Hire a House Manager
Without a good house manager a home might function, but it won’t flow effortlessly. Hire a house manager who is highly experienced and skilled and see the difference.
We recruit house managers from the very top tier of the profession for high and ultra high net worth homes.
If you’re looking for a hand-picked house manager professional who has the experience and expertise to work in an environment where only the very highest level of service is expected, get in touch with us today.
Clients work with us because we only recruit house managers who have that unique set of skills that makes them excel in the role. A decade of experience recruiting for the most demanding roles in the sector means we understand the skills and personality that exceptional house managers must have.
Finding someone who can carry out the role to the highest standards isn’t easy and that’s why clients come to us.
Morgan & Mallet (M&M) was established in 2015 by two ambitious co-founders after spending a combined total of over 30 years working directly in luxury service.
Today, Morgan & Mallet operates from eight global offices, placing over 1,200 household staff annually. We are experts in house manager recruitment and make finding the right household manager easy for you.
Recent company data from our agency showed:
- House managers and property caretakers are one of the top five requested positions in the US, France, and Switzerland (2025).
- 96% of the house managers we place are a success for the household.
- The house managers we place have on average eight years experience.
Disclaimer:
Despite having offices in eight cities and placing over 1,200 staff annually, we might not find your ideal house manager right away,
When that happens, we’ll tell you directly that it’s going to take more time.
Our 96% success rate comes from being patient and finding the right fit, not just filling places quickly.
This honest approach is why so many families have trusted us year after year since 2015.
We’ve learned this approach leads to better long-term partnerships from day one.
At a glance:
- House managers in major US markets command $70,000-$160,000 annually, with San Francisco and New York leading at $122,500 average.
- London houses represent 16.97% of global house manager profiles, with 87% experienced in managing both heritage properties and modern smart homes.
- Estate managers oversee an average of 3+ properties, while house managers focus on single-residence operations.
- 96% placement success rate comes from presenting just three candidates from an average of 200+ applicants.
Who Hires a
House Manager?
From our experience, there are often three profiles:
Family offices
Morgan & Mallet is often their go-to trusted solution and after having placed other luxury household staff, the office will often return with confidence.
Personal Assistants
In most cases, the assistants have been trusted with this delicate task, and want to find the house manager quickly, but may struggle with the recruitment process i.e. “like where do I even start!?” .
In this situation we suggest a call, and we can chat about your needs, so tomorrow you can say “I’m on it, and we’re going to have three candidates very soon”.
Financial advisors / accountants
Often in a similar position to the PAs, with a reputation for getting tasks done, yet a little concerned about how to get started. For example, hiring and recruitment is a completely different skill set to the financial side of a family office. Again, we strongly suggest you reach out, we’ll have a chat, and get this task off your list. We’ll get back to you with three excellent candidates perfect for your household.
On a daily basis we are placing butlers, nannies, and household managers across major cities, including Monaco, Paris, New York, Dubai, London.
What Does a House Manager Do?
A house manager oversees all aspects of running a private residence, from supervising staff to managing vendors and ensuring daily operations run smoothly.
As the screenwriter Julian Fellowes once wrote:
“What gift do you think a good servant has? It’s the gift of anticipation.”
This captures what makes great house managers special. Morgan Richez, co-founder of Morgan & Mallet said he’s always checking for the “service attitude” while recruiting.
Managers with this “service attitude” will know you’ll need fresh flowers for the dinner party before you’ve even decided to host one.
Think of them as the “maître d” of your home. They handle budgets, manage maintenance schedules, supervise household staff, and spot problems before they happen.
In bigger estates, they might have teams of 20 or more staff members. In smaller households, they often work hands-on while managing external service providers.
During the California fires in 2020, one of our house managers in a Beverly Hills home drove through all the streets that were on fire to make sure that all the items, art, antiques, and cars were taken care of and moved out of the home to a secure area.
Why Experienced House Managers Command Premium Salaries
From our placement data and recruiter expertise, here’s what’s actually driving salaries in the real world:
The mathematics are straightforward – when Morgan (our co-founder) started recruiting in 2009, he noticed a surge in wages, that’s only gotten more pronounced. As Laurine (our other co-founder) explains to clients adjusting to current rates: “We’re not setting these salaries – the market is. Our job is helping you understand why the investment is worthwhile.”
The Perfect Storm Driving Wages Higher:
- Explosive Growth at the Top: Over the past 15 years, family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals have multiplied globally. More luxury households means more competition for the same talent pool.
- Shrinking Supply in Western Markets: Meanwhile, in key markets like the UK, US, and France, fewer people are entering the house manager profession.
- The Three-Year Reality: Younger generations view three years as a lengthy commitment, while previous generations saw household management as a career for life. This higher rotation means constantly recruiting replacements.
