit in Lincoln Park or Wicker Park.
Which services should I offer first in Chicago?
Most new sitters start with dog walking and drop-in visits, then add boarding or daycare once they have a few five-star reviews and know their schedule.
Where is demand strongest in Chicago?
Petme bookings in Chicago come from neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Lakeview, across walks, drop-in visits, daycare, and boarding.
When is pet sitting demand highest in Chicago?
Boarding peaks over the winter-holiday travel window and the June-to-August vacation stretch; daily lunchtime walks run steady year-round for downtown and North Side commuters. That pattern shapes pet sitting bookings in Chicago across the year. December through March brings sub-zero wind chills, lake-effect snow, and heavy road salt along the Lakefront Trail.
What do I need to start pet sitting in Chicago?
No formal qualification is required. You need to be 18 or over, have a smartphone with the Petme app, and pass ID verification. Experience helps you win your first pet sitting bookings in Chicago, so it is worth describing the pets you have looked after, including your own, on your profile.
Which dogs will I mostly look after in Chicago?
Owners in Chicago mostly keep Labrador, Goldendoodle, French Bulldog, German Shepherd, rescue mixes. Saying on your profile which of those you have looked after helps owners choose you, because most are looking for someone already comfortable with their dog's size and energy.
Pet sitting jobs near Chicago
Cover more than one patch. Each city page has its own local rates and demand notes.
Start earning in Chicago
Set your own rate. $22,000 vet protection on every booking, cashback that keeps your clients rebooking, and fast payouts to your bank.