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Salaries and Job Titles
What follows is an attempt to define the various "titles" used in the United States, though many definitions for some exist, and often some overlap is present. Salaries will vary depending on area of the country, skills required, responsibilities of the postition.......and how much the family likes you and wants your services. These salaries do not include benefits or bonuses.
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| Household Manager |
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Household Managers took their place in American households molded after the “butlers” found in Europe. They ensure that the home runs smoothly. They may be the only staff in the house, which means they may clean, launder, provide clothing care, run errands, and maybe do some cooking, in addition to scheduling the contractors, possibly organizing dinners and parties, and handling the finances. Or, they may be a supervisor to other household staff. A Household Manager commands a salary between $35,000 and $80,000 and are often given housing accommodations. If the Household Manager works in a home where there may only be one or two other staff members, they will usually assist with some “hands on” services (cooking, cleaning, etc.) while providing supervision and administrative responsibilities for the home and family. Their duties will be more varied and extensive. In a larger staffed home, the HM will usually work in a more administrative position, but should always be ready to help out in case of staff illness, vacation, or vacancy. Depending on the number of employees, they may hire, train, supervise, and terminate staff. They will compile the priority lists and inform staff of the day’s duties. They will open, sort, and compose responses to mail. They will make arrangements for houseguests, which may include creating activity lists, preparing special menus, making travel arrangements, and finding books of interest, or procuring much sought after tickets to a sold-out event or concert. They will organize the 100-plate dinner, structure the menu, and work with the chef to create an event that will be the “talk of the town.” They will likely meet daily with their employer, and hold weekly meetings for their staff to ensure continuity and a high level of service. Without the HM, chaos could reign. The Household Manager needs a pleasant demeanor, strong work ethic, excellent organizational skills, and a confident attitude to succeed. They must be able to be completely flexible in meeting any and all needs of the family. If their duties or responsibilities require, they need to have the knowledge of formal entertaining (different styles), protocol, purchasing expensive items for the family’s use, vast resources, etc. This person may be responsible for more than one home, or providing continuity between homes or properties. |
| Administrative Household Manager |
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Professional Domestic Services & Institute was the first to define the Administrative Household Manager position. This person is responsible for providing the ultimate in management and administrative skills for the upscale home. They will have a college degree, understand the need of professional training, and will usually have previous household experience. They are capable of providing continuity between multiple properties, have an excellent understanding of security measures for the home and family, are able to anticipate most needs of the family, have impeccable manners and understanding of protocol, and possess excellent administrative, computer, and management skills. They will work closely with the employer, handling any request or need with the utmost in professionalism. They are usually given housing accommodations and earn approximately $50,000 to $135,000 a year, and are usually provided with other types of “corporate” benefits. Administrative HMs may be in charge of directing correspondence to and from the employer; scheduling appointments with the employer, and any maintenance work to be done on the home; tracking the family and household finances; making travel arrangements and developing itineraries; and any other personal requests the employer may make of them. The Administrative HM will recruit new staff, interview applicants, and present their impressions to the employer. They would then be required to train the new staff—in procedures, schedules, rules, etc. Finally, they would oversee the work of the staff, checking to make sure they are doing their work to the best of their abilities or deciding if the staff require further education. In order to supervise properly, they should have a good understanding of all the duties and responsibilities of any staff member. If there is no Personal Assistant on staff, an Administrative HM might also perform only secretarial responsibilities, i.e., typing letters and memos, taking dictation, transcribing important correspondence or business documents, answering the phone and taking messages, opening, sorting and/or answering mail, setting up and managing files for letters and other important documents, scheduling appointments, or any other kind of clerical work. They may also act as bookkeeper and manage the family budget, track expenses, manage records for tax purposes, research and keep track of investments, or obtain quotes on major renovations of the home. They will have excellent computer capabilities and will maintain