A family assistant handles the day-to-day logistics that keep a busy home on track. They manage school schedules, medical appointments, tutor bookings, travel plans, and playdates.
The role is common in homes where both parents work full time. It also suits families with packed after-school schedules or more than one residence. In these setups, the admin load builds quickly, and a family assistant keeps everything running smoothly.
What does a family assistant do?
A family assistant manages the administrative side of family life and keeps the household running on schedule.
They work with the nanny, housekeeper, and other staff so tasks are clear and nothing falls between roles.
They support the family with travel planning, errands, and daily logistics. This often includes booking trips, handling basic bookkeeping, paying vendors, and organizing birthdays or school events.
They also manage shared calendars, school apps, and family WhatsApp groups.
Laurine Mallet, co-founder of Morgan & Mallet International, explains it simply: “A family assistant is more child care. It’s administrative. Going outside with the pets, doing grocery shopping, dry cleaner, things like that.”
The pace of the role shifts throughout the day, and plans often change at short notice. Moving from a school pickup to a home issue or a last-minute reservation is part of the job.
Working hours follow the family’s routine, so evenings and weekends are often required, especially during travel or school holidays.
What sets a strong family assistant apart is the ability to stay calm when the plan changes.
What is the difference between a family assistant and a personal assistant?
The difference is simple. A family assistant helps the whole household. A personal assistant helps one person.
A personal assistant focuses on one life. They manage the diary, meetings, and travel. Their day follows the principal.
A family assistant focuses on the home. They manage the children’s schedules, school runs, and day-to-day tasks. Their day follows the family.
The work looks different. A personal assistant books flights, plans meetings, and handles reservations. A family assistant manages nanny handovers, pays tutors, and takes the dog to the vet.
This often changes after the first call. Rachel Dixon at Morgan & Mallet says clients start with one idea, then shift once they talk through their lifestyle and needs.
A simple question helps. Do you need help with school runs and children’s schedules? If yes, you likely need a family assistant.
What qualifications and skills does a family assistant need?
A family assistant needs a mix of training, practical skills, and the right attitude.
Formal training helps. A degree in education, family studies, or home management is useful. A diploma from the International Nanny Association, or a similar body, also carries weight. Pediatric first aid and CPR are often required, especially with young children. A clean five-year driving record is expected in most US roles due to school runs.
Languages add value. Bilingual or trilingual candidates are in demand, especially with international families.
Day-to-day skills matter just as much. Organization keeps the schedule running, and clear communication keeps everyone on the same page. Discretion runs through all of it, since the family assistant sits inside private family life.
Morgan Richez, co-founder of Morgan & Mallet, says, “Household staff recruitment is more important than hiring for your company, because these people live with you and enter your private life. You need to like their personality.”
Tech skills are now part of the job. Most families use shared calendars, apps, and group chats. A family assistant needs to move quickly between these tools to keep everything running.
How much does a family assistant earn?
Family assistant salaries sit between nanny and personal assistant rates because the role pulls duties from both.
In the US, expect $60,000 to $110,000 a year, based on Morgan & Mallet’s 2025/26 Annual Report and live placement data. Pay rises with city, languages, hours, and live-in arrangements. New York and Los Angeles sit at the top end. Live-in roles often pay less in cash but include accommodation and meals worth $20,000 to $40,000 a year.
For comparable international markets, our recruiters place family assistants at £45,000 to £75,000 in the UK, €45,000 to €60,000 in France, CHF 70,000 to 110,000 in Switzerland, and AED 150,000 to 280,000 in the UAE.
NDAs are common in Los Angeles and Miami placements and add 15 to 20% to base pay.
What are the working hours for a family assistant?
Most family assistant roles are full time, Monday to Friday, with hours that shift around school holidays, travel, and key events. A typical week runs between 40 and 50 hours, with some evening and weekend work when needed.
In the US, most roles are live-out, while live-in is more common in the UK, Europe, and the UAE, or in remote locations. These roles usually include private accommodation and meals as part of the package.
For families with more than one home, travel is part of the job. A New York family may spend summer in the Hamptons and expect their family assistant to relocate for the season. A Dubai family may move to London in July and August and need support with the move and school planning in both cities.
The role also sits within a wider household team, linking the nanny, housekeeper, driver, and parents. Placements tend to struggle when boundaries are unclear, especially if the nanny is pushed into admin tasks or the role cuts across other staff.
Sample family assistant job description
This is a typical brief from a recent Morgan & Mallet placement in Manhattan, shared here to give candidates and hiring families a sense of how the role looks in practice.
Position: Family Assistant Location: Manhattan, with summer relocation to East Hampton Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, with occasional evenings Status: Live-out Salary: $85,000 to $95,000 plus full benefits
The household: Two working parents, two children aged 9 and 12, one dog. Existing team includes a full-time nanny, weekly housekeeper, and part-time driver.
Responsibilities
- Manage the children’s schedules: school runs, tutors, sports, and weekend activities
- Handle all family travel logistics: flights, hotels, packing lists, and passport renewals
- Run household errands: grocery orders, dry cleaning, vet appointments, and pet logistics
- Liaise with the nanny on daily handovers and with the housekeeper on supplies and vendors
- Support the parents with light personal admin: birthday gifts, school RSVPs, and event planning
Requirements
- Five years’ experience in a household or family support role
- Pediatric first aid and CPR certified
- Clean five-year driving record
- Second language an advantage
- Familiarity with the New York school system preferred
- Background in childcare or executive support preferred
Work conditions
- Full-time, live-out
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, with occasional evenings
- Summer relocation to East Hampton, travel covered
- Health insurance and phone provided
- Salary $85,000 to $95,000 depending on experience
What is the career path for a family assistant?
A family assistant role often leads to more senior roles within a private household.
Many candidates start in childcare, hospitality, or executive support, then move into a family assistant role after around five years. From there, common paths include moving into a household manager role, shifting into a personal assistant position, or stepping up to chief of staff.
Progress often depends on the family. As children grow and the household becomes busier, the role can expand in scope and responsibility. Many candidates grow with the family and move into more senior positions within the same household over time.
Building extra skills helps. Languages, staff management, and strong admin experience all make it easier to step into senior roles.
Hire a family assistant
Looking to hire a family assistant? Morgan & Mallet has 200,000+ candidates in our database and a 96% placement success rate on senior household roles. We help write the job description, set realistic salary expectations, and structure the contract.
Call +1 (646) 965-2308 or get in touch with our office online.
Apply for a family assistant role
Apply through the Morgan & Mallet International job board to start the vetting process. We work with families across New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Geneva, and Dubai, and place candidates in long-term, well-supported roles. The clearer you are about your skills, your hours, and the kind of household you want, the better we can match you.