Working for a wealthy family or VIP is one of the most rewarding careers in private service. These roles cover everything from running an estate to supporting a family’s daily life. This guide explains what the work involves, what you can earn, and how to get hired.
What working for a VIP or wealthy family actually involves
Roles in private households cover a wide range: butlers, personal assistants, nannies, chauffeurs, and chefs. Together these are known as household staff. The job is to keep a wealthy family’s day running smoothly.
You will handle sensitive information and keep standards high at all times. Schedules can change fast, so being flexible matters.
Jobs working for rich people: what does the work actually look like?
The range of work is far wider than most people expect. Over the years, Morgan & Mallet (M&M) has worked on some interesting briefs:
- A private chef hired for a five-day fine dining event at a stately home in the Orkney Islands, hosting five Canadian couples on a tour of Scotland.
- A traveling butler working between London and the Middle East, with accommodation provided at every stop.
- A personal assistant in Beverly Hills whose duties included driving the family to Las Vegas, overseeing a house renovation, managing European travel, and handling daily errands.
Then there was a private nurse based in London, traveling across several European countries to care for one high-profile individual.
A private jet flight attendant based in Dubai, on call around the clock, flying worldwide routes.
No two briefs are the same. That is part of what makes this sector so different from a standard career path.
Essential skills to get hired by a VIP
To work for a celebrity or wealthy family, a few skills matter more than others.
1. Experience and professionalism
Private employers look for a strong track record in service, hospitality, or management.
Experience at a high-end hotel, on a luxury yacht, or in a private household is a strong starting point.
This applies whether you are aiming to work as a butler, estate manager, personal assistant, chef, or chauffeur.
2. Discretion and confidentiality
Discretion is the most valued quality in private service. You will come across sensitive personal or business information, and keeping it private is essential.
Families trust you with details about their lives. That trust is the foundation of the role.
3. Flexibility and adaptability
Hours and duties change often in these roles. A personal assistant might be asked to travel at short notice. A nanny might need to work around an unpredictable schedule.
Salaries in the luxury household staff industry in the USA
Pay in private service is competitive. The table below reflects current US market rates, drawn from active listings. Salary varies based on location, live-in or live-out arrangements, and whether the role involves travel or staff management.
| Role | Annual salary (USA) | Key factors |
|---|---|---|
| Butler | $80,000 – $130,000 | Live-in roles and those overseeing staff earn more. |
| Personal assistant | $80,000 – $170,000 | Travel-heavy or chief-of-staff style roles push to the higher end. |
| Nanny | $85,000 – $110,000 | Higher with infant care, travel, or special needs experience. |
| Estate manager | $100,000 – $225,000 | Larger households with vendor oversight and staff management at the top. |
| Private chef | $130,000 – $225,000 | Live-in with celebrity client experience commands the highest rates. |
| Chauffeur | $80,000 – $100,000 | New York and LA markets. Travel roles earn more. |
| Housekeeper | $60,000 – $80,000 | Head housekeeper roles with staff oversight earn at the top of range. |
| Figures based on M&M’s Annual Staffing Report. Most roles also include accommodation, health benefits, and annual bonus. | ||
One of our California recruiters notes that a private chef with previous celebrity client experience can earn up to $190,000 a year in a live-in role.
That figure reflects the level of trust and discretion involved, not just cooking skill.
On top of salary, most roles include accommodation, health benefits, bonuses, and sometimes the chance to travel.
How do I get started if I have zero experience?
Everyone in this sector started somewhere. Laurine Mallet, one of M&M’s co-founders, began her own career as a nanny in London.
Morgan Richez, the other co-founder, arrived in the UK washing luxury cars before moving into chauffeur and then butler roles.
Neither came from a background in private service. Both built their experience one step at a time.
The path into private households usually starts outside them. Here is where to begin, depending on your role:
Private chefs and cooks
Start by responding to classified ads placed by ordinary families looking for a cook a few days a week.
This kind of work builds your confidence cooking in someone else’s kitchen, managing their preferences, and working quietly in a private home.
From there, move toward families with higher expectations. Each role should be a step up from the last.
Once you have two or three years of references from private households, you are in a strong position to approach an agency.
