Can You Make Good Money on Rover in 2025?

If you love animals and want to earn extra income on a flexible schedule, working with Rover might be the perfect fit. Whether you’re walking dogs after your 9–5 or offering overnight pet sitting on weekends, Rover gives pet lovers the tools to turn their time and care into a reliable side hustle—or even a full-time business. But before you sign up and start booking clients, it’s essential to understand how the platform works—including how much Rover workers make in 2025, what factors affect your earnings, and how to maximize your income.

Can You Make Good Money on Rover in 2025?

Yes, you can—especially if you’re consistent, responsive, and offer multiple pet care services. While Rover doesn’t pay a fixed hourly wage, many workers earn solid income by setting competitive rates, building a base of repeat clients, and taking advantage of high-demand windows like holidays and weekends. In this post, we’ll break down what Rover workers earn in 2025, what affects those earnings, and how to make the most of your time on the platform.

Do Rover workers get paid per hour?

No, Rover dog walkers and pet sitters do not get paid by the hour traditionally. Instead, they’re independent contractors who set their rates per service. 

For example:

• Dog walks are usually priced per 30-minute or 60-minute session, not by the hour.
• Drop-in visits are also charged per visit, not hourly.
• Overnight stays are paid per night, regardless of how many hours they spend.
  

So while you can estimate an hourly rate when planning (like $17.25/hour for dog walking), the actual payment structure is per service, not per hour.

How Much Do Rover Workers Make in 2025?

If you’re thinking about turning your love of animals into a side hustle or part-time job, Rover is one of the most popular platforms to get started. But before you begin walking dogs or boarding pets, it’s essential to ask: How much do Rover workers make in 2025?

Rover pet sitters and dog walkers are independent contractors, meaning they set their own rates and are paid per service, not per hour. Earnings vary based on service type, experience, location, and availability.

According to Indeed, the average earnings for Rover workers in 2025 are:

• $17.25/hour for dog walking (estimated from per-walk rates; Rover does not pay hourly)
• $35–$75/night for overnight pet sitting or boarding
• $10–$20/visit for drop-in care
  

While those averages provide a helpful baseline, many sitters earn more—especially those who offer premium services, receive tips, and build a base of repeat clients. Understanding what influences earnings is the first step to setting realistic expectations and building a profitable pet care business.

How Does Pay Work With Rover?

Unlike traditional gig apps with flat rates, Rover gives you more control over your pricing and the services you provide. That flexibility is a big reason why many pet care providers choose Rover.

Rover allows sitters to set their own prices and offer multiple services, including:

• Dog walking
  Drop-in visits
• Doggy daycare
• Overnight pet sitting (in the owner’s home)
• Boarding (in your home)
  

As a sitter, you can set your own rates for dog walking, daycare, boarding, and drop-in visits. Rover deducts a 20% service fee from each completed booking. You keep 80% of your listed rate, plus 100% of any customer tips.

You’re paid via direct deposit two days after completing a service. While not guaranteed, Tips are optional through the app and go 100% to the sitter.

This structure allows experienced sitters to increase their rates over time and earn more per hour. Payments are sent via direct deposit within two days of completing a service, making it easy to manage cash flow.

By setting the right rates and building a strong client base, you can steadily increase your income while working on your own terms.

Rover Average Hourly, Daily, and Weekly Earnings

Because Rover services are priced by the visit or per night—not hourly—your actual earnings depend on how many jobs you complete and how efficiently you schedule them.

The more services you offer and the more consistent your availability, the more likely you are to build steady weekly earnings. Many experienced Rover users also stack services, such as watching a daycare dog while boarding another overnight, to increase efficiency.

What Affects How Much You Can Earn on Rover?

Your earnings on Rover aren’t just a result of time spent working. Multiple factors affect how much you can make:

Location: Urban areas tend to have higher demand and higher rates. Sitters in cities like New York, Austin, or San Francisco often earn more than those in rural regions.

Reputation: Clients tend to book sitters with strong reviews and reliable service. A polished profile, fast response time, and consistent 5-star ratings can all help increase your bookings.

Service Type: Boarding and overnight stays are typically the most lucrative services. Walks and drop-ins are faster to complete but pay less per appointment.

Availability: Sitters who can accommodate holidays, weekends, and last-minute requests tend to see higher booking rates and can charge premium prices.

By understanding these variables and optimizing for them, you can improve both your booking volume and your hourly rate over time.

Most Profitable Rover Services

Not all services are created equal when it comes to earning potential. Some require more time or responsibility but can significantly boost your bottom line.

• Overnight Boarding: With rates often starting at $50, $75/night, this is one of the highest-earning services, especially if you’re boarding multiple pets.
• Doggy Daycare: Great for sitters with a home setup, this can be stacked with other services for maximum productivity.
• Holiday Care: Clients are willing to pay more during peak travel seasons—plan ahead to capitalize on these windows.
• Multi-Pet Bookings: Charging extra per additional pet lets you increase your per-visit or per-night earnings with minimal added effort.
  

Offering a mix of services and positioning yourself as a reliable, full-service sitter can set you apart and help you book higher-value jobs consistently.

Expenses to Keep in Mind

Even though Rover doesn’t charge subscription fees, there are still costs to consider. Since you’re operating as an independent contractor, it’s up to you to manage expenses and track them for tax purposes.

• Pet supplies (bowls, toys, waste bags, cleaning supplies)
• Gas and travel time if you go to clients’ homes
• Pet insurance or first aid training (optional, but helpful)
• Rover’s 20% service fee on all bookings
• Time-related costs—especially for boarding and long visits

Even though Rover doesn’t charge subscription fees, there are still costs to consider. Since you’re operating as an independent contractor, it’s up to you to manage expenses and track them for tax purposes.

Tips to Maximize Your Rover Income

Want to increase your earnings without adding more hours? Here are strategies that successful Rover workers swear by:

• Keep your calendar open and current, especially for weekends and holidays.
• Respond to messages quickly. Fast replies improve your search ranking.
• Ask for reviews. After a great stay or walk, don’t be shy. Politely ask your client to leave a review.
• Offer multiple services. Walks, drop-ins, boarding, and daycare help you stay booked across different types of clients.
• Build client loyalty. Repeat customers mean less marketing and more predictable income.
  

By focusing on reliability, communication, and client satisfaction, you can stand out and steadily increase your bookings and rates.

Tracking Your Income and Performance

Rover provides essential booking and payout summaries but doesn’t offer deeper insights into your overall performance, profitability, or multi-app earnings, especially if you’re juggling other platforms like Wag!, Instacart, or DoorDash.

With Gridwise, you can:

• Track earnings per day, per week, or per client
• Log expenses and mileage if you drive to pet care jobs
• Analyze which services or time slots are most profitable
• Combine Rover income with other platforms for a full financial picture
  

This visibility helps you decide better which services to focus on and where to get the best return for your time.

Disclaimer: Gridwise is not a tax advisor or financial institution. Please consult a certified tax professional for guidance on deductible expenses and self-employment taxes.

Making Rover Work for You: The Takeaway

Working with Rover in 2025 can be a rewarding and flexible way to earn income—especially if you love animals and prefer personalized, client-focused work over traditional gig apps.

While rates vary by service and location, sitters who provide excellent care, build strong client relationships, and treat their profile like a business often earn well above average. The more proactive you are with availability, pricing, and professionalism, the more consistent and scalable your earnings will be.