- The Morgan & Mallet Standard: We only present house managers with proven experience. As Morgan says, “We won’t let beginners learn on your time.” This further tightens an already competitive market.
The Result: This is basic supply and demand economics. When more families need house managers but fewer qualified candidates are available, salaries naturally increase.
Our Advantage: We maintain nearly 8,000 property caretaker and house manager profiles in our global database. The market may be competitive, but our extensive network means we can still find exceptional candidates who are worth every penny of their salary.
Remember, as the French say: “On n’a rien pour rien” – you get nothing for nothing. The peace of mind that comes with an experienced house manager managing your household operations? That’s worth the investment.
Geographic Distribution
of House Manager Requests (2025)
What's the Difference Between a House Manager and a Housekeeper?
A housekeeper makes your home clean and tidy. A house manager ensures your entire household runs like clockwork, from staff schedules to maintenance contracts.
Many households employ both. Think of it like the Grand Budapest Hotel – the housekeeping staff kept every room pristine, but it was Monsieur Gustave who ran the entire operation, ensuring each guest experienced perfection.
Is a House Manager Worth It?
Yes, for households with multiple properties, staff, or complex operations, a house manager saves significant time and ensures professional standards and management of the household.
Our clients tell us: hiring a house manager was like getting a whole extra day in their week.
It’s arriving home to find problems solved, events planned, and staff working together.
House Manager Profile Breakdown
The chart below shows the percentage of different profiles M&M placed in 2025 (within the house manager / maintenance sector) into households. .
The majority of candidates are house managers (80.09%), followed by estate/property caretakers (14.78%) and estate managers (4.88%).
What is a Day Like for a House Manager?
A house manager’s day may start with reviewing staff schedules, meeting with vendors, overseeing maintenance projects, and ensuring all household systems run smoothly.
This could be followed by a staff briefing, and then contractor meetings for the pool renovation. Lunch could involve interviewing a new chef while arranging the family’s weekend travel plans.
By evening, they’re making sure dinner service runs perfectly while planning next week’s social event. It’s varied, demanding, and never boring.
If you are a person who likes variety in a role, this could be for you.
Making the Right Choice for Your Household
We often have to advise clients about wanting to move fast. Hiring for a house manager needs to be done right first time round.
A poor hire that’s rushed into the household will have serious negative consequences for the household, for the other staff, and for the client.
Hiring professionals to handle this, and getting it from the get-go is a smart move.
Start by assessing your household’s needs. Consider your family’s style. Some households need formal protocols, while others prefer relaxed professionalism.
Also remember about the legalities, the residence and nationality of the house manager, the contract offered, and expectations.
Our 96% success rate comes from not only understanding both the client and the house manager(s), but also from a thorough hiring process and 15 years experience.
House Manager Salaries: What to Expect in Major Markets
Compensation varies quite significantly by location, experience, and household complexity.
As the French say, “Les bons comptes font les bons amis” – good accounting makes good friends.
Being transparent about compensation expectations helps create lasting professional relationships.
Here’s what our data shows for house manager annual salaries in major locations:
Location | Salary Range (USD) | Average (USD) |
|---|---|---|
New York | $80,000 – $150,000 | $115,000 |
Los Angeles | $75,000 – $140,000 | $107,500 |
Miami | $70,000 – $130,000 | $100,000 |
San Francisco | $85,000 – $160,000 | $122,500 |
London | $81,000 – $162,000 | $121,500 |
Dubai | $68,000 – $136,000 | $102,000 |
Conversion Notes:
- London salaries converted from GBP at 1 GBP = 1.35 USD
- Dubai salaries converted from AED at 1 AED = 0.272 USD
Some family households can be surprised by wages in the sector. Here are three reasons to explain the high wages.
Firstly on a global scale, over the last decade, the demand for house managers has increased significantly.
Secondly, the supply has simply not kept up, younger generations have not entered the profession at the same rate as in the past.
Thirdly, our household manager agency insists on experience as a pre-requisite, shrinking the pool of candidates considerably.
As the French saying goes ‘la qualité a un prix’ – quality has a price.
Finding the Right House Manager for Your Location
Every city has its own household management style. Knowing these differences helps you find the perfect match.
New York
89% of our NYC house managers handle the city’s unique challenges. They run Manhattan penthouses and Hamptons estates with excellence.
100% are trained in “invisible excellence” – providing top service while respecting your privacy. They handle housing co-op boards, building staff, and city logistics like alternate-side parking and gallery events.
Los Angeles
88% of our LA house managers have worked with celebrities. They understand high-profile clients need total privacy.
79% manage a portfolio of properties – from Malibu beach houses to Beverly Hills estates. They coordinate with publicity teams, handle NDAs, and know when discretion is needed.
London
87% of our London house managers work with both historic and modern homes. They handle listed building rules and English Heritage requirements while running modern home systems.