extensive warranty and inventory files, keep track of repairs, and maintain a Household Management Reference Book. A common task of an Administrative Household Manager is personal shopping for the lady or gentleman of the house. They should be well aware that the shopping habits of the wealthy are far different from the average person’s shopping habits. A wealthy family has no problem setting aside a half-million dollars, or more, in the budget for their personal needs. They may think nothing of seeking out an antique chest of drawers and paying $80,000.00+ for it, purchasing multiple sets of fine china or an extensive silver collection, spending $5000.00 on a single set of bed linens, remodeling any part of the home at a given notice, or spending $100,000.00 on a Halloween party or $1,500.00+ for fresh flowers for the week. The Administrative HM will do special extras for their employer. They may help to design an in-home beauty salon, or research and implement new security needs for the home. They may not only plan the family vacation to Italy, but also go along. They may simply listen attentively and sympathetically—with open ears and a closed mouth—as their employer bemoans their difficulties of a particular day. They are likely to have their days filled with “life’s little details”: arranging dinner reservations, having medication delivered, calling the insurance agent, or bailing out the wayward nephew. The Administrative Household Manager will be involved in a very close, tight-knit relationship with their employer. They must respect the sanctity of this relationship and keep all conversations and experiences confidential. They should do nothing to compromise it; above all, the AHM must be trustworthy. |
| Personal Assistant |
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Many times the Administrative HM and Personal Assistant duties overlap because of the relationship developed with the employer and the responsibilities of the position. They are a very trusted member of the household staff team, handling all of the confidential responsibilities for the employer. They may also be in charge of hiring, training and supervising staff; directing correspondence to and from the employer; scheduling appointments with the employer and any maintenance work to be done on the home; making travel arrangements and developing itineraries; and any other personal requests the employer may make of them. Personal Assistants may also perform only secretarial responsibilities, i.e., typing letters and memos, taking dictation, transcribing important correspondence or business documents, answering the phone and taking messages, opening, sorting and/or answering mail, setting up and managing files for letters and other important documents, scheduling appointments, or any other kind of clerical work. They may also act as bookkeeper and manage the family finances, track expenses, manage records for tax purposes, research and keep track of investments, or obtain quotes on major renovations of the home. They will have excellent computer capabilities and will usually maintain extensive warranty and inventory files and/or a Household Management Reference Book. A common task of a Personal Assistant is personal shopping for the lady or gentleman of the house. They should be well aware that the shopping habits of the wealthy are far different from the average person’s shopping habits. A wealthy person has no problem setting aside a half-million dollars in the budget for their personal needs. They may think nothing of seeking out an antique chest of drawers and paying $80,000+ for it, purchasing multiple sets of fine china or an extensive silver collection, spending $5000 on a single set of sheets, remodeling any part of the home at a given notice, or spending $100,000 on a Halloween party. The Personal Assistant will handle special requests for their employer. They may help to design an in-home beauty salon or research any item that the family is considering purchasing. They may not only plan the family vacation to Italy, but also go along. They may simply listen attentively and sympathetically—with open ears and a closed mouth—as their employer bemoans their difficulties of a particular day. They are likely to have their days filled with “life’s little details”: arranging dinner reservations, calling the insurance agent, having a piece of art work shipped to a conservator for repair, or bailing out the wayward nephew. Salaries range from $30,000 to $90,000 a year. In order to best serve their employers, they should have experience equal to the subject matter offered in our training program. |
| Housecleaner |
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The Housecleaner is the backbone of the home. A beautifully cared-for home is the work of one or more Housecleaners. A Housecleaner’s tasks entail all the facets of serving an employer and keeping a home in such a way that it will not just be clean and neat, but will also shine in a way that only a well-cared for home can. They normally earn $10 to $20 an hour part-time or $25,000 to $40,000 a year full-time, and they may either live-in or live-out. The Housecleaner does anything necessary to maintain an impeccable appearance in a home and to insure the value of the possessions trusted in their care. They will usually follow a daily schedule and will understand the need for quartering or zoning a home, knowing which rooms must be detail-cleaned several times a month and which ones may be detail-cleaned only once a month. |
