Your earnings as a dog walker depend on how you structure your business and the time you invest:
Earnings by Commitment Level
- Side hustle (5–10 hours/week): $400–$800/month, $5,000–$10,000/year
- Part-time (15–25 hours/week): $1,500–$3,000/month, $18,000–$36,000/year
- Full-time (30–40 hours/week): $3,500–$5,500/month, $45,000–$65,000/year
- Full-time with extras: $5,500–$7,000/month, $65,000–$85,000/year
Urban vs. Suburban Earnings
- Major cities (Chicago, NYC, SF): $25–$35 per walk average, higher volume opportunities
- Mid-size cities: $20–$30 per walk, moderate demand
- Suburban/rural: $15–$25 per walk, lower volume but less competition
Maximizing Your Earnings
Top earners combine multiple strategies:
- Recurring clients: Build a base of 15–20 regular weekly clients for consistent income
- Premium services: Offer training reinforcement, medication administration, senior pet care
- Additional services: Pet sitting, boarding, daycare for revenue diversification
- Low-fee platforms: Use Tails (15% total fees, keep 85% of what clients pay) instead of Rover (31% total fees, keep 69%) or Wag (~40%, keep ~60%)
- Efficient routing: Book clients in clusters to maximize walks per hour
Real Chicago Walker Example (2026)
Sarah, full-time walker with 2 years experience:
- Rates: $30 per 30-min walk, $50 per 60-min walk
- Schedule: 8 walks/day, 5 days/week, plus weekend pet sitting
- Monthly: $4,800 (walks) + $800 (sitting) = $5,600
- Annual: ~$65,000
Start earning on your own terms. Join Tails to connect with pet owners and build your dog walking business.