Chauffeur Jobs: Pay Rates for Chauffeur Drivers

Name: Michael Potter
Job Title: Driver, Personal Assistant and Bodyguard
Where: Los Angeles, CA
Employer: Author Stephen J. Cannell
Years of Experience: 24
Education: 3 Years of College
Salary: Typical chauffeur job salaries: $50-$80K and up

Chauffeur Jobs: Pay Rates for Chauffeur Drivers

You see them on Entertainment Tonight and on the E! Channel: limousines galore. Celebrity lifestyles and chauffeur jobs seem very glamorous, but behind the glitz, a limousine chauffeur has to navigate crazy traffic and find parking places, all while looking smooth as air. To find out what chauffeur jobs are really like, we spoke to Michael Potter, a driver, personal assistant, and bodyguard for TV series creator and author Stephen J. Cannell.

In this interview, Michael discussed pay rates for chauffeur drivers, how to become a limo driver, the typical requirements of chauffeur jobs (also mentioned at LATimes.com) and advice on how to get chauffeur jobs. Keep reading for an insider's scoop on how to become a limo driver.

Chauffeur Job Description:

My main function is to drive. In addition to that, I am running errands, taking clothes to dry cleaning, grocery shopping, I have even babysat. My employer has several cars; I am in charge of maintaining the cars, keeping them running and looking good, for when he wants to jump in one. Imagine if you didn't have to do anything that wasn't fun in your life, you had someone to go out and do it for you. That's what I do. There have been times I will do research for my employer; I'll read books and articles, and give him the breakdowns.

How did you become a chauffeur?

I managed a Von's Grocery store for ten years in San Diego and was tired of it. My older brother called me up and said, "If you want to move up here to Los Angeles, we'll buy a limousine and you can start a business." So I moved to L.A., printed up business cards and made flyers. I went around to tuxedo shops, funeral homes, wedding planners, hotels, and just put my cards everywhere. I got some business, but you have to pay a lot of money to get chauffeur jobs.

So I owned my own limousine company, me and one car. My oldest brother was the president of Financial News Network (FNN). His director of operations left FNN (now CNBC) to build a studio for Stephen J. Cannell. He called me and said, "Stephen J. Cannell needs a driver." My business wasn't doing real well, but I didn't want to move to Pasadena, where Stephen lives, because I live at the beach.

Jump ahead a few months later, he says, "We used the maid's husband, but he wrecked the car twice and gets lost all the time. Why don't you come meet Stephen?" My business was doing even worse, so I thought, "What the heck, I'll come meet him." I started work the next day. Just like that.

Do you recall any memorable moments from your chauffeur job?

My very first day working for Stephen J. Cannell. It was midday, I was coming out of the office restroom and I saw these two guys walking in front of me with holey jeans and t-shirts. They walked right through the secure door and into Stephen's suite. I followed them. One of the guys said to Grace, Stephen's assistant, "Grace, you got the 'bleeping' FBI following me?" The guy turned around and it was actor Robert Conrad. He and I have remained good friends ever since. I invited him to my wedding. He is just a wonderful man and I treasure that moment.

Is it glamorous to have a chauffeur job in Hollywood?

Yes, I know all the best driveways in this city. You go to the fanciest places in town and you're in the driveway. I've met a lot of neat people. I've met virtually every star who has ever worked for Stephen J. Cannell, and some who haven't, like Quincy Jones. I drove him around for a couple of days. That was pretty cool. He was a really neat guy.

Do you have any advice for those wondering how to become a limo driver?

You have to be a good driver. You need to know the city. When I moved to Los Angeles, I didn't know the city at all, that was a bit of a handicap. So I would draw a map for myself, before Mapquest.com, when we used the old Thomas Guide books. I would be prepared so I would not make wrong turns. These days you have satellite navigation systems, so it's very easy.

For those who want to work for a driving service, one of the questions they always ask is, "Do you know where all the hot spots are?"  "Do you know where this club is?"  "This hotel?"  "This restaurant?" So you gotta know the buzz of the city, regardless of what city you are in.

Can you describe some typical pay rates for chauffeur drivers?

There are two kinds of chauffeur drivers, ones that work for a service, like a limousine company, they get an hourly wage plus tips. I think a good driver is going to average between $50-80K a year, maybe a little bit more, if they are full-time. The other type of driver, a private chauffer, works for one person: those drivers can earn in the $50-150K salary range.

How is your salary's ride these days, smooth or bumpy?  Give it a tune-up with our salary calculator.

• Find more on How to Become a Limo Driver at ChauffeurBlogs.com
• Chauffeur Jobs: Median Salary by Employer Type

Comments

[Mike Browne]

I've driven limos and party buses for eight years. Two of the four companies for which I worked were bad outfits for chauffeurs.

One would find any reason not to pay the customary 20% of the fee, but would pay minimum wage instead. I've since seen him on the "People's Court" TV show being sued for back wages. He lost the case.

The other was a coke head and attracted a similar client base.

Nightmare!

[Skip]

28 years of professional driving. Oh ya, the first 15 years I did all the transportation for H.O.B. (House of Blues). Great times, too many people to list, but a new GM decided that car valets could do my job, so my letter came DATED DECEMBER 25th.

Oh Well, on to WNUA a Chicago Jazz Station doing the same job: Airport, sound check, and show, then back to airport. 10 years of a good living untill Clearchannel started using their own people.

