How much does a chauffeur make?
Answer: A typical chauffeur in the United States makes $37,290 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 249,000 people work in this job. Below the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Chauffeur pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $28,090 | $37,290 | $55,070 | about 249,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $44,730 | about 30,000 |
| Washington | $44,660 | about 5,000 |
| New York | $44,160 | about 18,000 |
| Massachusetts | $43,590 | about 13,000 |
| Colorado | $41,020 | about 5,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, location, employer, and the kind of driving: a hotel shuttle job differs from private driving for high-profile clients. Work hours, night or weekend shifts, tips, and extra licenses for certain vehicles can also affect earnings or the jobs someone can get.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a chauffeur do?
Drive a motor vehicle to transport passengers on a planned or scheduled basis. May collect a fare. Includes nonemergency medical transporters and hearse drivers. Excludes “Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians” (53-3011) and “Taxi Drivers” (53-3054).
What's a typical day like?
A chauffeur meets a client and drives a limousine or private car to planned stops; a shuttle driver may repeat airport-to-hotel trips. Both watch traffic and passenger safety, and may give directions, clean the vehicle, or record trips.
How to get this job
In the U.S., no diploma is usually needed: get a driver's license, meet local rules, and train on the job. A shuttle carrying 16+ people, driver included, needs a passenger-endorsed CDL; interstate commercial drivers must be 21 or older.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
Some U.S. chauffeurs do more than drive: they may act as an executive's secretary and plan the client's itinerary.
What about Japan?
Nearly the same jobThe US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Transportation and Material Moving jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/taxi-drivers-and-chauffeurs.h
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/53-3053.00
- www.fmcsa.dot.gov/faq/what-age-requirement-operating-cmv-interstate-commerce
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY