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Summer is always a busy travel season, but while pet parents are away, who will be there to care for those very important four-legged family members who can’t come along? That’s where pet sitters come in.
Professionals who love and care for pets just like their own offer pet care services in every city, but what you spend can vary significantly from place to place. As we head into the summer months, here are posted rates to help you get a better idea of what you can expect to pay when you book summer pet care.
Key takeaways
- Summer is a busy travel season, and pet sitting rates may be higher than usual. The average posted rate for pet sitting is $16.11 per hour, according to Care.com data, though it can range from as high as $23 per hour to as low as $12.
- Pet sitters are beneficial because they are able to check in frequently, handle emergencies and make sure each pet is comfortable and secure. You can find sitters for cats and dog, as well as smaller animals like hamsters or lizards.
- Pet sitter cost can vary depending on the number of pets who need care, length and level of care, how much experience the pet sitter has, the type and size of the animal and any additional services provided. It’s important to hire a sitter with expertise for your pet.
Why hire summer pet care?
Professional pet sitters not only provide summer care for pets, but they also provide peace of mind for pet parents on the go. With summer care lined up, you don’t have to worry about how often the dog will be walked or whether the neighbor you asked to feed the cat will actually show up. Pet sitters also look out for the safety and well-being of animals. They’re able to check in frequently, handle emergencies and make sure each pet is comfortable and secure.
How much does it cost to hire summer pet care?
As with all forms of care, pet sitting services do come with a cost, and prices may be slightly higher during the summer months when this type of care is in high demand. But, the good news is that quality pet care is available and affordable in many parts of the country, and knowing the cost ahead of time can help you budget accordingly.
The average posted rate for pet sitting is $16.11 per hour, according to Care.com data. But posted rates for pet care services can range from just over $23 per hour in higher cost metropolitan areas to $12 or less per hour throughout many parts of the South and Midwest. In Tallahassee, Florida, for example, the average posted rate for a pet sitter is $14.71 per hour, while those living in Annapolis, Maryland, can expect to pay an average posted rate of $16.60 per hour.
The cost for a pet sitter can also vary depending on:
- The number of pets who need care.
- The type and size of the pets.
- How much experience the sitter has.
- The length of care needed.
- The level of care required.
- Additional services provided.
Here are average posted hourly pet sitting rates in some of the most and least expensive U.S. cities to hire summer pet care.
Posted summer pet care rates in major U.S. cities*
| City, State | Average hourly posted pet care rate |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles, California | $20.18 |
| Santa Fe, New Mexico | $19.77 |
| Denver, Colorado | $19.26 |
| Sacramento, California | $19.13 |
| Olympia, Washington | $18.37 |
| Hartford, Connecticut | $18.23 |
| Salem, Oregon | $17.89 |
| Augusta, Maine | $17.40 |
| Phoenix, Arizona | $17.30 |
| Boston, Massachusetts | $16.79 |
| Albany, New York | $16.93 |
| Jefferson City, Missouri | $15.75 |
| Lincoln, Nebraska | $15.15 |
| Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | $13.32 |
| Jackson, Mississippi | $13.11 |
| Topeka, Kansas | $13.00 |
| Cheyenne, Wyoming | $12.19 |
| Columbia, South Carolina | $12.05 |
| Baton Rouge, Louisiana | $12.02 |
| Dover, Delaware | $11.79 |
| Montgomery, Alabama | $11.08 |
Calculate the going pet care rate in your city
Don’t see your city on the list? Use the latest Care.com data to estimate the average posted pet care costs, based on where you live. Just enter your city, state and pet care service into the Cost of Care Calculator.
