Why We Love It
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$24,950Potential Avg. Salary
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6.3%Job Growth Rate
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Growing DemandJob Outlook
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Dependable Daily WorkloadCareer Attribute
A butler works to ensure that household operations run smoothly, whether it is supervising the installation of kitchen equipment or paying all pending household bills every month. In the case of a hotel scenario, butlers make certain that guests are looked after, with errands such as fetching a great drink or organizing suitcases.
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What is a Butler?
Duties
A butler is responsible for wide-ranging duties such as those mentioned below:
- Support the efficient hiring, dismissal and training of kitchen and housekeeping staff, including assigning their task schedules and duties).
- Organize and plan for social events such as holiday celebrations or private parties, at the residence or hotel venue.
- Work with the employer to ensure safety and security for family members or other clients – e.g. arrange reliable cab services or update security alarms in place.
- Oversee travel arrangements for the household, such as packing, arranging flights and cab, hotel reservations and so on.
- Support other employees in carrying out daily functions, such as working with kitchen staff on maintaining wine cellar and other liqueurs.
Day in the life
Most of a butler’s day involves more than just operating a household. He or she supervises chores in a hotel or residential environment, with the goal of operating all aspects of the premises and providing a comfortable experience for clients. Butlers mainly handle several administrative responsibilities such as giving orders and directions to household or hotel employees when needed, managing renovations and construction projects, maintaining financial logs of transactions made, evaluating the performance of employees on a monthly basis and taking the required disciplinary action, etc.
Often, the role of a butler merges with that of a household secretary or personal assistant, which leads to carrying out day-to-day duties such as handling the mail, executing any shopping requirements, and paying household bills or organizing repairs. It is the butler’s purpose to see that all household staff are performing to their optimal capacity and remaining productive throughout the day.
Work schedule and typical hours
This high-level job can require a part-time or full-time commitment in order to ease the burden of busy schedules. Butlers work an average of 8-10 hours a day or night; this varies if there is a shifting schedule. In case of residential duties, a butler often lives within the premises of the employer. A butler has to be on call to serve the requirements of their employer, be it rain or shine.
Growth of the job
Butlers can look forward to a favorable job market with a resurgence of such services. Statistics from the International Guild of Professional Butlers reports that there has been a rise in the demand for butlers in the past 30 years.
There is a growing hotel and cruise industry, which requires specialized workers such as butlers to provide a personalized experience. Busier schedules among families and the prevalence of working parents is enhancing the need for household staff. Some of the benefits enjoyed by butlers may include fully paid housing, automobile, insurance, clothing allowance and more, based on the complexity of the role.
Typical employers
Butlers typically work in residences, spas, cruises or hotels of all sizes such as Fairmont Hotel, Marriott Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, JA Resorts and Hotels, etc. – depending on the nature of employment.
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How To Become a Butler
While traditional butlers had straightforward duties such as serving drinks or assisting their employer, the modern day Butler has to be consistent with a broad array of knowledge and skills to be successful in this profession. The backgrounds of butlers vary from Hotel Management to formal training in administrative and household services from a butler finishing school. There are also those who join this field by accident, starting off with helping out a relative or working as a nanny at a residence. Ultimately, it is vital for the butler to live up to the standards and expectations of the concerned employer.
There are certain skills that will help aspiring candidates stand out from others. For example, prior experience in office or hotel management such as service quality or service strategy creation, whether it is a formal background or degree. A familiarity with household tasks and their maintenance makes a big difference in roles like butler or house manager. Having an approachable personality and leadership skills to manage other employees on the premises will come in handy as well. Thus, a butler is a hardworking professional that strives to provide clients with a relaxing and rewarding lifestyle experience – free of the worries associated with daily chores.
Butler Salary Data
We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.
National Anual Salary
Low Range
$19,330Average
$24,950High Range
$36,270National Hourly Wage
Low Range
$9/hrAverage
$12/hrHigh Range
$17/hrHow do Butler salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Butler's can make an average annual salary of $24,950, or $12 per hour. This makes it an Above Average Salary. On the lower end, they can make $19,330 or $9 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.
Salary Rankings And Facts
#773 Nationally for All Careers
Highest Education Among Butlers
- 0.7% Doctorate
- 3.5% Masters
- 14.7% Bachelors
- 8.9% Associates
- 29.4% College
- 33% High School
- 9.9% Less than High School
Job Growth Projections and Forecast
2014 Total Jobs
93,2002024 Est. Jobs
99,100Job Growth Rate
6.3%Est. New Jobs
5,900How does Butler job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of 5,900 jobs for a total of 99,100 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a 6.3% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Below Average.
Growth Rankings And Facts
#351 Nationally for All Careers
What Companies Employ The Most Butlers
| Industry | Current Jobs | New Jobs Needed | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 27,500 | 2,500 | 3% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 14,600 | 200 | 0% |
| Personal care services | 9,400 | -100 | --- |
