Role & Responsibilities
Butler
Service so assured it goes unnoticed. The professional who sets the standard of a formal household. What the role involves, the standard it is held to, the package it commands, and the positions open now.
Understanding the role
The art of anticipation.
A Butler is entrusted with the formal life of a private household – its table, its guests, its wardrobe and its protocol. In the homes we serve, guests are often high profile and nothing is left to chance. These are the responsibilities that fill the day, and the depth each one brings to a private household.
Formal service and the table
Silver service, table settings and the running of meals and receptions, to the standard of the finest houses.
Guests and protocol
Receiving guests, managing the door and applying the correct protocol for every visitor, from close family to dignitaries.
Valeting and wardrobe
Caring for the principal’s wardrobe, packing for travel and presenting clothing and accessories in impeccable order.
Cellar, silver and fine objects
Managing the cellar and bar, and caring for silver, crystal, porcelain and the objects that give a house its character.
Leading front of house
Setting the tone of service for the household, and leading footmen and front-of-house staff across residences, yachts and travel.
Discretion
Anticipating needs before they are spoken, and keeping what is seen and heard in the household strictly within it.
The Benchmark
The Benchmark for a Butler
Every Butler we represent is measured against The Benchmark – our standard for character, capability and discretion. Three years is simply the minimum to join our network; most bring far more. Our professionals step into a role ready to excel, never to be trained. For this role, that means:
- Formal butler training, or a grounding in five-star hospitality
- Three years in service in private households, embassies or residences of comparable standing
- Mastery of formal and silver service, protocol, valeting and the cellar
- Assured with high-profile guests, formal occasions and service across residences and yachts
- References from private households of comparable standing, and a commitment to confidentiality
- Basic DBS or a police clearance certificate from each country of residence
Training, references and background checks are verified before any introduction is made. We do not forward CVs – we shortlist and select, so a client meets only the professionals we would place with confidence. See our full standards.
Typical Package
What to expect, from either side of the placement.
A guide for clients and professionals alike. Packages reflect the professional’s experience and the scope of the household, across every residence and every country. All figures are gross per year.
- Butler Private residence
- £60,000 – £80,000 per year
- Full formal service, entertaining and valeting within one residence.
- Butler Valet Personal service
- £70,000 – £90,000 per year
- Personal service to the principal at home and in travel, with complete responsibility for the wardrobe.
- Travelling Butler Multiple residences
- £75,000 – £120,000 per year
- Service across residences, yachts and travel. Live-in packages typically add accommodation, meals and flights.
- Head Butler / Majordomo Senior appointment
- £100,000 – £150,000 per year
- Leading service across a large household or estate, with a front-of-house team and every formal occasion in hand.
Every package is agreed privately between family and professional. We review this guidance each year against the placements we make.
Opportunities
No butler roles open at this moment
New positions arrive weekly and the best are filled from our existing network. Register now and we will contact you when a suitable role opens.
There are no Butler roles open at this exact moment.
New positions arrive with us most weeks, and the most sought-after are placed before they are ever advertised. Register and you will be among the first to hear.
Join Our NetworkThe questions we are asked most
What is the difference between a butler and a valet?
A valet cares for the principal personally – wardrobe, packing and dressing. A butler leads service for the whole household: the table, guests, cellar and front of house. Many of our butlers are trained in both.
What training does a butler need?
Formal butler training or a grounding in five-star hospitality, followed by at least three years in private service. Most in our network have served in households, embassies or residences of comparable standing for considerably longer.
Does a butler live in or live out?
Most butler roles are live-in, particularly in country houses and travelling households. City roles may be live-out.
What hours does a butler work?
Service follows the household’s rhythm, with longer days around entertaining. Hours, days off and rotas are agreed in the contract, and larger households often run butlers on a rota.
How is the salary agreed?
Every package is agreed privately between client and professional, with our consultants guiding both sides to a figure that reflects experience and the scope of the role. Salaries are quoted gross, and live-in or travelling roles typically include accommodation, meals and flights.
How long does it take to place a butler?
Where the professional is free and available, the process from first interview to offer can be completed within seven days. We select from an established network rather than advertising, so the pace of every placement is set by the client’s needs – and we work to match it.
Register Your Interest
Begin the Conversation
Join our selected network, or tell us what your household needs. Either way, a senior consultant will be in touch personally.