1. Home: Explore careers
  2. Butler

Butler

Alternative titles for this job include Household manager

Butlers carry out personal and household tasks for their employers.

Average salary (a year)

£15,000 Starter

to

£50,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

40 to 45 variable

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays flexibly

Find out more about jobs in this group

See which sectors you’ll find this job in, what qualifications you need to work in this area and if these types of jobs are going up or going down. This information can help you make good career decisions.

Explore job trends for this group.

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a butler

You could get into this job through:

  • applying directly
  • specialist courses run by private training organisations

Direct Application

You can apply for work directly or through a housekeeping agency if you have:

  • experience of the hospitality or personal services industries
  • the ability to speak a second language, if you're looking to work with clients whose first language is not English

Other Routes

You can get a qualification in butler skills which may improve your employment chances. There are private courses that teach traditional and modern professional butler skills, like:

  • valeting, including clothing and shoe care
  • setting a formal dining table and providing a waiting service
  • social and dining etiquette
  • international etiquette and protocols
  • confidence and deportment

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • active listening skills
  • customer service skills
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • leadership skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to work well with others
  • concentration skills
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In this role you could:

  • manage diary appointments, book restaurants and travel
  • represent your client at meetings
  • manage the household and staff
  • set formal dining tables and serve food and drinks
  • chauffeur your client to appointments
  • look after guests
  • manage a wine cellar
  • cook and prepare meals
  • take care of pets
  • organise activities on country estates

Working environment

You could work at a client's home, in a hotel or on a cruise ship.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience you could become a head butler and supervise and train people new to the role.

Once you have a wide range of experience and contacts in the industry, you could look at setting up your own business, like a butler training school or a butler recruitment agency.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a butler right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

BTEC Level 4 HNC Hospitality Management

  • Provider: WALSALL COLLEGE
  • Start date: 20 September 2022
  • Location: Walsall

Hospitality - BTEC Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Hospitality Management Full-Time Blended Learning

  • Provider: The City College
  • Start date: 27 September 2021
  • Location: London
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

Call 0800 100 900 or use webchat

  • 8am - 8pm Monday - Friday
  • 10am - 5pm Saturday

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.