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Self-employed chefs make up to $300,000 a year, and chefs can earn up to $180,000 as the wealthy hire more domestic workers to manage their increasingly complex lives, according to a new study.
Demand for cooks, personal assistants, nurses, nannies, house cleaners, drivers and house managers has reached record highs as the wealthy buy more homes in different areas and manage ever-growing families, according to a report from Morgan & Mallet International. The rise in employment has created a war for talent, raising wages and increasing the number of domestic workers.
“Many customers are surprised by the increase in the cost of household services,” said the report. “The reality is that finding high-quality workers with proven experience is becoming increasingly difficult, forcing salaries for the best people to record high prices around the world.”
Real estate managers have the fastest-growing income among domestic workers, due to the growth of real estate portfolios of the wealthy and less skilled, according to Laurine Mallet, founder of Morgan & Mallet.
The market for independent chefs is very hot. In the US, freelance chefs can now earn between $100,000 and $300,000, according to the report. Wealthier families are increasingly looking to hire Michelin-starred chefs to cook for them at home to avoid the crowds and social attention of high-end restaurants, a report says. Celebrity chefs pay the highest premiums, while chefs trained in special diets – such as celiac-safe cooking – can also “command their value,” the report said.
Nannies who speak three languages and have experience caring for children with special needs are also in high demand. Mobile birth attendants are sought after but rare, with some making as much as $163,000 in the United Arab Emirates, according to the report.
In the US, the most requested position by employers is personal assistants. Executive assistants and personal assistants can earn up to $250,000 a year, Morgan & Mallet found.
Privacy, intelligence and technical skills are now key hiring needs, according to the report. In Los Angeles, 77% of hired personal assistants required non-disclosure agreements. A strict ban on social media has become the norm for all domestic worker positions.
In the past, domestic workers often worked for the same employer for decades. Now, the average tenure with an employer is three years, according to the report. As the wealthy increasingly move between homes and find residences in many countries, they are looking for workers ready for Western passports.
Skilled real estate managers are increasingly difficult to find, as they often have to manage more than three properties in multiple countries and jurisdictions, according to the report. In the US, real estate managers can now make between $150,000 and $250,000, it found.
Butlers, once portrayed as buttoned-down, silver tray-carrying housekeepers, now manage complex staff, technology, security and logistics across multiple buildings. Their salaries can reach $180,000.
“Customers are looking for efficient and informal services,” the report said. “Intelligence, privacy, and reliability are the most important qualities. Adaptability, flexibility, and strong people skills are also important.”