| Estate/Executive Housecleaner |
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The Estate or Executive Housecleaner may oversee other Housecleaners. They have specialized knowledge in cleaning, and know how to organize their time and the time of others. Salaries range from $40,000 to $60,000 a year. No homeowner need worry that their fine home furnishings and valuable home accessories will be damaged with an EH working for them. They know how to care for fine linens, marble, crystal, silver, and other valuable materials. They also constantly update their knowledge through periodic research. Thanks to this research, they know which products will do the best job of maintaining, cleaning, and disinfecting, and which products could destroy their employer’s possessions. Not only will they know when an item needs specialized cleaning or repair by a professional, but they will know whom to call. They know the right tools and equipment for every job, and an employer may have complete confidence in having them purchase the supplies and equipment needed for the home. They are also knowledgeable in caring for artwork and are familiar with many types of conservation methods. An experienced EH will be able to supervise and train others, coordinate work schedules, and organize their and others’ time for the most effective, efficient cleaning. They are completely trustworthy and able to complete any cleaning and caring task laid before them. |
| Laundry Specialist |
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The Laundry Specialist may be employed by a family who wants the very best care of their clothing, shoes, accessories, and linens. The Laundry Specialist will know how to care for any kind of clothing materials like linen, silk, rayon and other blends, wool, leather, suede, and fur. They will be well-versed in stain removal and ironing settings. They will know how to properly store and pack all clothing and accessories, and are experts in the use of all types of equipment. They will be able to care for fine bed linens and table linens. Their handiwork in ironing and folding linens will make them look like they came straight from the pages of a Neiman-Marcus catalog. They should be capable of using both domestic and commercial laundering equipment, pressing machines, and rotary irons. They can care for shoes, purses, and coats in addition to clothing. They know which clothes could be damaged by hanging and should be folded. They will be familiar will the different types of hangers and storage systems for clothing. Any rip, snag, or worn-through area will be no problem for the Laundry Specialist, as they will know how to repair anything—or when to call a professional. They may even be able to monogram clothing or accessories. For the privilege and responsibility of caring for the most exquisite of clothing, they may be paid from $30,000 to $45,000 a year. |
| Family Cook/Chef |
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Good food is essential to making a house a home. The family Chef understands this most basic of all needs and is able to make it a reality. They are responsible for the meals and everything this entails: menu planning, shopping, kitchen clean-up and organization, and care and purchase of any necessary equipment and supplies. Salaries generally run between $35,000 and $85,000 a year. The best Chef is one who can meet any of their employer’s wants and needs. They are able to prepare food according to special dietary needs, anything from homestyle to gourmet meals, or special occasions, formal dinners, and cocktail parties. They will be proficient in food presentation and be able to set an “inviting table.” They should be flexible enough to work with kids or pets under their feet or to work in coordination with a caterer. Indeed, flexibility is key for a good Chef. |
| Estate Manager |
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When a house and property is so large, the tasks are so many, and the staff is so numerous that not even seven or ten people could manage it all, an Estate Manager steps in. This is entirely an administrative management position. This person will have expert knowledge of personnel and home management, property care, and grounds expertise. The Estate Manager may supervise many different properties that are fully staffed, possibly making final decisions in hiring and firing staff, and will undoubtedly be called upon to set the standards for service throughout the home(s). They will usually be responsible for any renovations on the properties, hiring contractors, and researching and making recommendations for any major purchases, i.e., investment antiques, yachts, airplanes, polo ponies, the design of the expansive new water garden, stables, or the wiring of the entire house to make it a “Smart Home.” The EM could also be the employer’s Personal Assistant, which would entail the usual errands, money management, personal shopping, and anything else the employer desires. The Estate Manager should have a degree in business, accounting, or MBA, and would understand and appreciate the need for Professional Household Training and have an excellent understanding of the “politics” of a home. They would have excellent “people” and negotiation skills. This position is usually a step up from the Administrative Household Manager and generally commands between $85,000 and $180,000 a year with the usual “corporate benefit” package included. |
| Couples |
