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Farrier · 2026 salary + AI outlook

Farrier salary — and how to earn like the top 1%

$45,000median / year · about $22 an hour (BLS)

AI can't trim a hoof or set a shoe; the farriers who out-earn specialize in therapeutic and corrective shoeing and run a full book with route-optimized scheduling apps.

Entry level
$28,000
Top earners
$72,000
Job growth
+5%
AI exposure
Low
🏆 The Top 1% Playbook

How to reach the top 1% of Farriers

Four moves, straight from how the highest-paid in this field use AI in 2026:

1
Earn the CJF Certify as an American Farrier's Association Certified Journeyman Farrier, then chase the AWCF Fellowship. The top credential signals master skill and wins the sport-horse and vet-referral clients who pay premium per-head rates.
2
Go therapeutic Partner with equine vets on lameness cases — laminitis, navicular — building glue-ons, heart-bar and bar shoes off radiographs. Corrective and therapeutic shoeing bills multiples of a routine pasture trim.
3
Work sport barns Build a route of eventing, dressage, hunter-jumper, and racing clients on tight five-week reset cycles. Performance-horse owners pay premium rates and never skip a shoeing, keeping your book full and predictable.
4
Run a tight book Route-optimize your day and automate invoicing and reminders with Jobber or the Farrier's Assistant app. Fitting more horses per drive and killing no-shows is where a solo farrier's income actually leaks or grows.
💡 The move that pays: Therapeutic and sport-horse shoeing — the corrective judgment no machine can replicate — is what separates a top farrier's income from the pasture-trim rate.
HomeJob Salaries › Farrier Salary

Farrier Salary in 2026

Farrier pay, in real terms

Per hour
$21.63
Per week
$865
Every 2 weeks
$1,731
Per month
$3,750

At the national median of $45,000/year, a farrier earns $3,750/month before taxes. Over a 30-year career that's roughly $1,350,000 in gross earnings — and that's before raises, promotions, or bonuses.

That puts this role about 6% below the U.S. median wage for all workers (about $48,060/year, per BLS). Using the common rule of keeping housing under 30% of gross pay, this salary supports about $1,125/month in rent or mortgage.

Figures are gross (pre-tax) estimates from the national median; use the take-home and hourly calculators on PayCrunch for your exact state and situation.

Updated June 2026 · BLS Data
How much does a Farrier make?
$45,000per year
National median salary · $21.63/hour · $3,750/month
Hourly
$21.63
Monthly
$3,750
Weekly
$865
Daily
$173
Estimated take-home
$34,200/yr
Adjust Your Market Position
$45,000/yr
Entry Level · $28,000 Top Earner · $72,000
IRS.gov data
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All 50 states
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What Does a Farrier Do?

Farriers trim and shoe horses' hooves, assessing hoof health and creating custom shoes to correct gait issues.

Farrier Salary by State

Select your state to see the adjusted farrier salary based on cost-of-living differences.

Select a state above

How to Become a Farrier

Education: Farrier school certificate

Certifications: AFA or CJF certification

Career path: Apprentice → Farrier → Journey Farrier → Master Farrier

Farrier Salary by Experience

Entry level
$28,000
Mid-career
$45,000
Senior
$65,520

Estimates based on BLS percentile data and industry surveys. Actual salaries vary by employer, location, and individual qualifications.

Top 10 Highest-Paying States for Farriers

#StateAnnualMonthlyHourly
1Hawaii$53,100$4,425$25.53
2California$51,750$4,312$24.88
3New York$51,750$4,312$24.88
4Massachusetts$50,400$4,200$24.23
5New Jersey$50,400$4,200$24.23
6Connecticut$49,500$4,125$23.80
7Washington$49,500$4,125$23.80
8Maryland$48,600$4,050$23.37
9Alaska$47,250$3,938$22.72
10Colorado$47,250$3,938$22.72

State salaries estimated using BLS national median adjusted by regional cost-of-living factors.

Compare to Related Jobs

Job TitleMedian SalaryHourlyDifference
Farrier$45,000$21.63
Appliance Repair Technician$46,000$22.12+$1,000
Garage Door Installer$44,000$21.15$-1,000
Window Installer$44,000$21.15$-1,000
Alarm Technician$46,000$22.12+$1,000
Pest Management Specialist$44,000$21.15$-1,000
Audio Visual Technician$48,000$23.08+$3,000

Job Outlook

The BLS projects +5% growth for farriers through 2032, which is faster than average compared to the average for all occupations (3%).

🆕 New & Trending AI Tools for FarrierReviewed July 2026

We track new AI-tool launches every week and refresh this list — here’s what’s gaining traction for Farrier work right now.

SierraNEWEnterprise / see site

AI customer-service agents that resolve support conversations end-to-end.

How a Farrier uses it: let AI handle routine tickets so you focus on complex or upset customers

DecagonNEWEnterprise / see site

AI support agents for chat and email that learn your policies.

How a Farrier uses it: deflect repetitive questions and draft replies for the hard ones

NotebookLMNEWFree / $7.99 mo

Google tool that answers questions grounded only in the documents you give it — with citations.

How a Farrier uses it: load your own manuals, policies, or PDFs and ask questions that stay accurate to the source

Intercom Fin$0.99/resolution

AI support agent that answers customer questions from your help content.

How a Farrier uses it: resolve common questions instantly and hand off the rest with context

Observe.AIContact sales

Real-time AI assist and call analysis for support and sales agents.

How a Farrier uses it: get live prompts on calls and auto-scored quality feedback

CrestaEnterprise / see site

Live AI coaching and suggested responses during customer conversations.

How a Farrier uses it: get the best next thing to say suggested in real time on every call

ChatGPTFree / $20 mo

The most-used AI assistant — writing, analysis, research, and images from a plain-language chat.

How a Farrier uses it: draft emails and documents, summarize long files, and get instant answers to on-the-job questions

ClaudeFree / $20 mo

AI assistant known for careful writing, long-document analysis, and coding.

How a Farrier uses it: analyze big reports or spreadsheets and turn messy notes into clean, finished writing

Google GeminiFree / $20 mo

Google's AI assistant, built into Gmail, Docs, and Search.

How a Farrier uses it: draft and reply inside Google Workspace and research without leaving the page

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a farrier make?
The national median salary for a farrier is $45,000 per year, or $21.63 per hour. Entry-level positions start around $28,000 while top earners make $72,000 or more.
What education do you need to become a farrier?
Most farrier positions require farrier school certificate. Additional certifications or experience may increase earning potential.
What is the job outlook for farriers?
Employment of farriers is projected to grow 5% over the next decade, which is about average compared to the average for all occupations.
What are the highest paying states for farriers?
The highest paying states include Hawaii, California, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, where cost of living adjustments push salaries above the national median.
Can you make six figures as a farrier?
While the median salary is below six figures, top earners in high-paying states and with significant experience can approach or exceed $100,000.
Methodology and data sources

Salary data is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) program. National median, 10th percentile, and 90th percentile figures are sourced from the most recent BLS OES release. State-level salary estimates are calculated by applying regional price parity adjustments from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to the national median. Job growth projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program. Education and certification requirements are based on BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook descriptions. All figures are approximate and updated periodically.

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