How Old Do You Have to Be to Work at Petco? (At Least 18 Years Old And Jobs)

Petco is a retail company that sells pet food, products, and certain types of live small animals. It is your one-stop shop for everything pet related. If you’re job hunting, remember there are always criteria you need to meet, and age sometimes affects whether you can apply for a job or not.

One thing’s for sure; there’s a minimum age for employment that has been set by The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). While the minimum age for employment is 14, companies can choose to raise that number to 16 years of age or even 18. It depends on the job requirements, the company’s mission, and even the state they live in. 

So, how old do you have to be to work at Petco? Well, let’s take a closer look and find out…

What’s The Minimum Age Requirement?

Well, you must be at least 18 years old. Also, having a high school diploma or GED will increase your chances of landing a job there. There are no negotiations on this, so if you’re under 18, you’re not eligible for a job at Petco. Now that you know the minimum age requirement, let’s look at the jobs that you could apply for. 

How Old Do You Have to Be to Work at Petco? – Which Jobs Can You Apply For?

You can apply to be a grooming apprentice, a guest experience specialist, or a Vetco customer service representative. It’s best if you’re also an animal lover and have experience taking care of them. It’ll make your job worthwhile as you gain work experience. 

1 Grooming Apprentice

If you love pets and you’re into styling, then this job has your name written all over it. Being a grooming apprentice is one way of growing your skills to become a pet stylist. The hourly rate is between $8 and $13. The average hourly rate for this position is $9. However, if you don’t have any experience working with animals, you might start with a lower wage.

Your responsibilities include providing basic salon services. Trimming pets’ fur and nails are all part of the mix. Get this! Trimming a pet’s nails is now commonly referred to as a “pawdicure,” a blend of the words “paws” and “pedicure.” Use a grooming kit that comes with all the essentials needed for a good trim. It’s suitable for dogs, cats, and other pets. 

Free in-house training…

A grooming apprentice also provides customer service and recommendations for pet owners. There might be some necessary administrative tasks that need to be performed. These include stock intake for what you need to provide the best service possible. 

It gets better! This position prepares you to be a Petco pet stylist, and you’ll be taught all the professional styling skills needed. 

2 Guest Experience Specialist

You need people skills and a love for animals. As the guest experience specialist at Petco, expect your average hourly rate to be $9. If you have some experience with sales and customer service, you’ll start at $12 per hour.

Your main goal is to help pets and their parents while they’re in the store. You must assist by recommending products and services. If you’re an enthusiastic person, you’ll easily demonstrate an interest in the health and wellness of your customers’ pets. This will contribute to achieving the store’s sales goals.

Product knowledge is a must!

Try to understand animals’ welfare so that your recommendations are helpful and genuine. Before you take up this role, have a look at the products that Petco sells. This way, you can share product knowledge and recommend the right merchandise to your customers.

You’ll be responsible for taking care of the animals, birds, reptiles, and fish in the store. This includes cleaning their habitats and taking note of their medical needs. 

Awesome rewards program…

With your communication skills, you’ll sign-up customers for the Pals Rewards Program. This program is a favorite with customers because they earn 1 Pals Rewards point for every dollar spent on merchandise. Your responsibilities also include performing cashier duties, some administrative duties, and assisting in stocking merchandise.

3 Vetco Customer Service Representative

As a health and wellness company, Petco has in-house clinics. These are known as Vetco, and they offer professional expertise for common pet health problems, including vaccines. It also offers preventive care services for cats and dogs, but there’s a catch. Vetco operates more like a pop-up service because the vets show up at the store with meds and vaccines for the pets. 

As a customer service representative, you’ll attend to all inquiries. You’ll also provide feedback and help resolve customer issues. Efficiency is key when you have this role. You must maintain up-to-date customer records, so being computer literate will work to your advantage. 

What is the hourly rate?

The average hourly rate for this position is $10. The pay range per hour is between $8 and $21, which gives you room to negotiate if you already have some work experience.

Do You Need Any Prior Work Experience?

Good news! You don’t need any prior work experience to work at Petco. If you’re interested in a job, go to the Petco Career Page. Petco is an entry-level friendly company, but you need to be well dressed for your interview. Don’t show up in flip-flops and shorts; instead, be dressed in smart casual attire.

What To Expect In An Interview

While the interview questions depend on the panel, here’s what you can expect. As a pet store, most interview questions will be centered around the wellness of animals. You’ll be asked whether or not you have experience working with animals. There’s no ideal answer as the positions being interviewed for are entry-level. 

If your experience is from pet-walking or dog-sitting, it’s worth mentioning. If you don’t have any experience, you can mention your passion and curiosity to work with animals. It shows that you’re willing to learn and gain professional skills. 

Highlight your skills!

As with most interviews, you’ll be asked about your strengths and weaknesses, your work ethic, and expectations. Depending on the store’s operating hours, you may be asked if you’re able to work nights, weekends, or holidays.

What Are The Benefits Of Working At Petco?

Other than helping improve the lives of animals and their owners, you enjoy a few other perks. These include vacation time, paid time off, and paid sick days. Petco employees get to enjoy medical, dental, and vision insurance. A 401(k) with matching contributions and disability assistance are part of the package. 

You’ll also get cell phone plan discounts and flexible spending accounts. 

Looking For Your First Job?

Well, here are some more job opportunities to read about with my How Old Do You Have To Be To Work at Bed Bath and Beyond, my How Old do you have to be to Work at Bath and Body Works, or perhaps my How Old Do You Have To Be To Work at Victorias Secret.

Furthermore, take a look at my How Old Do You Have To Be To Work at H&M, my How Old do you have to be to Work at Vans, or alternatively, my How Old Do You Have To Be To Work at Planet Fitness, and How Old Do You Have To Be To Work at KFC, in 2023.

Lastly, de[ending on which state you live in, check out our How To Get A Work Permit In Louisiana, our How To Get A Work Permit In Georgia, or how about our How To Get A Work Permit In Ohio, our How To Get A Work Permit In Oregon, and even our How To Get A Work Permit In Pennsylvania, and our How to Get a Work Permit in Hawaii.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Petco? – Final Thoughts

Petco has entry-level positions which are worth looking into once you turn 18, but make sure you go through all the job requirements. 

Filling out an online application is quick and easy, but you can also go to your local Petco to inquire about any vacancies. If you’re a good fit, you’ll get a call from the store manager or representative to set up an interview. With the employee benefits package provided, this is a good place to kickstart your career. 

So, take the next step and browse through the official Petco website to see if any vacancies are of interest to you.

 Good luck and happy job hunting!