Horse farriers are an important part of the equine industry. A horse farrier is a specialist in the care of horses’ hooves.
The job requires you to be knowledgeable about both horses and their feet, as well as how to work with them. It’s a specialized profession that many people don’t know much about, but it’s important for anyone who rides horses regularly or owns one.
Speaking of how much do horse farriers make?
And as the main topic of this article is, how much do horse farriers make? Horse farriers have an average yearly income of $15,000 to $30,000. Meanwhile, a full-time farrier working with superior breed racehorses can earn more than $150,000 per year. But, the hourly wage for horse farriers is varied in different locations. Per day Farriers can make anywhere from $35 per day up to $500 per day!
As we all know the salaries vary from state to state and country to country. I shared a table below where I listed the horse’s farrier salaries in different states. Give it a look I’m pretty sure you’ll find it useful and can get the better idea.
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Average Horse Farrier Salary by State
As we discussed earlier, horse farrier salary varies with location. As per Zip Recruiter, here is a detailed overview of horse farrier salary on an annual, monthly, weekly, and hourly wage.
| State | Annual Income | Monthly Salary | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $57,675 | $4,806 | $1,109 | $27.73 |
| Hawaii | $57,508 | $4,792 | $1,106 | $27.65 |
| Rhode Island | $55,480 | $4,623 | $1,067 | $26.67 |
| North Dakota | $54,471 | $4,539 | $1,048 | $26.19 |
| Alaska | $54,225 | $4,519 | $1,043 | $26.07 |
| Nevada | $53,797 | $4,483 | $1,035 | $25.86 |
| Washington | $53,751 | $4,479 | $1,034 | $25.84 |
| South Dakota | $52,880 | $4,407 | $1,017 | $25.42 |
| New York | $52,652 | $4,388 | $1,013 | $25.31 |
| Oregon | $52,283 | $4,357 | $1,005 | $25.14 |
| Maryland | $51,854 | $4,321 | $997 | $24.93 |
| Kansas | $51,826 | $4,319 | $997 | $24.92 |
| Nebraska | $50,894 | $4,241 | $979 | $24.47 |
| New Hampshire | $50,859 | $4,238 | $978 | $24.45 |
| Kentucky | $50,592 | $4,216 | $973 | $24.32 |
| Virginia | $50,226 | $4,185 | $966 | $24.15 |
| Colorado | $48,997 | $4,083 | $942 | $23.56 |
| South Carolina | $48,993 | $4,083 | $942 | $23.55 |
| Mississippi | $48,586 | $4,049 | $934 | $23.36 |
| Delaware | $48,504 | $4,042 | $933 | $23.32 |
| California | $48,477 | $4,040 | $932 | $23.31 |
| Vermont | $47,874 | $3,989 | $921 | $23.02 |
| Oklahoma | $47,302 | $3,942 | $910 | $22.74 |
| Wyoming | $47,175 | $3,931 | $907 | $22.68 |
| Connecticut | $46,969 | $3,914 | $903 | $22.58 |
| Arkansas | $46,169 | $3,847 | $888 | $22.20 |
| Michigan | $45,940 | $3,828 | $883 | $22.09 |
| Illinois | $45,920 | $3,827 | $883 | $22.08 |
| West Virginia | $45,765 | $3,814 | $880 | $22.00 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,543 | $3,795 | $876 | $21.90 |
| Idaho | $45,462 | $3,788 | $874 | $21.86 |
| New Jersey | $45,206 | $3,767 | $869 | $21.73 |
| Maine | $45,102 | $3,758 | $867 | $21.68 |
| Montana | $44,845 | $3,737 | $862 | $21.56 |
| Missouri | $44,777 | $3,731 | $861 | $21.53 |
| Arizona | $44,383 | $3,699 | $854 | $21.34 |
| Minnesota | $44,313 | $3,693 | $852 | $21.30 |
| Tennessee | $44,225 | $3,685 | $850 | $21.26 |
| Indiana | $44,098 | $3,675 | $848 | $21.20 |
| Texas | $43,951 | $3,663 | $845 | $21.13 |
| Wisconsin | $43,930 | $3,661 | $845 | $21.12 |
| Ohio | $43,906 | $3,659 | $844 | $21.11 |
| Utah | $43,411 | $3,618 | $835 | $20.87 |
| Louisiana | $42,975 | $3,581 | $826 | $20.66 |
| Georgia | $42,816 | $3,568 | $823 | $20.58 |
| Iowa | $42,411 | $3,534 | $816 | $20.39 |
| Alabama | $41,814 | $3,485 | $804 | $20.10 |
| North Carolina | $41,749 | $3,479 | $803 | $20.07 |
| New Mexico | $41,728 | $3,477 | $802 | $20.06 |
| Florida | $40,355 | $3,363 | $776 | $19.40 |
How Do You Become a Farrier? Is Being a Farrier a Good Career?
