How Much Do Pet Sitters Make? (Per Visit, Per Night, and Per Year)
5 min read·Updated June 2026
The short answer
Pet sitters earn roughly $18 to $35 per drop-in visit and $50 to $100 per overnight. Whether you work through an app or independently matters: services like Rover take a cut, while independent sitters keep the full fee. Part-time it is solid side income; full-time with a dense route and overnights it can reach $40,000 to $60,000 and up.
App vs. independent
Apps bring clients but keep a percentage of every booking. Many sitters use an app to build reviews, then move repeat clients to direct booking to keep the full rate.
Overnights and holidays are the high earners
Drop-in visits fill the day, but overnights and holiday bookings pay far more per job. Sitters who fill peak weeks and offer overnight stays earn well above those who only do midday drop-ins.
How to earn more
- Build a recurring route and a base of repeat clients.
- Offer overnights and boarding, not just drop-ins.
- Move from apps to direct clients to keep the full fee.
- Charge a clear holiday premium.
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