Apprentice. Salary: $22,000 (part-time) 

You are working with a longtime farrier who knows a horse hoof like the back of his or her hand. Sweat equity now will pay for a career down the road.

Journeyman I. Salary: $35,000

You're forging your own pathway forward. You'll need to create several types of shoes to earn this level of certification. Once that happens, your profile raises and can open the door to more clients.

Journeyman II. Salary: $42,000 

You've been working at least three years on a few different horses and are now able to forge ahead, creating corrective shoes for horses who otherwise would have a hitch in their get-a-long. As the years go by, your pay and experience go up.

Master Farrier. Salary: $56,000 

Getting to this certification level requires a live hand-made shoeing demonstration. In other words, you have to put on a really big shoe, ahem, show for the evaluating committee. You're a trusted name and have become a go-to farrier for owners looking to keep their prize horses' hooves healthy.

Master/Teacher Farrier. Salary: $60,000 and up

At this stage, you've seen it all, you've done it all, and you're ready to take on an apprentice or two to show them the ropes, anvil, rasp, etc.