Private household and estate staff: UK, US and Europe
2026 edition. Data to October 2026. Updated October 2026.
Public salary data for private household staff is misleading. The figures on job boards reflect the mid-market, not the UHNW segment. A housekeeper in a three-bedroom suburban home and a housekeeper at a Principal's London residence may share a job title. They do not share a salary.
This guide sets out what households pay for household and lifestyle staff in 2026, led from the top: estate and house management first, then personal and lifestyle roles, the kitchen, childcare and education, and the household team. For office and investment roles, from the Chief of Staff and the Executive Assistant to the CIO, see our Private & Family Office Salary Guide. For luxury hotels, restaurants, yachts and brand-side hires, see our Luxury Hospitality and Brands Salary Guide.
For current opportunities, see Current jobs. To discuss a hire, see our private households and estates practice.
The ranges start from Oplu's own work: the packages agreed in our searches and placements since 2021, the compensation discussed in our live searches, and the salary data on Oplu's register of more than 100,000 candidates across private households, estates and Private and Family Offices. We check them against the published data of specialist household agencies and recruiters, each at its latest edition and restated to 2026 at 5% a year. Oplu's Managing Directors review every range before it is published. All figures are aggregated and anonymised; no individual's pay, employer or identity is disclosed, and none can be recovered from the ranges. Our UK evidence is the deepest. Ranges show gross annual base salary, full-time and live-out, unless stated; accommodation, bonus and benefits are noted where they form part of the package. The guide is reviewed annually. This edition reflects data to October 2026.
Senior household compensation continued to rise through 2025 and into 2026, driven by the forces described in our Trends in Private Office Hiring article: demand from a growing UHNW population, a slow-growing pool of qualified candidates, and competition from Dubai and other low-tax jurisdictions for English-speaking senior staff.
Where the numbers have moved most: the top of the Estate Manager range in London and the South East, Michelin-trained private chefs, and senior career nannies, particularly Norland-trained nannies with a second language. Mid-market ranges have moved less.
UK household salaries sit above most of Europe. Cross-border mobility is limited, so the UK market sets its own floor. A senior housekeeper in London is not competing with a counterpart in Milan or Madrid for the same role. The candidate is rooted in the UK, works in English and will not move for a 10% uplift. The result is a domestic market that prices itself independently, and usually above most Continental equivalents.
The US market is separate again. Household budgets run higher and the expectation is more intensive. The Middle East and Asia use UK- and US-trained staff as the reference point and usually pay a premium to attract them.
The ranges below are gross annual base salaries, full-time and live-out, unless stated. Live-in roles vary with the value of the accommodation.
Director of Residences. UK: £110,000 to £176,000 base, with a bonus of 15% to 25% of base. US: $165,000 to $300,000 base.
Palace Manager. UK: £120,000 to £180,000+ base, with a bonus of 10% to 20% of base. US: $180,000 to $300,000+. Middle East: $200,000 to $350,000+ tax-free, with a villa or apartment provided.
Estate Manager. UK: £50,000 to £90,000 base for a single property; £90,000 to £150,000+ for multi-residence or international portfolios. US: $150,000 to $250,000 base for a single property; $250,000 to $400,000 for multi-residence or complex estates, with New York, the Hamptons and California at the upper end.
House Manager. UK: £55,000 to £85,000 base for a single residence; £85,000 to £120,000 for complex or multi-residence households. US: $100,000 to $150,000 base; $150,000 to $200,000 for multi-residence or complex households.
Executive Head Housekeeper. UK: £55,000 to £93,000 base. US: $88,000 to $154,000 base.
Facilities Manager. UK: £50,000 to £82,000 base. US: $82,000 to $143,000 base.
Head of Security. UK: £60,000 to £90,000 base for a single residence with a low threat profile; £90,000 to £130,000 with several residences, travel and a small team; £130,000 to £150,000+ for complex, high-threat or international scope. US: $80,000 to $130,000 base; $130,000 to $200,000 with close protection team oversight across residences; $200,000 to $250,000+ with global responsibility or large teams.
Management Couple. UK: £77,000 to £143,000 combined, with a separate cottage or apartment on the estate as standard. US: $132,000 to $220,000 combined.
