A governess educates school-age children inside a private household. She teaches languages, supports homework, builds manners and social skills, and runs structured activities around the school day.
The governess works inside the family, follows the parents’ rules about how the children should be raised, and has to earn the child’s trust before she can teach them anything.
The parents may want strict academics. The child may want to play. The governess’s job is to balance both, so the child learns and still feels seen and respected.
What does a governess do in a private household?
A typical week for a governess follows the school calendar.
The children leave for school in the morning. The governess uses this time to prepare lessons, source materials, and plan after-school activities.
When the children come home, she supervises homework, follows the agreed curriculum, whether British, French, or American, and supports language fluency if she is a native speaker. Music, sport, or art instruction fits around this academic work.
Depending on the family, the governess may stay through dinner to help with table manners, conversation skills, and how to greet guests.
On the weekends, the governess runs structured activities such as museum visits, language games, cultural outings, or sport. She also reviews the week’s work and updates parents on each child’s progress.
During school holidays, the governess often travels with the family, provides full-time supervision, and runs educational activities for the children, usually working longer than the standard 3pm to 7pm schedule.
What skills and qualifications does a governess need?
Most speak two or more languages fluently, and families in the Middle East, the US, and Europe often ask for native French or English speakers.
“Families want someone from Europe because they love French and English education. The old European way of educating people,” says Morgan Richez, co-founder of Morgan & Mallet.
Beyond language, the main skills families look for include:
- Enough patience to teach a child who’s struggling, enough authority to keep them focused
- The ability to teach across subjects, and sometimes music, sport, or art
- Clear communication with both children and parents
- Creativity in planning activities that are fun but educational
Most hold a degree in education, childcare, or child development, along with certificates in first aid and safeguarding. Some have trained in specific methods such as Montessori or Waldorf, which families with younger children often request. Norland College graduates are sought after in the UK and Middle East for roles that blend governess and nanny duties.
One recruiter at Morgan & Mallet, Lia Correa, recently filled a governess role in Versailles where the family needed one week part-time, then one week full-time, with travel during school holidays. That kind of irregular schedule puts many candidates off.
“Clients often underestimate how long a quality search can take,” Lia says. “A bit more planning, flexibility, and clarity up front leads to a much better long-term match.”
How much does a governess earn?
Governess salaries vary widely by region. These are the 2026 salary ranges from Morgan & Mallet International’s placement data for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth households.
| Country | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| USA | $70,000 to $130,000 |
| UAE | AED 180,000 to AED 300,000 |
| UK | £55,000 to £100,000 |
| France | €45,000 to €60,000 |
| Monaco | €80,000 to €120,000 |
| Belgium | €45,000 to €70,000 |
| Switzerland | CHF 90,000 to CHF 130,000 |
| Saudi Arabia | SAR 250,000 to SAR 340,000 |
What are the working conditions for a governess?
The uneven workload is the thing most families underestimate. The term time might be four hours a day. Holiday weeks can be ten or twelve. Some families offer more days off during term to balance the longer holiday stretches. Others bring in a second governess or nanny to share the load.
If the role involves regular travel, the contract should spell out what’s included: flights, meals, a private room, and how rest days work when away from home.
Morgan Richez, co-founder of Morgan & Mallet, is direct about why this matters: “When you say everything to the candidate at the beginning, the good things and the bad things, you can make sure that when she gets the job, she’s going to stay for a long time. If you try to hide something, maybe the candidate won’t appreciate it after one month and she’s going to resign.”
How is a governess different from a nanny?
A nanny focuses on care, safety, and daily routine. A governess focuses on education. The roles overlap between roughly five and 11 years old, which is where families need to decide whether they want someone whose strength is nurturing or teaching.
Staff hierarchy can create tension when a governess joins a household that already has a nanny. Clear responsibilities from day one help avoid problems later.
“When I was a nanny, I’d say to the housekeeper, ‘The little one had an accident in her bed, would you mind changing it for me while I take her to painting class?’ You need to think cooperatively, otherwise you’re going to have a lot of conflicts. Everyone has an ego,” says Laurine Mallet, co-founder of Morgan & Mallet.
Sample governess job description for a private household
This is based on real roles Morgan & Mallet fills. Adapt it to your family.
Job title: Governess
Location: [City. State whether travel to other properties is required.]
Hours: Part-time during term (typically 3pm to 7pm weekdays, plus weekends). Full-time during school holidays. Flexibility required for travel and schedule changes. [State specific hours if known.]
Live-in / live-out: [Specify. If live-in, describe the accommodation.]
Salary: [Range. See regional salary data above for guidance.]
The role:
You will oversee the academic, social, and cultural development of [number] children aged [ages]. This includes supervising homework, supporting a [British/French/American/other] school curriculum, and teaching [languages, subjects, or skills the family requires]. You will plan and run structured after-school and weekend activities covering education, sport, music, art, or cultural outings.
You will teach table manners, social etiquette, and conversation skills in line with the family’s expectations. During school holidays, you will travel with the family and maintain a full-time learning schedule across properties.
You will report to the parents regularly on each child’s progress, routines, and development. You may also liaise with the children’s school, tutors, or other household staff.
What we are looking for:
- At least three to five years of experience in a private household or educational setting
- A degree or qualification in education, childcare, or child development
- Native or fluent speaker of [language]
- Strong references from former employers
- Experience following a specific school curriculum (British, French, American, or other)
- Comfortable managing children’s schedules that change with travel and holidays
- Able to work alongside other household staff including nannies, housekeepers, and personal assistants
- Clean criminal background check
- [Add any driving, visa, or location-specific requirements]
What we offer:
- [Salary range]
- [Benefits: health insurance, paid time off, travel expenses]
- [If live-in: accommodation details, meals, utilities]
- Three-month supported onboarding with regular check-ins
This is a template. Every family is different. If you need help writing a job description for your specific situation, call us and we will do it with you.
Are you a governess looking for your next role?
Morgan & Mallet works with families across eight countries who are actively looking for qualified governesses. Your details will be visible to recruiters across our offices as soon as you register.Browse open governess positions on our job board.
Looking to hire a governess?
Morgan & Mallet draws from a database of 200,000+ candidates and places governesses across the US, UK, Europe, and the Middle East. We will help you write the job description, set the right salary for your market, and run the search. Get in touch if you are looking to hire a governess.
Call us on +1 (646) 965 2308 (US) or +44 20 4578 6249 (UK), or email contact@morganmallet.agency.