pet care jobs in australia, So you love animals and you’re thinking about turning that passion into a paycheck. Smart move. Australia’s pet industry is booming – we spend over $33 billion annually on our furry friends – and that means thousands of jobs for people who genuinely care about pets.
But here’s what you need to know: not all pet retail jobs are created equal. Some companies offer genuine career paths, decent pay, and supportive environments. Others? Let’s just say the reviews tell a different story.
I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know about landing pet care jobs at Australia’s major retailers like Petbarn and Petstock, what the jobs actually entail, realistic salary expectations, and insider tips from people who’ve worked there.
No sugar-coating, no corporate PR spin – just the real information you need to decide if this career path is right for you.
The Major Players: Who’s Hiring in Australian Pet Retail
Before we dive into specific jobs and how to get them, let’s map out the Australian pet retail landscape so you know who’s who.
Petbarn – Australia’s Largest Pet Specialty Retailer
Petbarn is Australia’s leading pet specialty retailer with stores and Greencross Vets across Australia (and growing), offering exciting opportunities to build a rewarding career.
Petbarn is part of the larger Petstock Group (owned by Woolworths since 2022), which gives them significant resources and expansion plans. They operate standalone Petbarn stores plus integrated Greencross Vet clinics in many locations.
Petstock Group – The Big Network
The Petstock Group is a network of over 20 businesses offering animal care products, food and services, grooming and training, re-homing and adoption, veterinarian services and a foundation.
The Petstock Group includes multiple brands: Petstock, Petbarn, Greencross Vets, City Farmers, and others. This means if you work for one brand, you potentially have pathways to move across the entire network.
Other Major Retailers:
- Pet Stock (separate from Petstock Group, confusingly) – Independent chain with decent presence
- My Pet Warehouse – Growing discount retailer
- Pet Circle – Major online retailer with warehouse operations
- City Farmers – Rural and pet supplies
- Pets Domain – Boutique pet retailer
For this guide, I’m focusing primarily on Petbarn and Petstock since they’re the largest employers with the most diverse job opportunities.
The Types of Jobs Actually Available
Let’s break down what roles exist in Australian pet retail. This isn’t just “working at a pet store” – there’s a whole ecosystem of positions.
Retail Assistant / Sales Assistant (Entry-Level)
This is where most people start. You’re on the shop floor helping customers, restocking shelves, handling cash registers, caring for store animals (fish, birds, small animals), and maintaining store presentation.
Current listings show Petbarn has 204 jobs listed across Australia with many retail assistant positions available.
Requirements: Usually no experience needed, but animal knowledge helps. Must be comfortable with physical work (lifting 15-20kg bags of food), customer interaction, and shift work including weekends.
Pet Groomer / Pet Stylist
Many Petbarn locations have grooming salons looking for experienced dog groomers and pet stylists for both full and part-time positions.
This role requires certification (usually Certificate III or IV in Dog Grooming) and actual grooming experience. You’re bathing, cutting, styling, and caring for dogs (occasionally cats, though most cats aren’t keen on grooming salons).
Grooming Salon Manager
Experienced pet stylists can advance to Grooming Salon Manager positions at Petbarn locations like Pennant Hills.
You’re managing the grooming business within the store – scheduling appointments, supervising other groomers, maintaining equipment, and ensuring quality standards.
Assistant Store Manager
Petbarn regularly hires Assistant Store Managers for locations across major cities looking for pet-passionate retail leaders.
You’re the number two in the store, supporting the Store Manager with operations, staff management, inventory, and customer service. This is the key stepping stone to running your own store.
Store Manager
Store Manager positions are available at high-volume, fast-paced Petbarn locations like the Myaree store.
You’re running the entire operation – sales targets, staff hiring and management, inventory control, visual merchandising, compliance, and P&L responsibility. This is a serious retail management position that happens to be in a pet store.