Becoming a horse farrier is not a piece of cake. This job requires genuine affection and interest for horses and their well-being.
Other than that, you will require excellent problem-solving and communication skills to succeed in your career. Here is what you need to do in order to become a farrier.
Required Education for Farriers: Do You Need to Go to College to Become a Farrier?
Getting a college degree to become a farrier is optional, however, a high-school diploma is required. You can also opt to get an additional college degree or a farrier certification to get the upper hand.
Even though proper certification isn’t mandatory in the U.S, horse owners are more likely to hire you if you have one.
But first things first, in order to become a farrier you have to register yourself with the Farriers’ Registration Council.
Recommended High School Courses:
According to AG Careers, if you want to pursue a job as a farrier then it is recommended to get a high school diploma in the following majors:
- Animal Science
- Agricultural Education
- Industrial Technology
- Welding
- Mathematics
- Business Courses
Getting Hands-on Experience
To become a farrier, you need to practice using a forge. For that purpose, you will require hands-on experience with your duties as a farrier. To learn, it is recommended to join a horseshoeing school so that you can get trained properly.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Farrier?
To become a horse farrier, a person will require a couple of years to get past their college education, horseshoeing school, and detailed training.
Summing up all these, it will take almost 4 to 5 years to become a qualified horse farrier with approved training.
Are Farriers in Demand?
According to a recent analysis, there are more than 25,000 farriers in the United States. Given the population of the U.S in 2019, which is 328.2 million, the amount of horse farriers is quite low.
Qualified farriers are preferred by horse owners to take care of their horses, that is why they are in high demand.
How Dangerous Is Being a farrier?
Being a farrier isn’t an easy task. However, if the horse is fully trained and accustomed to you then it will become much easier to do your job.
On the contrary, you might face some serious problems while working with a new horse who isn’t usual with having you around.
Horses who aren’t fully trained can also cause a huge disturbance for you while working with them. If a horse feels unsafe or insecure around you then you’ll have to face the consequences which include getting beaten or bitten by a horse.
Can I make a living as a farrier? Is Being a Farrier a Good Career?
You can definitely make a living as a farrier. Farriers receive a solid hourly and weekly wage that helps them to make a living easily.
Moreover, working with racehorses can help farriers earn more money than usual.
Being a farrier can result in a good career for those who love horses and who possess the right skillset. If you’re a person who is affectionate regarding horses then being a farrier can provide you mental satisfaction as well.
Conclusion
Horse farriers can make $15,000 to $30,000 per year or more than that. Farrier’s salary depends on the location. For instance, farriers in California have the potential to earn $48,477 per year. Meanwhile, the farriers in Montana and Texas have the potential to earn $44,845, and $43,951 per year, respectively.
Being a horse farrier is indeed a good profession for those who want the well-being of horses. But becoming a farrier isn’t easy.
You will require a high school diploma, hands-on experience, and approved training from a reliable institute to become a farrier.
In most cases, people also opt for a college degree, and farrier certifications as well because they give them more advantage to get hired by possible clients.
Keep in mind that becoming a farrier can be easy as well as hard at the same time. Working with a new or a less trained horse can result in serious injuries.
That’s why to ensure a smooth workflow as a Farrier, make sure that the animal feels comfortable around you.
