Salary
Average Salary: $42,000
Expected Lifetime Earnings: $1,753,416
Ah, to be surrounded by luxury every day, and to know that none of it is yours. That is the life of a chauffeur. But hey, if you work hard, drive well, and make connections, you too will one day live the life of luxury...as long as you're no longer a chauffeur. Funny how that works.
Starting out, a chauffeur can expect to make around $23,000 a year, usually paid in hourly wages with some tip action greasing the wheels a little more. As you prove yourself as a capable driver, you can start building a client base who can refer you to their friends and neighbors, who are likely also well-off. You should be able to make closer to $35,000 by the middle of your career.
More pay can come if you are a member of someone's personal staff. Many wealthier homes employ chauffeurs in addition to their housekeeper, gardener, personal assistant, nanny, tutor, mechanic, masseuse, personal trainer, yogi, and live-in eyebrow waxer. You will be trading a chaotic gig-to-gig, client-to-client, vomit-pile-to-vomit-pile lifestyle for a cozier, more personal relationship. That's pretty solid as far as trade-offs go. And it's also why you need to make those connections earlier in your career―trust doesn't come easy, it's earned through reputation.
There are also benefits that go along with many of these positions. Some companies and private individuals provide health coverage. If you work for only one person or family and that person or family is nice, you'll probably get bonuses around the holidays and your birthday. The friendlier one-percenters might even treat you like a member of the family. Not their brother or aunt, mind you; more like the second cousin that they've known forever.