The roles closest to the Principal and the family. For Executive Assistants, office-based PAs and the wider administrative team, see Office & Administration in our Private & Family Office Salary Guide.
Private PA. UK: £50,000 to £95,000 base for private PAs covering several residences and travel; senior and travelling private PAs reach £135,000. US: $100,000 to $175,000 base; the top of the market reaches $250,000.
UHNW PA. UK: £55,000 to £130,000+. US: $130,000 to $220,000+.
Lifestyle Manager. UK: £50,000 to £70,000 base; £70,000 to £105,000+ for multi-residence roles with extensive travel and a complex social calendar. US: $80,000 to $110,000 base; $110,000 to $175,000+ for senior or multi-residence roles. Heads of concierge sit on the same ranges.
Family Assistant. UK: £35,000 to £50,000 base; £50,000 to £65,000 for multi-residence roles with a complex family structure. US: $60,000 to $85,000 base; $85,000 to $110,000 for senior or complex roles.
Wardrobe Manager. UK: £50,000 to £70,000 base; £70,000 to £90,000 for senior, multi-residence roles with a significant collection and frequent travel. US: $65,000 to $95,000 base; $95,000 to $135,000 for senior or multi-residence roles.
Head Chef. UK: £60,000 to £150,000 base. Large estates with a significant entertaining programme and a kitchen team sit at the top. US: $100,000 to $220,000 base.
Private Chef. UK: £50,000 to £130,000 base. Central London households and chefs with Michelin-level experience sit at the top. US: $100,000 to $200,000 base; $200,000 to $300,000 at principal residences and in travelling roles, with New York and Los Angeles higher.
Travelling Chef. UK: £55,000 to £120,000+ base. US: $90,000 to $180,000+ base.
Nutritional Chef. UK: £45,000 to £100,000 base. US: $80,000 to $160,000 base.
Performance Chef. UK: £45,000 to £90,000 base. US: $80,000 to $150,000 base.
Governess or Governor. UK: £55,000 to £88,000 base live-out; £45,000 to £70,000 live-in, with accommodation and full benefits. US: $85,000 to $155,000 base, with the most qualified multilingual candidates at $165,000 or more.
Live-in Nanny. UK: £55,000 to £70,000 base with three to five years' private household experience; £70,000 to £95,000 for senior or specialist nannies, with roles in very prominent households above this. Outside London and the Home Counties, £45,000 to £65,000. US: $80,000 to $115,000 base in the major cities; $120,000 to $160,000+ for specialist nannies with significant travel, complex needs or a second language.
Live-out Nanny. UK: £46,000 to £63,000 base in London; £63,000 to £78,000 for senior nannies with additional languages, SEN experience or a strong private household background. Outside London, £38,000 to £58,000. US: $70,000 to $100,000 base; $105,000 to $130,000+ for senior nannies.
Rota Nanny. UK: £50,000 to £70,000 base per nanny for about 26 working weeks a year; £70,000 to £99,000 for senior or specialist rota nannies. Households pay two salaries. US: $85,000 to $125,000 base per nanny; $135,000 to $165,000+ in the most demanding households.
Travelling Nanny. UK: £58,000 to £75,000 base at mid level; £75,000 to £110,000 for senior, multi-country nannies; £95,000 to £130,000+ for a head nanny travelling across several residences. US: $100,000 to $150,000 base at mid level; $150,000 to $200,000 for senior, multi-country nannies.
Security Nanny. UK: £75,000 to £100,000 base with a close protection qualification; £100,000 to £140,000 with operational experience and travel; £130,000 to £160,000+ for a head security nanny working with a full security team. US: $120,000 to $160,000 base; $160,000 to $220,000 with an operational background and travel; $220,000 to $280,000+ in a high-threat environment.
Maternity Nurse. UK: £1,200 to £2,500 a week net, depending on experience and on day, night or 24-hour cover. Twins and multiples carry a premium.
Newborn Care Specialist. UK: £260 to £460 a day live-in; £200 to £380 an overnight shift. US: $40 to $60 an hour for overnight shifts; $3,800 to $6,500 a week live-in.
Temporary Nanny. UK: £200 to £350 a day; £900 to £1,500 a week, rising to £1,500 to £2,200 for senior, specialist or travelling roles. US: $300 to $500 a day; $1,500 to $2,500 a week, rising to $2,500 to $4,000 for senior or travelling roles.
