Private chefs can now pull $300,000 as wealthy homes staff up
Morgan & Mallet says rich families are paying record wages for chefs, assistants, butlers and estate managers as their homes and lives get more complex.
By Sal Moretti · Money Reporter
3 min read
Private chefs in the United States can now make as much as $300,000 a year as wealthy families turn their homes into high-end dining rooms, according to a new Morgan & Mallet International report.
The household staffing agency said demand has hit record levels for private chefs, personal assistants, butlers, nannies, housekeepers, chauffeurs and estate managers. The driver, according to the report: richer clients with more homes, bigger family operations and less appetite for handling the details themselves.
The surge has turned domestic staffing into a pay battle. Morgan & Mallet said experienced household workers are changing jobs more often, while clients are being forced to pay more to land candidates with proven records.
The report said many clients have been surprised by the rising price of household help, adding that strong candidates have become harder to secure and top wages have climbed worldwide.
Home cooking, Michelin style
Chefs are at the center of the frenzy. Morgan & Mallet said private chefs in the U.S. now earn between $100,000 and $300,000 a year.
Ultra-wealthy families are increasingly looking for chefs with Michelin-starred restaurant backgrounds so they can enjoy top-tier meals at home while avoiding crowded restaurants and public attention, according to the report.
Celebrity chefs can command the richest premiums, Morgan & Mallet said. Chefs who can handle specialized dietary needs, including celiac-safe cooking, are also in a strong bargaining position.
The top household pay bands listed by Morgan & Mallet include private chefs at $100,000 to $300,000, chiefs of staff at $150,000 to $300,000, executive assistants at $120,000 to $250,000, personal assistants at $80,000 to $250,000 and estate managers at $150,000 to $250,000.
Assistants, nannies and butlers cash in
In the U.S., personal assistants are the most requested role among employers, according to Morgan & Mallet. Executive assistants and personal assistants can make up to $250,000 a year, the report found.
Privacy has become part of the job description. Morgan & Mallet said discretion and tech skills are now core requirements for household staff. In Los Angeles, 77% of personal assistant hires required nondisclosure agreements, according to the report. Social media bans are also now common across household roles.
Nannies with three languages and experience caring for children with special needs are in especially high demand, the report said. Traveling nannies are prized but hard to find, with some making up to $163,000 in the United Arab Emirates, according to Morgan & Mallet.
Butlers are also no longer just formal service figures. Morgan & Mallet said modern butlers can oversee staff, technology, security and logistics across several homes. Their pay can reach $180,000 a year.
More homes, more management
Laurine Mallet, co-founder of Morgan & Mallet, said house managers have the fastest-rising salaries among household staff, driven by wealthy families’ growing property portfolios and a thinner pool of qualified candidates.
The report said skilled estate managers are increasingly difficult to find because they may be expected to oversee more than three properties across multiple countries and legal systems. In the U.S., household managers can earn between $150,000 and $250,000, according to Morgan & Mallet.
The old model of household staff staying with one employer for decades has faded, the report said. Average tenure is now three years.
As wealthy families move among homes and gain residency in multiple countries, Morgan & Mallet said employers increasingly want staff who can travel easily, including workers with Western passports.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.