Veterinary Positions
Since Petbarn operates with Greencross Vets and Petstock has its own vet network, there are legitimate veterinary career opportunities:
Veterinarian positions, Emergency Veterinarian roles, Vet Nurse positions, and Graduate Vet programs are available across the Petbarn/Greencross network.
These require proper veterinary qualifications (DVM or equivalent for vets, Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing for nurses).
Warehouse and Distribution
Behind the scenes, there are warehouse roles handling inventory, picking/packing online orders, and distribution. These aren’t customer-facing but are essential to the operation.
Head Office and Corporate Roles
Petstock Group offers roles in HR/People, Safety & Wellbeing, IT, eCommerce, Marketing, Finance & Legal, and more.
If you have professional qualifications in these areas and a passion for the pet industry, corporate roles offer stability and often better pay than retail positions.
The Money Talk: What You’ll Actually Earn
Let’s get brutally honest about compensation because “follow your passion” doesn’t pay rent.
Retail Assistant / Sales Assistant:
Hourly pay at Petstock ranges from AU$20.20 to AU$33.07 an hour on average.
For entry-level retail assistants, expect $22-25 per hour. This works out to roughly $45,000-$52,000 annually for full-time work. Casual positions get a loading (typically 25%) but no sick leave or annual leave.
Pet Groomer:
Dog Groomers at Petstock make an average of AU$25.96 per hour.
Experienced groomers can earn $50,000-$65,000 annually. Some positions are commission-based or have performance bonuses tied to grooming appointments completed.
Assistant Store Manager:
Expect $55,000-$70,000 annually plus potential bonuses. You’re entering proper retail management salary territory.
Store Manager:
Store Manager positions advertise attractive base plus super and bonus structures.
Salaries typically range from $65,000-$85,000 base, plus bonuses that can add $10,000-$20,000 if you hit targets. High-volume stores pay more.
Veterinarian:
Vet salaries vary widely based on experience but typically start around $70,000-$85,000 for new graduates and can reach $100,000-$150,000+ for experienced vets or specialists.
The Reality Check:
Pet retail doesn’t pay as well as some other retail sectors. You’re choosing this because you love animals, not because you’re getting rich. The pay is livable, particularly if you advance to management, but it’s not going to fund a luxury lifestyle.
However, significant benefits across Petstock and Woolworths Group include free access to mental health, financial and wellbeing support services, plus award-winning programs to support career growth.
How to Actually Get Hired: The Application Process
Now for the practical part – how do you land one of these jobs?
Step 1: Where to Search
SEEK has 204 Petbarn jobs listed with 24 directly at Petbarn across Australia.
LinkedIn shows 150 Petbarn jobs currently available in Australia.
Search on:
- SEEK (the dominant Australian job board)
- Indeed Australia
- LinkedIn Jobs
- Company websites directly (petbarn.com.au/careers, petstock.com.au/careers)
- Walk into stores and ask (seriously, this still works for retail)
Step 2: Tailor Your Application
Generic applications get nowhere in retail. Here’s what works:
For Retail Positions: Emphasize any customer service experience, ability to work weekends/evenings, physical fitness (you’ll be lifting heavy bags), and genuine passion for animals. If you have pets, mention them. If you volunteer with animal rescues, definitely mention that.
For Grooming Positions: List your certifications first (Certificate III/IV in Dog Grooming), detail your experience with different breeds and grooming techniques, mention any specialty skills (hand stripping, creative grooming, difficult dogs), and include before/after grooming photos if possible.
For Management Positions: Focus on retail metrics – sales growth you’ve driven, teams you’ve managed, inventory accuracy, customer satisfaction scores. The pet angle matters, but they’re hiring a retail manager first and a pet lover second.
Step 3: The Interview Process
People report that the interview at Petbarn is easy with the process taking about a week, with the overall experience rated as average.
Typical process:
- Phone screening (15-20 minutes)
- In-person interview with Store Manager (30-45 minutes)
- Sometimes a second interview with Regional/Area Manager for management roles
- Job offer (usually within 1-2 weeks of final interview)
Common interview questions:
- “Why do you want to work in pet retail?”
