Azman Jaka | E+ | Getty Images
Private chefs can earn up to $300,000 a year, and butlers can earn up to $180,000 as the wealthy hire more domestic staff to manage their increasingly complex lives, according to a new study.
Demand for chefs, personal assistants, butlers, nannies, housekeepers, drivers, property managers and more is reaching record levels as wealthy people buy more homes in different locations and manage growing families, according to a report from Morgan & Mallett International. The employment boom has led to competition for talent, soaring salaries and more job changes for domestic staff.
“Many customers are surprised by the rising cost of household services,” the report states. “The reality is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find high-quality talent with proven experience, and wages for the best candidates are at record highs globally.”
Morgan & Mallett co-founder Lauryn Mallett says house managers are seeing the fastest rise in salaries among household staff, as the real estate portfolios of wealthy individuals expand and the number of qualified candidates dwindles.
The market for private chefs is particularly hot. Private chefs currently earn between $100,000 and $300,000 in the United States, according to the report. The report says ultra-wealthy families want to hire Michelin-starred chefs to cook their meals at home to avoid the crowds and public attention at top restaurants. The report said celebrity chefs command the highest premiums, but chefs trained in special diets, such as how to cook safely for people with celiac disease, can also “bid up the price.”
Nannies who speak three languages and have experience caring for children with special needs are also in particular demand. Travel nannies are coveted but rare, with some earning up to $163,000 in the United Arab Emirates, according to the report.
In the United States, the most sought-after position by employers is that of a personal assistant. Executive assistants and personal assistants can earn up to $250,000 a year, according to Morgan & Mallett.
Privacy, discretion and technical skills are now core hiring requirements, the report said. In Los Angeles, 77% of hired personal assistants required non-disclosure agreements. A strict ban on social media is now common to all domestic staff positions.
Previously, domestic staff often worked for the same employer for decades. According to the report, the average length of service with an employer is now three years. As wealthy people increasingly move around and live in multiple countries, they are looking for staff who can handle Western passports.
The report says skilled property managers are particularly difficult to find because they are often required to manage three or more properties in multiple countries and legal frameworks. It turns out that household managers in the United States currently earn between $150,000 and $250,000.
Once depicted as buttoned-up, silver-tray-carrying housekeepers, butlers now manage complex staff, technology, security, and logistics across multiple facilities. Their salaries can reach $180,000.
“Customers want informal and efficient service,” the report states. “Prudence, confidentiality and reliability are the most important qualities. Adaptability, flexibility and strong interpersonal skills are also important.”
