What is a chauffeur and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A chauffeur is an individual driver that picks up and transports clients between locations. They usually work for fleets that cater to high-profile clients and drive expensive cars like limousines. Alternatively, they may work for only one client as a private chauffeur.

Aside from driving clients to and fro, the duties of a chauffeur are to open and close the door for clients, assist them with alighting the vehicle if necessary, load and unload luggage, and ensure that passengers are comfortable at all times. On occasion, a chauffer may also be responsible for picking up other passengers or items on a client's behalf.

Besides a high school diploma, the basic requirement for the role of a chauffeur is a commercial driver's license, although some fleets may entertain applicants with a regular driver's license. Apart from that, one must have proven experience as a driver, ideally as a chauffeur or taxi driver, and have the ability to interact with clients in a welcoming and professional manner.

The average salary of a chauffeur is around $35,000, but chauffeurs of very high-profile clients are typically paid more. Some chauffeurs even double as a bodyguard, which also comes with a higher earning potential.

ScoreChauffeurUS Average
Salary
3.2

Avg. Salary $40,414

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.4

Growth Rate 20%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.70%

Asian 9.90%

Black or African American 8.72%

Hispanic or Latino 23.76%

Unknown 4.94%

White 51.98%

Gender

female 16.02%

male 83.98%

Age - 48
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48
Stress Level
6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
5.3

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.7

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

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Chauffeur career paths

Key steps to become a chauffeur

  1. Explore chauffeur education requirements

    Most common chauffeur degrees

    Bachelor's

    34.3 %

    High School Diploma

    25.3 %

    Associate

    22.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific chauffeur skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Customer Service19.19%
    Routine Vehicle Maintenance14.26%
    CDL11.09%
    Transport Passengers10.84%
    Limo5.47%
  3. Complete relevant chauffeur training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New chauffeurs learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a chauffeur based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real chauffeur resumes.
  4. Research chauffeur duties and responsibilities

    • Operate and manage the dispatch of passenger size vehicles and vans to accommodate customer reservations in a highly professional manner.
    • Train new drivers to get they're CDL.
    • Clean all limousines and various SUV vehicles daily before and after every trip.
    • Acquire thorough knowledge of NYC geography, neighborhood character, and urban trends.
  5. Prepare your chauffeur resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your chauffeur resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a chauffeur resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Chauffeur Resume templates

    Build a professional Chauffeur resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Chauffeur resume.
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  6. Apply for chauffeur jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a chauffeur job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Chauffeur Job

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Average chauffeur salary

The average Chauffeur salary in the United States is $40,414 per year or $19 per hour. Chauffeur salaries range between $21,000 and $75,000 per year.

Average Chauffeur Salary
$40,414 Yearly
$19.43 hourly

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How do chauffeurs rate their job?

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Chauffeur reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022
Pros

The freedom to work on your own schedule.

Cons

The road rage drivers: people lose their empathy when driving. They become aggressive and angry by the slightest event on the road. Hence, taking the fun out of driving. However, driving is still relaxing and fun.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Cons

Long hours


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019
Cons

The waiting and not being paid for down time for the first 3 hours. Some plants wont let you get out of your truck other make you do everything. Wich can be quite confusing if your at different places alot. States definitely need to step up inspections


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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