- “Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult customer”
- “How would you handle a customer whose dog is showing signs of illness?”
- “What would you do if you saw a coworker mistreating an animal?”
- “Can you work weekends and public holidays?”
Step 4: What They’re Actually Looking For
Beyond the obvious stuff (showing up on time, being presentable), successful candidates typically demonstrate:
- Genuine animal knowledge – You should know basic pet care, common health issues, and breed characteristics
- Retail awareness – Understanding that you’re there to drive sales while helping pets
- Physical capability – This is physically demanding work
- Flexibility – Retail hours mean weekends, evenings, and holiday shifts
- Resilience – You’ll deal with demanding customers, smelly situations, and sometimes animal messes
What It’s Really Like: The Good, The Bad, The Messy
Let’s talk about the reality of working in Australian pet retail, based on employee reviews and experiences.
The Good Stuff:
Positive reviews highlight that when starting at Petbarn, the team and culture were amazing, with store management providing excellent support.
- You’re around animals every day
- Your coworkers are typically fellow animal lovers
- Customers are usually in good moods (they’re shopping for their pets!)
- You learn a ton about animal care and products
- Employee discounts on pet supplies (major perk if you have pets)
- Benefits include mental health support services and award-winning career development programs
The Challenging Parts:
Some reviewers report that higher management never gave support, and management changes created HR cases leading to staff resignations.
Other complaints include having 3 different shifts without enough equipment, being written up for not doing enough work despite inadequate resources, and permanent workers being given priority over casuals while still expecting KPI’s to be met.
Petstock reviewers report that management doesn’t take bullying seriously, with threats of pay cuts for wanting to stop working with a bully, and HR talking employees in circles until they had no choice but to leave.
- Physical demands (you’re lifting 15-20kg bags constantly)
- Weekend and evening work is mandatory
- Dealing with difficult customers (and their badly behaved dogs)
- Cleaning up animal messes (aquariums, bird cages, small animal enclosures)
- Emotional toll when sick or injured animals come in
- KPI pressure in some locations
- Inconsistent management quality across stores
The Unexpected Realities:
You’ll become an expert at:
- Explaining why premium dog food costs more than supermarket brands
- Dealing with customers who insist their dog needs a sweater
- Cleaning fish tanks (so many fish tanks)
- Answering the same questions about puppy training 47 times a day
- Recommending products you’ve never personally used
- Working through busy periods (weekends, Christmas, tax return season)
Career Progression: Where Can This Actually Lead?
One of the questions people ask: “Is this a dead-end job or can I actually build a career?”
The honest answer: It depends on you and the company.
Typical Career Paths:
Path 1: Retail Management Track Retail Assistant → Senior Retail Assistant → Assistant Store Manager → Store Manager → Multi-Store Manager / Regional Manager
Timeline: 2-3 years to Assistant Store Manager, 4-6 years to Store Manager with consistent performance
Path 2: Specialist Track Pet Groomer → Senior Groomer → Salon Manager → Multi-Salon Supervisor → State-Based Grooming Trainer
Timeline: 1-2 years to Salon Manager if you’re skilled, 3-5 years to regional roles
Path 3: Veterinary Track Vet Nurse → Senior Vet Nurse / Nurse Manager → Practice Manager → Operations roles
Timeline: 2-4 years to management with proper qualifications
Path 4: Corporate / Head Office Store experience → Corporate role in Merchandising, Marketing, Training, HR, Operations
Timeline: 3-5 years retail experience before corporate opportunities
The key is taking advantage of award-winning programs to support career growth and actively pursuing promotion opportunities.
The Application Tips Nobody Tells You
Here are insider tips that actually make a difference:
Timing Matters: Apply September-November (Christmas hiring season) or January-February (post-holiday expansion). You’re more likely to get interviews when they’re actively expanding headcount.
