Household Staffing Agency
in Dallas
Last updated:
Morgan & Mallet, a luxury household staffing agency serving Dallas, places experienced, fully vetted household staff with families across Dallas, Southlake and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Families use our domestic staffing services in Dallas and Southlake to hire housekeepers, private chefs, house managers, nannies and personal assistants, and we only place experienced household staff with verified experience in high-net-worth homes.
Contact us now to hire staff for your home that are right for your exact needs.
Placement success rate for our nannies and butlers
Average experience per professional
Vetted candidates in our network
US cities and towns we’ve recruited in
(Sources: The Morgan & Mallet Household Staff Industry Report 2026; 96% from our 2025/26 Household Staff Salaries Annual Report.)
Why Use a Domestic Staffing Agency in Dallas?
In large homes in Dallas, it is common to see a small but well-structured team instead of dozens of employees.
Half of our Dallas searches were for homes that already had other staff in place, from a housekeeping team or a deep-cleaning crew to a house manager or a chief of staff, so every new hire has to fit into a team from their first day.
“We are not an agency that just matches the profile and the candidate. We do more than this: we bring expertise, and we would like to set up a good organization in each property. We don’t want people to call me back six months later and say, ‘Hey, Morgan, I need a new butler because this one resigned,’” says Morgan Richez, our co-founder.
Our domestic staffing service in Dallas covers both live-in and live-out staff, on full-time or part-time schedules.
Founded by former staff
Founders who worked in luxury homes
Our co-founders, Morgan Richez and Laurine Mallet, learned the demands of luxury households from the inside: Morgan as a chauffeur for high-profile clients and Laurine as a nanny. Because of that experience, they know the level of service you expect from your staff. Read our story.
High vetting standards
How do we vet household staff?
Our agency has a strict, multi-step vetting process before you ever meet a candidate. We interview every candidate for 90 minutes, check five to seven years of their work history with former employers and run a background check through Accurate.com.
“If you do not check the references, if you do not call the previous employer, this is a big mistake, because some people are very good during the interview. At Morgan & Mallet, this is in the contract of each recruiter,” says Morgan Richez.
Dallas Luxury Communities We Serve
Dallas is home to some of the country’s most refined neighborhoods. Each community has its own distinct lifestyle, property style and expectations for household staff.
Dallas is also where our domestic staffing agency is most busy in Texas: it’s had 59% of our Texas placement searches since 2022, 47% for homes in Dallas itself and 12% in Southlake.
Highland Park and University Park. Highland Park is known for its stately houses and landscaping, and the Park Cities’ excellent schools and closeness to downtown Dallas attract families who need nannies and housekeepers.
Preston Hollow. Preston Hollow has some of Dallas’ most expensive properties, and residents here ask us for staff who can manage a large estate.
Southlake. Southlake’s large estates need staff who have experience and expertise managing big properties. Both of the Southlake searches we’ve done recently were for live-in roles: a chef and housekeeper, whose search had 126 applicants, nearly three times our US average for that role, and a butler.
Other areas we serve are Turtle Creek, Uptown, Frisco and communities in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Across Dallas-Fort Worth
- Highland Park
- University Park
- Preston Hollow
- Turtle Creek
- Uptown
- Southlake
- Westlake
- Westover Hills
- Frisco
Domestic Staff Roles We Place in Dallas
Dallas families ask us for the six roles below most frequently, and each card links to our full guide for that role. We also recruit domestic couples, private chauffeurs, governesses, laundresses and newborn care specialists for Dallas homes.
Housekeepers in Dallas
Housekeeping is the role Dallas families have asked us for most: 40% of our placement searches.
For very large homes and estates, head housekeepers supervise a team and have expertise working with fine and delicate furnishings, quite common in homes here.
A 2025 executive housekeeper search was for a home with two housekeepers to lead, and asked for at least five years in a similar role.
Two of our live-in housekeeper searches that year had 68 and 52 applicants, compared with an average of about 34 for our US housekeeper searches.
“The most important thing is to find a housekeeper who is very formal, very discreet, and who knows all the products for each piece of furniture, each floor and each item of clothing. This is the main request,” says Morgan Richez.
Head housekeepers | Fine fabrics | Live-in or live-out
Private Chefs in Dallas
In our experience, families look for chefs who are able to make balanced, healthy meals and do formal dinner service or holiday gatherings.
A 2025 Dallas private chef search we ran, for a chef cooking open menus across diets like gluten-free, vegan and keto, had 166 applicants, which is the third most of our total US private chef searches since 2022.