Housekeepers
A five-star hotel is the best training ground for a housekeeper who wants to work in private service.
The standards are directly comparable. HNW and UHNW households expect the same level of presentation, the same attention to fine materials, and the same quiet professionalism you find in luxury hospitality.
Two or three years in a high-end hotel, particularly in housekeeping or front-of-house, gives you a foundation that private employers recognize immediately.
Nannies and household assistants
Start with families who need part-time help and are willing to work with someone who is earlier in their career.
Build a track record of reliability, discretion, and warmth. Qualifications in childcare or early years education help, but Laurine Mallet has always said that attitude matters more than credentials.
A candidate who shows up on time, takes direction well, and keeps their employer’s life private will move up faster than one with certificates but poor judgment.
Across all roles, the advice is the same. Start where you can, do the work well, collect references, and move up gradually.
The households at the top of this market are looking for people who have already proven themselves at a level just below.
How to get hired by a wealthy family or VIP
1. Work with a specialist recruitment agency
Working with a specialist agency is the most direct route into private service. Morgan & Mallet International has a global network of high-profile clients looking for skilled, trusted staff.
The agency vets candidates carefully and matches them with employers based on experience and what the household needs.
Working with a specialist agency gives you access to opportunities you would not find on your own.
Our recruiters also act as advisors throughout the process. One recent search shows how this works in practice.
A recruiter had found a strong candidate a client was ready to sign by day three of the search. Rather than rushing, the recruiter suggested waiting a few more days, since the role did not start until January.
The client agreed. That kind of guidance is what good agency support actually looks like.
2. Tailor your resume to the role
Your resume needs to show the qualities private employers look for: discretion, flexibility, and a high standard of work.
Highlight any experience in demanding environments or with clients who have high expectations. Keep it focused and relevant.
3. Prepare for a thorough interview process
Expect several interviews and thorough background checks. High-profile employers need to be certain they can trust you completely.
Be ready to talk through past roles, how you handled sensitive information, and situations where things did not go to plan. Attitude and discretion matter more than technical skills.
Laurine Mallet, one of M&M’s founders, has always maintained that a poor attitude cannot be trained out of someone, but most technical gaps can be taught. The interview is really a test of how you carry yourself when the questions get direct.
One story from our Dubai office illustrates this well. A recruiter presented a Russian-speaking chauffeur for a UHNW client.
The candidate struggled in the interview and did not sell himself well in the room.
But the recruiter knew driving was the point of the role. They suggested a practical drive test instead.
The client agreed, the candidate drove brilliantly, and he got the job. If you are nervous in interviews, ask whether you can demonstrate a practical element of the role.
4. Be prepared for a trial period
Most families ask for a trial period before committing to a long-term contract. It gives both sides a chance to see whether the role is a good fit.
Rachel Dixon, one of M&M’s recruiters, always recommends a trial so the family can see how a candidate works within the home and alongside the wider team.
M&M checks in with both the family and the candidate at the ten-day mark, then regularly throughout the first three months.
The goal is to catch any small issues early, before they become bigger ones.
What to include in your work contract
Once you have the role, make sure your contract is clear on duties and pay before you start.
1. Define your role and responsibilities
Your contract should spell out exactly what the job involves, whether you are working as a personal assistant, chef, or butler.
A detailed job description keeps both sides clear on what is expected.
2. Set out working hours and on-call expectations
Hours can be irregular, so the contract should set out working hours, overtime, and any on-call expectations.
For live-in roles, confirm what accommodation is included and how expenses like meals and travel get covered.
3. Include a confidentiality agreement
Most contracts in this sector include a confidentiality agreement. It protects the employer’s private life and keeps sensitive information secure.
Start your career with M&M
Private service rewards people who have done the work, kept quiet about it, and can prove it.
The pay is strong, the work is varied, and no two days look the same.
M&M has spent years finding the right people for high-profile households worldwide.
Morgan and Laurine often say that some candidates who did not get the role they applied for went on to recommend the agency to friends and colleagues anyway, purely because of how they were treated during the process.
That says more about the agency than any placement figure.
If you are ready to take the next step, register below and we will help you find the role that fits.