Visit the Store First: Before applying, actually visit the store. Talk to staff. Observe how they interact with customers and animals. This gives you specific things to mention in your application (“I visited your Chatswood store and was impressed by how knowledgeable Sarah was about puppy nutrition…”)
Highlight Transferable Skills: Worked in hospitality? That’s customer service experience. Worked in warehousing? That’s inventory management. Worked in healthcare? That’s attention to detail and hygiene standards. Frame your past work in pet retail terms.
Address the Awkward Questions Upfront: Can’t work Saturdays due to religious observance? State it in your cover letter. Have a disability that affects lifting? Mention it and how you’d work around it. Being upfront prevents wasted time for everyone.
Follow Up: One week after applying, call the store and politely ask if they’ve had a chance to review your application. Don’t be pushy, just enthusiastic. Retail managers appreciate people who show initiative.
Be Realistic About Location: Willing to work in regional areas or less desirable suburbs? You’ll have far less competition and potentially faster advancement. The best opportunities aren’t always in trendy inner-city stores.
Common Mistakes That Kill Applications
Avoid these application killers:
Generic Cover Letters: “Dear Sir/Madam, I am applying for the retail position…” → Instant rejection. Address it to the specific store, mention why THAT location appeals to you.
No Animal Experience Mentioned: If you’ve never owned a pet, never volunteered with animals, and show no genuine interest in animal welfare, why would they hire you over someone who has?
Unrealistic Availability: “I can only work Tuesday and Thursday afternoons” → You’re not getting hired in retail. Be flexible or don’t apply.
Typos and Errors: Proofread. Then proofread again. “I am very detail-oriented” followed by three spelling mistakes is not convincing.
Overselling: “I’m the best dog groomer in Australia” → You sound arrogant. “I’ve been grooming for 8 years and specialized in difficult breeds” → You sound experienced and confident.
The Bottom Line: Is Pet Retail Right for You?
Here’s how to know if this career path makes sense.
This job IS a good fit if you:
- Genuinely love animals and find joy in helping pet owners
- Don’t mind physical work and being on your feet all day
- Can handle weekend and evening shifts
- Want a career with clear progression opportunities
- Value workplace culture and coworker relationships
- Are patient with repetitive questions and demanding customers
- Find satisfaction in retail sales and customer service
This job ISN’T a good fit if you:
- Expect high pay from day one
- Can’t work weekends or evenings
- Are very sensitive to smells and mess
- Prefer behind-a-desk computer work
- Struggle with sales targets and KPIs
- Want a 9-5 Monday-Friday schedule
- Are allergic to pets (obviously)
Your Action Plan: What to Do Right Now
Ready to pursue pet retail jobs in Australia? Here’s your step-by-step action plan:
Today:
- Update your resume highlighting customer service and animal experience
- Search SEEK and LinkedIn for current Petbarn and Petstock openings in your area
- Visit 2-3 local pet stores to observe operations and culture
This Week:
- Customize cover letters for 3-5 specific positions
- Submit applications directly through company websites
- Reach out to store managers via LinkedIn if appropriate
This Month:
- Follow up on applications
- Prepare for interviews by researching common pet retail interview questions
- Get any necessary certifications (e.g., grooming certificates, animal welfare courses)
Ongoing:
- Network with people working in pet retail
- Stay updated on industry trends
- Build your knowledge of pet nutrition, health, and products
The Australian pet industry is growing, and opportunities are real. With Petbarn stores and Greencross Vets across Australia and growing, there are always exciting opportunities to become part of the team and build a rewarding career.
Whether you start as a retail assistant helping customers choose the right flea treatment, or you’re an experienced groomer ready for salon management, or you’re a vet looking for a supportive practice environment – there’s a place for passionate, hard-working animal lovers in Australian pet retail.
The pay might not make you rich, but if you wake up excited to spend your day around pets and the people who love them, that’s worth something money can’t always buy.
Working in Australian pet retail or considering it? Share your experiences, questions, or tips in the comments below. Let’s help each other navigate this industry!