“For every single recruitment, you need to tell the client to do a trial with the chef before hiring: lunch, dinner or both, to make sure they like the cuisine,” says Laurine Mallet, our co-founder.
Health-focused menus | Special diets | Dinner service
House and Estate Managers in Dallas
House and estate managers look after staff teams, maintenance, budgets and suppliers for multi-million-dollar estates, and work with security teams.
A 2026 Dallas house manager candidate search we did was for a manager running three homes from a Dallas base. It had 85 applicants, above our average of about 75 for US house manager searches.
“The best way is to hire an estate manager, because it is the role of the estate manager to manage multiple properties everywhere in the world,” says Morgan Richez.
Staff and suppliers | Budgets | Security
Nannies in Dallas
Families are asking us for nannies who help children's development, who can travel and speak more than one language. We recruit both live-out and live-in nannies for Dallas families.
One of our 2025 searches for a French-speaking nanny who travels with the family had 87 applicants across three ads.
Early years | Travel | Languages
Personal Assistants in Dallas
Busy Dallas households contact us for staff who can bring them personal and family support.
A 2026 senior personal assistant search we did was for a home with a chief of staff, and the role included airport and private aircraft logistics. It asked for 10 to 12 years in a demanding personal assistant role, with evening and weekend cover shared on a rota, and had at least 78 applicants.
Calendars | Travel | Events
Butlers in Dallas
A butler does formal service at home and leads the rest of the staff.
Our 2026 Southlake butler search asked for at least five years' experience, white-glove service and fluent English and Spanish. It got 16 applicants, against an average of about 41 for our US butler searches, so senior bilingual roles need a larger search area and to utilize our network more.
Formal service | Events | Bilingual
What Dallas Families Ask Us For
Since 2022 we have had about 71 candidates apply per search we do in Dallas. Here is a selection of the roles we briefed for, and how many candidates it had.
| Search | Year | Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Private chef, Dallas | 2025 | 166 |
| Live-in chef and housekeeper, Southlake | 2025 | 126 |
| French-speaking nanny, Dallas | 2025 | 87 |
| House manager, Dallas | 2026 | 85* |
| Senior personal assistant, Dallas | 2026 | 78* |
| Live-in housekeeper, Dallas (April) | 2025 | 68 |
| Live-in housekeeper, Dallas (November) | 2025 | 52 |
| Executive housekeeper, Dallas | 2025 | 21 |
| Live-in butler, Southlake | 2026 | 16 |
| Head housekeeper, Dallas | 2022 | 12 |
Housekeepers were the most popular role, and we also searched for private chefs, a French-speaking nanny, a house manager, a personal assistant and a butler. Half of the searches involved travel with the family away from Dallas.
In 2025 and 2026, every salary these families advertised started at $90,000 a year or more, up to $130,000 for a senior personal assistant.
Nowhere near every applicant gets to a family. “If we imagine 100 applications, on average, the short list is probably eight people, and then the final list is three people,” says Laurine Mallet.
Source: Morgan & Mallet recruitment records for Dallas and Southlake, 2022 to 2026. * Still open in June 2026, so the final count is higher.
How much do household staff
cost in Dallas?
Housekeeper · per year
2025/26 Household Staff Salaries Annual Report
Dallas salaries are competitive with other major US cities, and Texas’s lack of state income tax is beneficial for staff.
Our Dallas live-in housekeeper roles in 2025 were advertised at $90,000 a year, at the bottom of the housekeeper range, with private quarters, travel costs covered and, in one role, the use of a car.
Families show their appreciation for their staff with annual bonuses and holiday gifts. The benefits our Dallas clients offered included health cover, paid vacation, travel costs and a Christmas bonus.
We tell families when an offer is below the market level it needs to be. “We won’t find anyone, or maybe we will, but as soon as they start, in two months they will find a better opportunity, so they will leave. That’s why it’s important to match the market and the client’s expectations,” says Laurine Mallet.
| Role we recruited for | Advertised pay |
|---|---|
| Senior personal assistant, Dallas (2026) | $100,000 to $130,000 |
| Live-in butler, Southlake (2026) | $90,000 to $120,000, plus accommodation and health insurance |
| Live-in chef and housekeeper, Southlake (2025) | $90,000 to $115,000, with a private apartment |
| Live-in housekeeper, Dallas (2025) | $90,000, with private quarters |
Source: our published job ads for Dallas and Southlake families, 2025 to 2026.
How it works: Tell us about your Dallas home and the role you need. We search our network, interview and check the best candidates, and send you a short list to meet.
