In Australia, Self Employed Pet Sitters Dog Walkers and Groomers are generally not covered by a National Award for minimum wage due to the nature of their work. Here are a few key reasons:
- Independent Contractor Status: Most pet sitters operate as independent contractors or freelancers, not employees. They set their own rates, hours, and work conditions, which makes them outside the scope of minimum wage protections under an Award.
- No Specific Award: Right now there is no specific Award under Australia’s Fair Work Act that directly covers pet sitting services. The National Awards system is industry-based, and pet sitting doesn’t fall neatly into an existing category like hospitality or retail.
- Work is on a per job basis: Dog walks are hourly recurring, doggy day care is a block of 8 hours during the day, pet boarding is a block of 24hours, home visits are 20 minutes, dog washing is 30 mins to 1 hour. Similar to other gig economy jobs, pet sitters often work on a per-job basis, with varying fees depending on the service, time, and client. Gig work often escapes the typical employer-employee relationship needed to apply for an Award.
- Marketplace Platforms: Many pet sitters use service platforms like PetCloud to find clients. These platforms act as intermediaries between sitters and pet owners rather than employers, meaning the sitters are responsible for setting their own rates, rather than being paid a set wage.
While pet sitters may not have a national minimum wage under an Award, they can set their own rates on their listing, set their refund policy and select their terms with clients.
So what price should you charge?
In comparison, the average employed Animal Attendant salary in Australia (where award rates do apply) is $64,496 per year or $33.07 per hour. They are paid:
- Annual leave 4 weeks
- Superannuation 11.5%
- Personal / Sick leave 10 days
- Weekend rates
- Public holiday penalties
- Allowances for overtime, age, or special skills
Entry-level employed positions start at $56,609 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $75,325 per year.
Parental leave is provided for employed Animal Attendants in the National Employment Standards.
