PetSmart pays biweekly through ADP, with 26 paychecks per year
PetSmart pays all associates on a biweekly schedule. Paychecks are processed through ADP at my.adp.com, and you need the registration code petm-pets to set up your account for the first time. Once registered, you can view pay stubs, W-2 forms, and direct deposit settings through the ADP portal.
PetSmart is privately owned by BC Partners, which means the company does not publish its fiscal year dates or file public earnings reports. But the annual cycle of pay dates, benefits enrollment, and performance reviews still follows a predictable pattern that every associate should understand.
PetSmart’s annual timeline for employees
Here is how the year typically breaks down for PetSmart associates, based on the company’s known enrollment periods and standard retail patterns:
January – February
- W-2 forms available through ADP by January 31. Navigate to Pay, then Tax Statements. The PetSmart W-2 page and former employee W-2 page have the full steps.
- New calendar-year benefits elections take effect (coverage from the prior fall’s open enrollment starts January 1).
- 401(k) contribution limits reset per IRS calendar-year rules.
- Annual performance reviews and merit increases process early in the year for many associates.
March – May
- Spring pet adoption events drive store traffic. Grooming salon and training bookings pick up.
- Mid-year check-ins for some roles.
- Quarterly sales targets may affect scheduling for management.
June – August
- Summer is a busy period for pet hotels and grooming salons.
- Free monthly pet services continue year-round for associates (dog wash, teeth cleaning, nail grinding).
- If you are tracking your PTO balance, mid-year is a good time to plan your remaining time off.
September – October
- Open enrollment runs during this window. PetSmart’s 2026 open enrollment was October 13-24 for benefits effective January 1, 2026. Expect a similar window for the 2027 plan year.
- Benefits are managed through the Alight portal at worklife.alight.com/petsmart (or digital.alight.com/petsmart). The PetSmart employee benefits page covers all available plans.
November – December
- Holiday shopping season drives peak pet product and gift card sales. Seasonal associates may be brought on.
- Year-end PTO usage deadlines approach. PetSmart uses a use-it-or-lose-it policy for vacation and discretionary hours. Sick time rolls over up to 120 hours. Check the PetSmart PTO policies page for the full breakdown.
- Review your 401(k) contributions before December 31 to maximize any remaining match opportunity.
How PetSmart’s biweekly pay works
Each pay period covers 14 calendar days, and you receive your paycheck on the following Friday. That gives you 26 paychecks per year, with two months including three paychecks instead of two. Identifying those three-paycheck months at the start of the year helps with budgeting.
If your Friday payday falls on a federal bank holiday, ADP typically processes the deposit on the prior business day. In 2026, watch for adjusted dates around July 4th (observed July 3, a Friday) and Christmas (December 25, a Friday).
PetSmart does not currently offer an earned wage access tool like DailyPay or the Even app. You wait for the standard biweekly cycle with no early access option.
To access your pay stubs and tax documents, log into ADP at my.adp.com with your User ID and password. If you have not registered, use the code petm-pets during setup. The PetSmart login portals page covers ADP, HR Connect, and the Alight benefits portal.
PTO and the calendar year at PetSmart
PetSmart’s PTO accrual follows a calendar-year cycle:
Full-time associates earn 80 hours (2 weeks) in years 0 through 4, increasing to 120 hours (3 weeks) at year 5, and 160 hours (4 weeks) at year 10. You also get 16 discretionary hours per year. Sick time accrues at 4 hours per month and rolls over up to a 120-hour cap.
The use-it-or-lose-it rule means vacation and discretionary hours do not carry over. If you do not use them by the end of the calendar year, they are gone. Plan your time off early, especially if you are in a department like grooming or pet hotel where scheduling flexibility is tighter.
The employee discount and free pet services
PetSmart offers a 15% discount on most products and services, plus 50% off select proprietary brands (Authority, Simply Nourish, Only Natural Pet food and litter). These discounts apply year-round and are not affected by the fiscal calendar or any annual reset.
The standout perk at PetSmart is the free monthly pet services: one dog wash, one teeth cleaning, and one nail grinding per month through the grooming salon. You also get a free 6-week puppy or beginner training class. These perks reset monthly, not annually. The PetSmart employee discounts page has the full list including PerkSpot deals and discounted pet insurance.
What former PetSmart associates need to know
If you have left PetSmart, your W-2 is still accessible through ADP at my.adp.com using the registration code petm-pets. Navigate to Pay, then Tax Statements. W-2s are available by January 31 each year.
If your ADP access is no longer working, contact PetSmart HR at 1-866-263-8411 or email hrsharedservices@petsmart.com. The PetSmart HR contact guide has additional contact options.
For the full set of PetSmart employee resources, visit the PetSmart employee resource hub.
How PetSmart’s fiscal calendar compares to other pet and retail employers
PetSmart is privately held by BC Partners, so it does not publish a fiscal year calendar the way publicly traded retailers like Walmart or Target do. But based on the open enrollment timing (October, with coverage starting January 1), PetSmart almost certainly operates on a calendar-year or near-calendar-year fiscal cycle for benefits and HR planning.
Compared to competitors, PetSmart’s biweekly pay through ADP is standard. The 15% general discount is considered modest by employees, though the 50% off proprietary brands and the free monthly pet services (dog wash, teeth cleaning, nail grinding) make the total package more competitive than the headline number suggests. No other retailer we cover offers free monthly services as an employee perk.
The 401(k) match at PetSmart is 50 cents per dollar up to 6% of pay, vesting at 20% per year. That is less generous than Aldi’s 100% match on the first 5% or Target’s dollar-for-dollar up to 5%, but it is still a meaningful benefit for associates who enroll early and let the vesting schedule build. Review your contribution rate at least once per year, and consider increasing it during those three-paycheck months when your budget has more room.
If you are planning to leave PetSmart, the PetSmart quitting process page covers how to resign and what happens to your PTO and benefits. The PetSmart benefits after termination page covers COBRA timelines and 401(k) rollovers.