Structured interview
Applicants accepted
Employment history checked
Replacement guarantee
What Dallas Employers Need to Know About Texas Employment Law
Texas has no state income tax and follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for most household employment rules, which makes it simpler than states with a Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, like New York. These are the questions Dallas families ask us most often about the legal side.
What is the minimum wage for household staff in Dallas in 2026?
It’s the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Texas’s own minimum wage law doesn’t cover domestic workers, but the federal law does, and Texas cities, Dallas included, can’t set a higher rate. The full-time roles we recruit for pay far more (see the salaries above).
Do I have to pay my nanny or housekeeper overtime in Texas?
For live-out staff, yes: overtime is due at 1.5 times their regular rate for every hour over 40 in a week. Live-in staff are not included in overtime, but they must still earn at least the minimum wage for every hour they work, so agree the hours in writing first and keep a record of them.
Live-in roles can mean long days: our Southlake chef and housekeeper role was on call from about 6 am to 8 pm.
Do Dallas families have to give household staff paid sick leave?
No. Texas has no paid sick leave law. Dallas passed its own paid sick time ordinance in 2019, but a federal court struck it down in 2021, and a 2023 Texas law stops cities from setting their own leave rules.
Many families offer paid time off anyway: our Dallas live-in housekeeper roles came with three weeks of paid vacation plus ten days at Christmas.
Is workers' comp required for household staff in Texas?
No. Workers’ compensation is optional for employers in Texas, and domestic workers are outside the system unless the family chooses to cover them.
It’s worth asking your insurer how your home and car policies cover staff, especially anyone who drives your car or your children.
Do I have to pay nanny taxes in Texas?
Texas has no state income tax, but the federal rules do apply: Social Security and Medicare when you pay one employee $3,000 or more in 2026, and federal unemployment tax when you pay $1,000 in a calendar quarter.
Texas unemployment tax starts at the same $1,000-a-quarter level, and you can choose to report it once a year. You need to report new hires to Texas within 20 days, and pay staff who are due overtime at least twice a month.
How we help: Morgan & Mallet can help families in Dallas with proper employee classification (W-2, not 1099), payroll setup and compliance with the Texas Workforce Commission by connecting you with legal advisors.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Check the latest rules with the Texas Workforce Commission and IRS Publication 926.
Six Qualities Families Look for in Their Household Staff in Dallas
In our experience, families in Dallas we have recruited domestic staff for usually look for these six main qualities in the people who work in their homes. These traits help in finding staff who fit in with the family culture and run busy households.
Southern Polite Demeanor
Families in Dallas really appreciate staff who are friendly, respectful and naturally courteous.
A calm, pleasant attitude is high up on the list of importance here. Language is important too: 30% of our 10 Dallas searches asked for Spanish, from housekeepers who could speak Spanish or English to a butler fluent in both.
Proactive Work Ethic
Staff are expected by their employer to notice what needs to be done and deal with it without being asked every time.
We see that families here want to employ staff who can anticipate their needs. One of our 2026 house manager briefs asked for a five-star hotel standard, with every home ready for guests.
“I’ve had candidates walk me through a whole scenario: their client has a flight tomorrow, so they get a car to pick them up at the exact time, look at the boarding time, make sure the luggage is packed for the entire family. A lot of clients are looking for that: you’re thinking of things that they would never think about, but that will make their lives a lot easier,” says Eric Rios, a household staff recruiter in our New York office.
Strong Discretion and Loyalty
Employers we work with in Dallas want people who can keep information about the household to themselves and stay loyal to the family over years.
“When I talk to candidates about discretion, they think, ‘OK, I’m not going to listen when my employer is on the phone with his family or friends.’ But discretion is also being able to feel when you need to leave your employer alone and go to another room,” says Laurine Mallet.
High Standards of Care
Properties in Dallas are often large, with detailed finishes, fine fabrics and delicate items. Families want us to find them staff who have worked in these kinds of homes before, with high cleaning and service standards.
One of our 2025 executive housekeeper briefs asked for the care of couture garments, fine linens and delicate fabrics.
“I might get a housekeeper that worked at [a hotel] for two years. Well, that’s great, and I’m sure you’re a great worker, but for us we need a private household, a family situation, because that’s a whole different dynamic,” says Jonathan de Vanderbilt, one of our household staff recruiters in New York.
Long-term Mindset and Stability
Families very much like staff who treat the role as a serious, long-term position, not one they are temporarily in.
Staying for years builds up trust with the family and there isn’t the stress of frequent turnover, so our recruiters prioritize candidates who have stayed with previous employers for many years.
