How much to charge for pet sitting
Pet sitting is priced per visit, but the cost that actually decides your profitability is drive time between them.
Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for pet sitters in the national average:
Covers costs and tax with zero profit. Below this you are paying to work.
Pays you properly, covers overhead and self-employment tax, and leaves a 15% margin.
Specialised, in-demand, or booked out. Achievable once you are turning work away.
- Effective hourly rate
- $51.79/hr
- Billable hours per year
- 720
- Revenue at this rate
- $37,291
- Employee equivalentBLS wage for this work in your state
- $15.40/hr
How pet sitters actually price their work
There is no single right structure — but there is usually a right one for each kind of job.
Per drop-in visit
20–30 minute visits, typically $20–$30. The most common structure and the one most exposed to travel time.
Per overnight
Staying at the client home, typically $60–$100 per night depending on market and number of pets.
Per day / daily rate
Multiple visits per day for one household, bundled at a modest discount to the per-visit price.
The mistake that costs pet sitters the most
Pricing a 20-minute visit as 20 minutes of work. A visit 15 minutes away is really a 50-minute commitment. Sitters who ignore drive time can be busy every day and still earn below minimum wage — set a service radius and either price outside it higher or decline it.
What pet sitting overhead actually looks like
These are the defaults behind the calculator. Yours will differ — change the overhead figure above to match.
| Cost | Typical / year |
|---|---|
| Mileage and vehicle wear | $3,600 |
| Insurance and bonding | $500 |
| Scheduling and payment software | $480 |
| Supplies, keys, lockboxes | $300 |
| Total | $4,880 |
Where pet sitters earn the most
Median hourly wage by state, from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.
| State | Median |
|---|---|
| Washington | $18.46 |
| District of Columbia | $18.26 |
| California | $17.88 |
| Massachusetts | $17.74 |
| New York | $17.55 |
| Connecticut | $17.46 |
| Maine | $17.46 |
| Maryland | $17.30 |
| Vermont | $17.12 |
| Alaska | $17.10 |
Common questions about pet sitting pricing
What is the going rate for dog sitting per day?
Drop-in visits average $20–$30 each and overnight stays $60–$100 nationally, but rates vary widely by metro area. Use your state figure above rather than a national average, since cost of living drives most of the spread.
Should I charge extra for additional pets?
Yes — typically $5–$10 per additional pet per visit. A second dog adds handling time and risk, and clients expect the surcharge.
How much should I charge for holiday pet sitting?
A holiday surcharge of 25–50% per visit is standard and widely accepted. Demand massively exceeds supply on major holidays, and you are giving up your own.
How this calculator works
The starting point is the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2024), which reports what pet sitters earn as employees in each state.
An employee wage is not a business rate, and treating it as one is the most common reason home-based operators price below cost. An employer covers half your payroll tax, your benefits, your paid leave, and every non-billable hour of your day. Self-employed, all four come out of the same rate.
So the calculator grosses the wage up for self-employment tax (15.3% on 92.35% of net earnings), adds roughly 28% for benefits you now self-fund, adds your overhead, applies a 15% margin, and then divides by billable hours only — not hours worked.
These are estimates. Your market, specialisation and reputation move the number, and every assumption above is adjustable so you can disagree with ours.
Other pricing calculators
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2024 (released 2026). This tool provides estimates only and is not financial advice.