What Is a Domestic Couple?
Two people, typically a long-term partnership, who live on-site to manage a property full time. One handles housekeeping and cooking. The other focuses on maintenance, driving or grounds.
Recruiters from our Paris office report that requests to hire a domestic couple have risen sharply over the past three years in France. The problem is that there are not enough qualified pairs to go around.
Why the Talent Pool Is Shrinking
An aging workforce
Most experienced domestic couples working today are between 45 and 55 years old. Younger workers are far less likely to pursue a live-in role that demands round-the-clock availability.
Fewer stable partnerships
The role needs a long-term romantic partnership. Our team in London are seeing that modern couples separate more than previous generations. Finding couples who want to live and work together for years is getting harder.
A cultural shift
In the UK, US, France and Spain, traditional service roles are less appealing for younger generations. The pipeline of new domestic couples has slowed to a trickle.
What Domestic Couples Earn in 2026
Salaries have climbed fast. According to Morgan & Mallet’s 2026 salary data for HNW and UHNW households, gross yearly figures now sit at:
– France: €45,000 to €60,000+
– United Kingdom: £70,000 to £120,000+
– Switzerland: CHF 120,000 to CHF 160,000
– Monaco: €80,000 to €115,000
– Belgium: €80,000 to €110,000+
– United States: $100,000 to $250,000
– UAE: AED 96,000 to AED 180,000
– Saudi Arabia: SAR 216,000 to SAR 300,000+
From the data that we have we can see that the US market has shifted fastest. Roles that paid around $100,000 three years ago now regularly start at $150,000 or above.
It Is Not Just About Salary
Candidates are negotiating for quality of life too. Modern, furnished accommodation is expected. A basement room or a garden shed will not attract serious applicants.
Guaranteed weekends off when owners are not at home have become a standard request across most markets.
Where Is the Demand?
Demand is concentrated in wealthy areas like London, Switzerland, the South of France, Spain and the United States.
The couple model is less common in the Middle East, our team in Dubai there say that households tend to hire individual staff members rather than pairs.
Different Properties, Different Skills
Not every domestic couple fits every home. The property type shapes the role entirely.
– City penthouses (Monaco, London): High-end service, discretion and the ability to host at short notice.
– Country estates and castles: Garden management, basic repairs, maintenance of outbuildings. Sometimes assistance with shooting weekends or field sports.
– Holiday homes: Security is the priority. Owners want a human presence on site year-round.
Mismatching a couple to a property type is one of the most common hiring mistakes.
The Yachting Advantage
The most in-demand domestic couples are those with superyacht experience. From our own experience these candidates attract the highest offers. Yacht service trains staff to an exceptionally high standard under pressure.
A couple with five years experience working on a 60-meter yacht will run a household amazingly well, but might not know how to fix a boiler or manage groundskeeping contractors. The fit depends on the property.
Nationality and Language
High-level English is now expected in almost every market, including France. Many homeowners in Paris and the South of France are international expats. A couple who speaks only French will find fewer opportunities than a decade ago.
The country that candidates are from changes what they are expected to do as well:
– Portuguese and Polish candidates are wanted for construction and repair skills.
– Filipino couples are employed because of their flexibility and strong work ethic.
– British couples are still popular for formal service in traditional estates.
What Homeowners Should Know Before Hiring
The market favors candidates right now. Three things to keep in mind:
– Offer proper accommodation. Comfortable, modern, furnished, private. Couples asked to live in substandard housing will leave or never accept.
– Respect their private life. European candidates want work-life balance. Clear boundaries and guaranteed time off set an employer apart from the rest.
– Be transparent from day one. Hours, duties, travel requirements. All laid out before the contract is signed.
Conversations about the role with all our recruiters tells us that placements that last longest are the ones where both sides knew exactly what they were signing up for.
The Bottom Line
Domestic couples are harder to find than at any point in recent memory. Homeowners who offer strong salaries, quality accommodation and genuine respect for their staff’s time will secure the best candidates.
For tailored advice, contact your nearest Morgan & Mallet office.