All of our Dallas searches have been for full-time, permanent or long-term roles, and one Dallas family has come back to us three times to find more housekeepers.
“Turnover is really bad for the property, because if you change every year, you need to train the people again, and the new people don’t know your habits,” says Morgan Richez.
Provides Event Support
Households in the Dallas area often host dinners and holiday gatherings, and many support charity events like the Cattle Baron’s Ball.
Staff who can help with the setup, service and clean-up, while staying calm around guests, are really valued by employers.
60% of our searches for candidates included entertaining, from private dinners to cocktail parties.
“Sometimes the best candidate is not local. When you work with a global agency like Morgan & Mallet, you can attract people from different states: from New York, from Los Angeles, from Florida.”
Morgan Richez
Co-founder, Morgan & Mallet
Contact our New York office
New York, United States
260 Madison Ave, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10016
Meet Your USA Regional Team
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a private chef cost in Dallas?
For one dinner party, Dallas chefs will charge per guest. A full-time private chef is a member of staff on a salary who cooks for your family every day, and in the private households we recruit for that salary goes from $100,000 to $300,000 a year (our 2025/26 Annual Report).
A Southlake role we recruited for that combined cooking and housekeeping was advertised at $90,000 to $115,000, with a private apartment.
How much does a nanny cost in Dallas?
In the private households we recruit for, a full-time nanny earns $60,000 to $120,000 a year, roughly $29 to $58 an hour at 40 hours a week (our 2025/26 Annual Report).
The federal minimum wage in Texas is $7.25 an hour, and live-out nannies get overtime after 40 hours a week. See our guide to hiring a nanny.
Are live-in positions common in Dallas?
Yes. 40% of our Dallas searches for candidates were for live-in staff, and every one came with private quarters or an apartment.
Families who choose live-in often do so to offer their staff a predictable schedule, secure housing and the ability to respond quickly when things change, like last-minute travel or visiting guests.
One of our Dallas live-in housekeeper roles worked Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July and Easter, with time off given in return.
Asked how families can keep great live-in staff for years, Laurine Mallet, our co-founder, says: “Good accommodation, and not to bother them during the weekend, or as little as possible, because it’s really important that they have their days off without being disturbed.”
How do staff support events and private gatherings in Dallas?
Your household team can do everything from an intimate dinner at home to a black-tie fundraiser.
A lot of Dallas families host at-home cocktail evenings, board dinners and charity galas.
For their own parties around events like The Collection Gala or the SPCA Fur Ball, families do bring in extra temporary staff, like a bartender, additional servers or a second housekeeper, to help with the setting up of it, service and cleaning up after the event, while the main team focuses on the family and guests.
What does a typical staff team look like in a large Dallas family home?
Most families start with one to three main hires, like a house manager, a housekeeper or a personal assistant, and then build more over time. Many families also add a part-time or shared groundskeeper and a dedicated driver later on.
Asked how many staff a 10-bedroom house needs, Morgan Richez, our co-founder, says: “I think it’s good to have at least three or four people. For housekeeping, I would say at least one housekeeper and one part-time housekeeper. It’s very important not to be overstaffed and to choose the right staff. You need to start with the minimum and see how it goes.”
How does Morgan & Mallet vet candidates?
Candidates do scenario-based interviews and practical tests.
For example, a housekeeper might be asked to tell us about how they would care for delicate finishes, while a nanny might be tested on routines for a certain age of child, so you see how they would work in a real Dallas household.
Our Dallas briefs set minimum experience levels from two years for a nanny to 10 to 12 years for a senior personal assistant.
“During the interview, I check they know how to use the products. For a housekeeper, for example, I’m going to ask about some brands, to make sure they know the products and how to clean each material. So I’m going to test them,” says Morgan Richez, our co-founder.
How long does it take to hire household staff in Dallas?
It’s worthwhile planning four to six months ahead for a senior role, although standard roles can be filled faster (our 2025/26 Annual Report).
This time will cover creating a detailed role profile, sourcing candidates, interviews, trials and notice periods. Senior and specialist roles, like butlers, have fewer applicants, so we search beyond Dallas as well.
“Here the pace seems faster. They like to interview candidates quicker, and in-person interviews are a big thing. When they call, they do have the need, and it’s always: can we start interviewing right away? I have to slow them down and explain our process,” says Jonathan de Vanderbilt, comparing the US with Europe.
Looking for a job in a private home in Dallas? See our current household jobs.
Hire Household Staff in Dallas
From private households to seasonal events, Morgan & Mallet is here to find the right staff for your needs, from our database of 200,000 candidates. Call our recruitment team on