Domestic butler
Also known as: domestic house manager, major-domo, butler
About this occupation
Domestic butlers serve at official meals, monitor meal preparations and table setting and manage the household staff. They may also offer personal assistance in booking travel arrangements and restaurants, valeting and clothing care.
A specialisation of domestic housekeeper.
Essential skills and knowledge
- maintain personal hygiene standards
- communicate by telephone
- give instructions to staff
- schedule shifts
- serve wines
- serve food in table service
- coach employees
- manage maintenance operations
- manage staff
- serve beverages
- arrange tables
- maintain relationship with customers
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers (O*NET 37-1011.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Supervise in-house services, such as laundries, maintenance and repair, dry cleaning, or valet services.
- Select the most suitable cleaning materials for different types of linens, furniture, flooring, and surfaces.
- Advise managers, desk clerks, or admitting personnel of rooms ready for occupancy.
- Inspect work performed to ensure that it meets specifications and established standards.
- Perform or assist with cleaning duties as necessary.
- Plan and prepare employee work schedules.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Enterprising, Conventional, Realistic
Top skills: Management of Personnel Resources, Speaking, Monitoring, Coordination, Time Management, Active Listening
US median pay: US$49,100 a year (2025), 178,760 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.9)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (3.7)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Passenger Attendants
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.