Butler. UK: £50,000 to £75,000 base; £75,000 to £110,000 for senior or head butlers in complex or multi-residence households. US: $90,000 to $140,000 base; $140,000 to $200,000 for senior or head butlers.
Housekeeper. UK: £35,000 to £55,000 base for a single residence, live-out; £55,000 to £80,000 for head housekeepers and multi-residence roles. Live-in roles carry a lower cash salary, with a package worth 20% to 30% more once accommodation and meals are counted. US: $75,000 to $110,000 base; $110,000 to $150,000 for senior or head housekeepers, with New York and California at the upper end.
Chauffeur. UK: £45,000 to £65,000 base; £65,000 to £90,000 for senior or security-trained chauffeurs with several vehicles or regular travel. Close protection training adds a premium. US: $75,000 to $110,000 base; $110,000 to $140,000 for senior or travelling roles.
Domestic Couple. UK: £70,000 to £95,000 combined; £95,000 to £130,000+ for senior couples on complex estates. Accommodation is usually included. Couples with estate management scope are paid as a Management Couple, above. US: $120,000 to $180,000 combined; $180,000 to $250,000 for senior couples on larger properties.
Gardener. UK: £35,000 to £50,000 base single-handed; £50,000 to £75,000 for a head gardener with a team and estate responsibility. US: $65,000 to $90,000 base; $90,000 to $115,000 for a head gardener.
Maintenance. UK: £28,000 to £40,000 base; £44,000 to £60,000 for a maintenance manager overseeing property systems, contractors and budgets. US: $50,000 to $75,000 base; $77,000 to $110,000 for a maintenance manager.
Residential Security Officer. UK: £35,000 to £55,000 base. US: $75,000 to $120,000 base.
A head housekeeper can start on the same base salary as a first-year analyst at a City investment bank. The difference is that the analyst's pay roughly doubles within three years. The head housekeeper's barely moves.
Household compensation is structurally flat. The starting number is often close to the ceiling, which a career candidate expecting a corporate progression needs to understand before accepting.
Europe is more fragmented than the UK and the US, and more varied.
Monaco and the South of France. Salaries are usually quoted net, and gross figures are often 20% to 40% higher. Housekeepers €3,800 to €7,000 net a month; butlers and chefs €6,000 to €9,500; estate managers at significant estates €8,500 to €16,000 net a month, plus accommodation and bonuses.
Switzerland. Higher base salaries than most of Europe, against a high cost of living. Housekeepers CHF 5,500 to 8,500 a month; butlers and chefs CHF 7,500 to 13,000.
Italy and Spain. Below the UK for comparable roles in smaller households. Comparable to the UK at the top end, in UHNW principal residences, where candidates are often brought in or retained with significant packages.
Dubai and the UAE. Increasingly active competition for English-speaking senior household staff. Net-of-tax packages attract candidates, and top-end packages can exceed UK equivalents, particularly for estate managers, private chefs and senior nannies in principal households.
Cross-border staff mobility is limited outside Dubai. A British career housekeeper rarely moves to Milan, and a Spanish butler rarely moves to London, without a specific reason and a significant uplift. Each national market sets its own floor.
In household roles, candidates talk about net salary. Clients should care about gross, because that is what they pay. The gap between the two is where most budget surprises sit. Our Net vs Gross Compensation in Private Offices article covers it in detail.
A housekeeper asking for €5,000 net a month in Monaco is not a €60,000 a year hire: once employee and employer social charges are added, the cost runs well above that. In France the gap is wider still. In the UK, the cost to the employer runs roughly 15% to 20% above gross salary, depending on pension auto-enrolment, employer National Insurance and benefits.
We advise clients to set budgets in gross, to confirm early which currency and structure the candidate is quoting in, and to price accommodation, health insurance and private car use into the total. Budget conversations that start in the wrong unit finish in frustration.
Senior household staff often receive discretionary compensation that does not appear on the contract.
A housekeeper we placed started on €3,000 net a month and reached €5,000 within eight months. The same person received a €12,000 bonus for a two-week trip supporting the Principal abroad. In private work, the starting salary is rarely the whole story.
