Home Boarding Kennel Operator Salary
Boarding Kennel Operator salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a boarding kennel operator is $54,600 per annum, before tax, up $11,300 since 2018.
DerivedIndicative estimate, not yet verified against official Jobs and Skills Australia / ABS data · Estimate
- Pay depends heavily on whether you own the kennel or work in someone else's, because owners carry the costs and take what is left.
- Larger facilities, and those offering on-site or live-in arrangements, can pay more or include accommodation.
- For most employees the school holiday and Christmas peaks bring longer hours rather than higher rates.
The median salary rose by $11,300 between 2018 and 2024; the dashed line shows a projection to 2028 based on the real ABS Wage Price Index growth rate, not a role-specific forecast.
Roles that pay more than boarding kennel operator
The largest typical pay rise is $32,100 a year, moving into Veterinary Nurse.
- Veterinary Nurse+$32,100/yr
- Animal Attendant+$11,800/yr
- Dog Groomer+$11,800/yr
How to negotiate a higher boarding kennel operator salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time boarding kennel operator salary is $54,600; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Animal care and handling and Cleaning and grounds maintenance tend to command a premium over general boarding kennel operator experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Veterinary Nurse pays a typical $32,100 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Boarding Kennel Operator salary questions
How much do boarding kennel operators earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a boarding kennel operator is $54,600 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is boarding kennel operator pay rising or falling?
The median boarding kennel operator salary is up $11,300 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than boarding kennel operator?
Veterinary Nurse pays a typical $32,100 a year more and draws on similar skills to boarding kennel operator.
Related salaries
- Animal Attendant salary
- Veterinary Nurse salary
- Dog Breeder salary
- Dog Groomer salary
- Dog Trainer salary
- Dog Walker salary
Pay advice
- How to ask for a pay rise, and back it up with real numbersWhat national wage growth looks like right now, how to work out a figure for your own role, wording you can adapt for the conversation, and what to do if the answer is no.
- The average salary in Australia (2026)Full-time adults in Australia averaged $2,083.70 a week in May 2026. Several measures get called the average salary, and this explains which one fits your situation.
- Overtime pay, time in lieu and what your award saysOvertime rates come from your award or agreement, not one national rule. How rates work, what happens on a salary, and how time off in lieu works.