Private Household Butlers

The salary of a Butler will ultimately depend on their level of training and experience. However, you can expect an average annual wage of £40,000 for a Junior Butler to £120,000+ for a Head Butler. Those with Royal Household or multiple property management experience will typically command higher rates of salary.

The primary location of the role will also be a consideration when negotiating salary. Positions that are based overseas, within central London or roles that require frequent travel may require a higher salary.

A link to our salary guide can be found here https://www.thestaffdirectory.com/help/private-staff-salary-guide/

The role of a Butler

A Butler can fall into the category of domestic staff or management staff depending on their responsibilities.

A Junior Butler will be involved in hands-on housekeeping, service, packing of suitcases, answering the door to guests/taking coats & jackets, errand running, accompanying the Principal overseas and acting as a general fixer whilst the Principal is travelling. They will be getting constant direction and training from a Head Butler or House Manager who will ensure they are conducting their duties to the best of their ability.

A Head Butler is responsible for running an extended team of domestic staff. They will have at least one additional Butler supporting them, plus housekeeping staff. They are at the forefront of all aspects of service including the management of wine cellars and cigar humidors.

Head Butlers are hired for private household positions as well as onboard superyachts and can work alongside a Chief Stewardess/Steward or Purser and are either individually or jointly responsible for the running of the interior team.

They will typically oversee the running of additional global residences and will recruit and train any new domestic staff, ensuring the same level of service is received by the Principal at all locations.

At The Staff Directory, we take great care with the acquisition, vetting and representation of our registered Butlers.

We require all applicants to meet our high standards of due diligence before they can be introduced to our clients.

A high level of skill and experience is required before an applicant can register with us, and formal ID and employment references are checked in advance of any client introduction.

If you would like your chosen candidate to process a background check before starting in the role, this can be arranged for you free of charge.

A final aspect for consideration with any hire of a Butler is whether the position is Live-in or Live-out.

Butler positions that require frequent travel are typically Live-in, however, this is not always the case (particularly for Butler positions based in Central London).  Any candidate hired for a permanent Live-in Butler position will require self-contained staff accommodation.

The Staff Directory provide an all-encompassing list of private household staff, PAs and yacht crew for positions around the globe.

Our registered Butlers are most frequently hired for roles based in the following areas:

• Central London – areas such as Chelsea, Regents Park, Mayfair, Kensington, Hampstead, Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Notting Hill and Holland Park
• UK Counties – such as Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Cheshire and Surrey
• Overseas – The majority of hires for Butlers outside of the UK are for roles based in Russia, Ukraine, the Middle East, UAE, Switzerland and France

We are on hand to assist with any questions regarding the hire of a Butler. Please call the agency at your convenience and our specialist recruiters will assist you.

Additional information including client FAQs, client help and a salary & payroll guide can be found here https://www.thestaffdirectory.com/help/clients-frequently-asked-questions/