Funny, but what used to take 2 days of work NOW TAKES ME 6 12-hour days; back and forth Airport to Hotel, Hotel to Airport; WHAT A JOKE. I'M A FREAKING CAB DRIVER IN A SUIT!! And the sad part is it's all I know; it's all I've done for 30 years.

Hopeless

[Kevin Papenhaus]

I'm looking for a top of the line limousine company, where I can be a top notch chauffeur. I will be courteous and respectfull to the clients.

["anthony"]

you should only work for a limousine company that gives you a pay check with your hourly rate plus your 20% grautity. if you are not getting paid that amount, stay with that company to learn the industry and after 6 months apply with a real livery company.

private chauffeurs.... i have seen a lot of these drivers work for lawyers for 2,500 dollars per month.. what a joke..... the going rate for a high end client is 65,000 dollars per year.

i have been offered 14.00 per hour by some wealthy clown in marina del rey...... i told him , if you want a taxi driver, i am not your man.

you are getting paid to be on call,
you are getting paid not to have a social life.
the long hours that your taking care of your clients you should be getting paid at least 28.00 per hour with a 40 hour minimum guaranteed....

remember, if a wealthy person does not want a dui, they want a full time chauffeur, then you cant simply take their insulting offers...

["anthony"]

i am currently re-tired from the limousine industry. I worked both private and limousine for hire. I turned down private clients in los angeles fortune companies. Here are my simple tips for new chauffeurs'
what you look like is very important both to your customer and when you are at an event and you are parked illegally.
Your shoes are important also and your white shirt, i like to tell everyone to dress like the president of a bank.
Always have an extra suit with you.
after your client gets in the limousine, take off your jacket and place it on the seat next to you so that it will not wrinkle.
have a personal cooler with you in the trunk for ice- even if your client is coming out at 2 am , there should always be water on ice.
the limousine should be clean when you arrive to the pick up address, its all about you, if you know your pick up address and it takes sometime to get to it, then leave early and eat around the are where your pick up is at.
there is no excuse for a dirty limo.
always check the interior windows and clean any marks on them, you dont want your clients to see any finger prints on anything .
wipe down the seats in the limousine before every client gets in the limousine, i used meguiers leather/vynil cleaner.
the spearkers in the limousine should be working perfect, if not take tell the boss and have him give you money to go replace.
stereo should be a xm stereo so that there is always great choice of music.
everytime the client gets into the limousine, reach in the door and push the locking lever to secure the passenger.
meet other drivers at concerts or games and get to know them, you will have contacts that can give you a heads up on traffic or special awards shows entrances.
never smoke in the limousine, to anyone that does not smoke, they will smell the nasty smell and you will ruin their special night.
when driving husband or wife, boyfriend or girfriend- never look into the ladies eyes of pay attention to them... always focus on your client..... dont try to be nice to the females simply professional and curteous.....
once you get your party to their first destination, clean glasses with proper cleaning solution, ice up containers , replace empty bottles/cans, gas up and place yourself around the corner....
i am proud of knowing that i took care of some very vip's and getting those huge xtra tips $$$$$$$
this job is basically a good place to get some extra 100.00$$$ tips....

a customer does not want to tip anyone.... the human nature of a client is to look for a reason to not tip extra.... by doing the above things,,, they will remember the last jack ass driver that did not do his job and will remember you and request you...... the job is also about requests.... and the company will hear their customers request you wich shows the limo company that your doing your job perfect..

i used to feel bad about getting some farm-in work because i their clients would call them back and request me to drive them......

memorable moments- having a client call the office and tell the owner to add and extra 200.00 dollars to my tip

most memorable moment- as a free lance chauffeur,, having a local owner call me to drive their escalade 200" strech and me telling him 400.00 dollars was my fee for 8hours.. picked up the client and 30 minutes into the night, he rolled down the window and said "wow, i have had many drivers take me here and there but your the best" at the end of the night , the client tipped me 600.00 dollars...

why? because everything was perfect, even when i picked up the limousine 3 hours early because i knew the owner always had that limo like a trash can... i washed, cleaned, sanitized, polished and the customer never said a comment about the car but i knew he had gone out in that trash can before except this time ,, it was not ambarrasing with his friends and rather it was a smooth happy party night..... not to mention the extra waters in the limousine when their night was ending....

i wish every chauffeur would be like this.......

[JIM MOORE]

Hey Michael, if you know of someone
who needs another you, then I'm a
great candidate. Thank you.

Jim Moore
Burbankmoore@aol.com

[Frank Cicero]

For anyone looking to become a chaffeur look before you leap.I have been a chauffeur for more than 20 years in new york city and most limo companies will "shave" you one way or another.There is only a hand ful of companies who are honest and run a legit company and you must research before u jump.This not a 9 to 5 gig and you must get along with dispatchers and hope they dont take money under the table which is extremely common practice.The way you make your money is by consistent requests and cash tips on top of your hourly pay and standard grats.This a good way to go on your own by having a following of clients to stay afloat.If u decide to go private you can easily become a robot unless u find a decent person who will not try to "shave" you.Limo companies remain on the grey areas of labor laws and once u get some experience go on your own and make your name.

[shelley]

Driving limo's is a great job!!I've been a chauffeur since dec.31 1999.I love the variety of always having a different workday.And yes there's always a good story...But what happens in my limo stays in my limo.LOL...nice article by the way
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[dgh]

got any advice on getting chauffeur jobs in new york?

[limo]

I agree it must be amazing job! you must have so many stories to tell! it must be a good feeling to be the most interesting guy in the group! ;)