79% manage full staff teams including butlers, housekeepers, and specialists.
San Francisco
84% of our San Francisco house managers are tech-savvy, perfect for families who run smart homes.
77% support households with unconventional work schedules. They manage homes that double as business meeting spaces and plan with executive assistants.
Miami
86% of Miami house managers are experts in coastal properties – from hurricane prep to humidity control.
78% have managed homes with yacht access, handling both land and sea operations. They speak multiple languages and work across cultures, often managing Caribbean properties too.
Dubai
85% of our Dubai house managers run palatial villas with large staff teams.
76% understand local customs while delivering world-class service. They can even organize events for 100+ guests.
Common Names for Similar Roles
It’s quite common to use the terms household manager and houseman interchangeably, although there is not a huge difference, professional agencies like Morgan& Mallet will more often use household manager.
Below we explain the minor differences between the two roles, and in the FAQ section you can find more terms used depending on the house size, personal preferences and house norms.
Household Manager
The household manager title often indicates more responsibilities than traditional house management. They blend property oversight with lifestyle management.
This role has become a top five most requested position in the US, France, and Switzerland for our agency. These managers handle everything from children’s schedules to household budgets.
Being in the top five of placement requests, it’s clear many families seek this more complete approach to household management.
The Modern Houseman
Today’s houseman combines butler-like personal service with hands-on household management. They might serve dinner one moment and troubleshoot the home security system the next.
This flexibility makes them perfect for modern households that want high-level service without old-fashioned formality.
The Morgan & Mallet Placement Process
The French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once wrote that perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. This philosophy guides our placement process.
From a few hundred applicants, we narrow it down to just three great candidates, because we’ve removed anyone who isn’t perfect for your household.
Step One
We really listen. We ask detailed questions about your household, lifestyle, and specific needs. A few clients have questioned why we might not be speaking much, the reason is we can learn more from listening. Also, the recruiter will often have a few candidates in mind as you’re speaking.
During our processes we really spend time to get to know the candidate, making it far easier to place them if they are suitable.
Step Two
Next comes our global search. We identify those with the exact experience you need from our extensive database. We will also reach out to the candidates that we had in mind previously.
It’s an art and a science, we’re using our intuition from past interviews and our database.
Step Three
We verify every credential, check every reference, and confirm every claim. Even though our recruiter may have started on intuition and memory to find the candidate, we will always do extensive background checks and reference calls.
Step Four
By step four, we’ve narrowed it down to three exceptional candidates. Even though each one would probably be a great fit, it’s about finding the personality that fits with your household.
This step includes structured interviews designed to reveal both competence and character. We help you see beyond the resume to the person.
Step Five
For step five we usually offer a trial placement period. This is for you to see how the house manager works. It is for the house manager also, we want all parties to be happy with our work.
Getting it right is incredibly important for us. Our first placement with a family office is often the start of a long term relationship based on trust.
Step Six
Finally, we support the settling-in period. We are available for any questions, and have legal partners in every country. Again, we want every party involved to be happy, comfortable, and feeling good about the new opportunity.
Ready to find your perfect house manager? Contact Morgan & Mallet today to begin your search.
Frequently asked questions
What's the Difference Between a Butler and a House Manager?
Butlers traditionally focus on personal service and formal household protocols, while house managers handle broader operational and administrative responsibilities.
A butler makes sure your dinner party flows perfectly and your wardrobe stays impeccable. A house manager is in charge of making sure your household runs efficiently whether you’re home or traveling.
Modern households often benefit from both roles, with the butler handling personal service while the house manager oversees operations.
In smaller households, you might find professionals who handle both roles well. The co-founder of Morgan & Mallet Household staffing agency, Morgan Richez, started as a butler and progressed to become a house manager before starting the agency.
What does a house manager wear?
Most house managers dress in business casual or smart casual attire, though this varies by household culture and can change based on the location the household manager is working in.
Some formal households require suits to be worn, while relaxed modern homes might allow polo shirts and slacks. The key is looking professional while being able to work hands-on when needed.
What is the difference between a personal assistant and a house manager?
Personal assistants focus on supporting an individual’s schedule, correspondence, and daily logistics, while house managers oversee property operations and staff.
A PA books your flights; a house manager ensures your home is ready when you land. Some positions combine both roles for comprehensive support.
What is the difference between a house manager and a chief of staff?
A chief of staff would normally manage both household and business affairs for ultra-wealthy individuals, while house managers focus only on residential operations and tasks around a house.
Think of house managers as residential CEOs, while chiefs of staff operate across all aspects of a principal’s life, including business ventures and investments.
What is the highest manager position title?
In household staffing, the highest position is typically estate director or director of residences, looking after many properties and large team of staff.
Some ultra-wealthy families use chief of staff as the top position, combining household management with personal business affairs.
Related roles
Household and Estate