These outcomes do not apply to every role or every employer. They show that private compensation is discretionary, relationship-driven and can be well above what the base suggests. At the senior end, annual bonuses can approach or exceed base in a strong year.
Overtime is the cost most clients underestimate. For housekeepers, nannies, butlers and travelling staff, hours accumulate fast, especially across several residences or on trips. By month three, the real cost can sit well above base. Budget for it from day one.
Define overtime rules before the search, not after the first trip. A travelling nanny or butler who joins a family in the Mediterranean for a month will work around the clock. That has to be priced, agreed and documented before the trip begins.
For live-in roles, accommodation is a significant part of the package. The rental value of a suite in a principal residence can be worth tens of thousands of pounds a year, and much more in prime London. It does not always appear as cash, but it is a real part of the total.
Health insurance, private travel, vehicle allowances, school fees and pension contributions vary widely. We recommend summarising any package in a single number, gross cash plus the cash value of benefits, so that clients and candidates negotiate against the same figure.
Two factors push salaries above the baseline.
Location. London, New York, Monaco, Geneva, Dubai and other prime cities sit above national averages. Relocating staff to these cities usually needs an accommodation allowance or a housing package.
Household complexity. A single residence with two staff is priced differently from a ten-residence estate with twenty-five. Head roles managing larger teams, larger budgets and more moving parts command a premium. Estate managers running multi-property operations with budget responsibility can earn multiples of a comparable role at a single residence.
Published ranges describe a band. Certain factors push individual packages above it.
Several residences. Running operations across two, three or more residences to one standard.
Staff management. Supervising large teams, often including specialist functions such as security, grounds or particular trades.
Budget authority. Responsibility for capital and operating budgets above £1 million.
Travel. Significant time overseas with the Principal.
Language or network. Access the client cannot easily recreate.
Tenure. Long-serving staff who know the Principal's life are worth more to that employer than the open market will pay. The candidate knows it. So does the Principal. This is a retention dynamic more than a hiring one, but it shapes pay across the senior end of the market.
Three principles guide how we advise clients on compensation.
Build the package in gross, including cash, accommodation, benefits and a realistic bonus estimate. Negotiating against a misaligned number costs time and sometimes the candidate.
Price in overtime and travel from day one, and budget well above base for household and travelling staff, depending on how the role is covered.
Stay honest about what the market clears. Published ranges are a guide. What the best candidate in a current search accepts is the real price. We update clients with live market data when the number moves during a search.
The top of the Estate Manager range has moved because the role has changed. A Principal with three residences, a yacht and a household of fifteen is hiring a chief operating officer for their private life, and the package reflects that.
Antonia Edwards, Managing Director, Oplu
Dubai now competes directly with London for English-speaking senior household staff. For a candidate weighing a tax-free package with housing against a London salary, the comparison is not close, and London households are pricing for it.
Antonia Edwards, Managing Director, Oplu
Published figures for private staff are mostly averages drawn from job adverts. Our ranges start from what households have agreed in our searches. The gap is widest at the senior end, which is exactly where a Principal is most exposed to getting it wrong.
Antonia Edwards, Managing Director, Oplu
Oplu benchmarks salaries against its own searches and placements first, and checks them against the specialist published data. For any client search, we can provide recent comparable placement ranges, adjusted for region, number of residences, staff headcount and role scope. We prefer this to generic ranges because household compensation is specific to the household and the candidate, not to the market average.
If a client's budget is below what the role needs, we say so clearly and early. Some clients adjust. Some conclude they do not need the role at the level first proposed. Both outcomes are better than a search that runs for three months and fails to deliver.
Media enquiries. Oplu's Managing Directors comment on compensation and hiring in private households, estates and Private and Family Offices. Contact press@oplu.com.
Cite as: Oplu, Household & Lifestyle Salary Guide, 2026 edition, oplu.com/resources/private-staff-salary-guide.
For current vacancies see our job board. Hiring for a role like this? Discuss the hire with us.
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In the UK, £50,000 to £90,000 base for a single property and £90,000 to £150,000+ for multi-residence or international portfolios. In the US, $150,000 to $250,000 for a single property and $250,000 to $400,000 for multi-residence or complex estates. The role varies widely, so comparisons only work when the scope is comparable. Directors of Residences, who run several estates and their teams, earn £110,000 to £176,000 in the UK.
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