Farrier income in the UK for 2026/27 ranges from around GBP 15,000 for an apprentice to GBP 75,000 or more in taxable profit for an established racing yard or remedial specialist. Almost all qualified farriers are self-employed sole traders, which means Class 4 National Insurance rather than the employee National Insurance most workers pay. This guide explains exactly how much farriers take home after income tax and NI at each stage of the regulated Farriers Registration Council apprenticeship route.
Figures assume 2026/27 income tax and National Insurance rates and the standard personal allowance of GBP 12,570. Apprentice figures use Class 1 employee NI; qualified self-employed figures use Class 4 NI on taxable profit after business expenses.
| Career Level | Typical Gross / Profit / Year | Est. Take-Home / Year | Est. Take-Home / Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice Farrier (employed) | ~GBP 15,000 | ~GBP 14,320 | ~GBP 1,193 |
| Newly Qualified (self-employed) | ~GBP 32,000 | ~GBP 26,948 | ~GBP 2,246 |
| Established Farrier | ~GBP 55,000 | ~GBP 43,211 | ~GBP 3,601 |
| Racing Yard / Remedial Specialist | ~GBP 75,000 | ~GBP 54,811 | ~GBP 4,568 |
Self-employed figures assume sole trader status with taxable profit after deducting allowable business expenses (van, tools, insurance, FRC registration). Actual net income varies with round size and specialism. Seek professional advice.
Self-employed farriers report income through Self Assessment and pay Class 4 NI alongside income tax. The 2026/27 rates are:
Taxable profit above personal allowance: GBP 42,430. Income tax: 20% on GBP 37,700 (GBP 7,540) plus 40% on GBP 4,730 (GBP 1,892) = GBP 9,432 total tax. Class 4 NI: 6% on GBP 37,700 (GBP 2,262) plus 2% on GBP 4,730 (GBP 95) = GBP 2,357 total NI. Net take-home: GBP 55,000 - GBP 9,432 - GBP 2,357 = approximately GBP 43,211 per year or GBP 3,601 per month.
The only legal route into farriery is a four-to-four-and-a-half-year Approved Farrier Apprenticeship regulated by the Farriers Registration Council, working for and employed by an Approved Training Farrier while studying towards the Diploma of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (DipWCF).
After passing the DipWCF, most farriers become self-employed sole traders, building up a client round from scratch across livery yards, private owners and stables in their local area. Early years often involve long hours to establish a reliable client base.
With a full, reliable round of regular clients -- typically shoeing 5-8 horses a day across several working days a week -- an established farrier can build taxable profit of GBP 50,000-65,000, subject to seasonal variation and weather-dependent workload.
Farriers who work with racehorses, competition horses or develop expertise in remedial and orthopaedic farriery for lame or injured horses can command premium rates and higher taxable profit, though this specialist work often involves early starts and significant travel between multiple training yards.
Farriers who are Scottish taxpayers pay Income Tax under the Scottish bands (Starter 19%, Basic 20%, Intermediate 21%, Higher 42%, Advanced 45%, Top 48%) rather than the rest-of-UK bands used above -- Class 4 NI is unchanged UK-wide. Established and specialist farriers earning above GBP 43,662 in Scotland will pay more income tax than the England-based figures shown here, since the Scottish Higher rate threshold is lower than the England higher rate threshold. Use the CalcHub Scotland take-home pay calculator for a precise figure.