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Employers frequently hire couples because they have one another for company and may tend to stay at a position longer than individuals, working together as a team. One person will usually provide cleaning services for the home and possibly light cooking. The other may act as a groundskeeper, chauffeur, maintenance worker, and possibly a server. Couples usually have a wide range of skills and life experience. Ideal couples are nonsmokers and live without pets or children for optimum ease of housing accommodations. Salaries range from $60,000 to $80,000, but they may be higher if either or both have culinary arts training, household management training, or any other beneficial skill or knowledge. |
| Caretaker |
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Many wealthy people own more than one home. There may be a summer, winter, or vacation home, or all of the above. A Caretaker’s responsibility is to provide general care and security for the home and property while it lies vacant, or general maintenance or property care while the owners are in residence. Their salaries usually range from $15,000 to $40,000 varying according to the size of the house and property and the responsibilities involved. Those who care for the property part-time while “doing their own thing” may receive no salary, only free room and board. The top priorities of a Caretaker is home maintenance and security. Home maintenance includes general contracting of electrical work, appliance repair, carpentry, snow plowing, septic care, roof work, pest control, plumbing, chimney sweeping, and painting. It may also involve some minor housekeeping or lawn care. As the Caretaker will usually live on property, they will provide a deterrent from theft or vandalism that a vacant house cannot offer. If, for whatever reason, the Caretaker does not live inside the house, they will be responsible for house checks (however frequently the employer desires), as well as checks for property damage after storms or extreme weather, and will have personal contact with the alarm company should the security system be activated. And when it comes time for the employer to come to the house for that long-awaited vacation or seasonal change, the Caretaker may prepare the house for the “homecoming.” They may arrange for a part-time housecleaner or carpet steam cleaner, wax floors, polish silver, clean or replace windows, arrange for fresh flower arrangements, grocery shop, trim outside foliage, and anything else required to allow the homeowner to feel relaxed and refreshed from the moment they step foot on the property. The Caretaker position involves a heavy responsibility. The employer relies on them to keep their house safe, well-maintained, and well cared for. An individual unwilling to continually be on the look out for problems and be ready to call repair workers when they spot trouble should not be a Caretaker. The full-time employee must care for the home and property, not just park in front of the TV, or think that someone will support them just for occupying an employer’s home or cottage. A perfect Caretaker would be someone with a strong work ethic who is willing and able to work unsupervised on a beautiful, remote, and many times a solitary property. |
| Nanny |
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Any parent will tell you that their children are their life. Therefore, the Nanny has in her care the most precious of all responsibilities. Professional childcare providers take care of the children’s physical, developmental, emotional, and behavioral needs. They can live-in or live-out and receive salaries of $350 to $600 a week. A Nanny must be completely devoted to the children in her care. The children’s needs and safekeeping must come before anything else. Therefore, they should not be given other responsibilities that would detract from the quality of care given to the children. They are the most intimate staff member in the home, as they must develop loving, close relationships with their charges—unlike other staff, who are trained to keep a professional distance from the family. Nannies are responsible for feeding children nutritious meals and providing adequate exercise, preferably in the form of invigorating play! They are responsible for encouraging the younger children’s developmental milestones in movement, such as reflexes and locomotion; emotions, such as attachment and object permanence; and intellect, such as talking and comprehension. They must give their charges unconditional love and support, no matter how challenging that may be, and they must instill proper discipline, which should include celebrating good behavior in addition to correcting misbehavior according to the parents’ instructions. Nannies will have had a lot of practical childcare experience and should have a degree in early childhood education, elementary education, or a related field, and may have attended a year long nanny school, or a two year vocational program. Above all, they should be completely above reproach, with clean background checks and driving records, and no destructive habits or emotional problems. |
| Governess |
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A Governess offers many of the same services as a Nanny. But the Governess is also a professional educator who is responsible for giving the children formal lessons inside the home. They are able to instruct children of all ages in all subjects. They may also be asked to provide etiquette lessons to their charges. A good Governess will also seek educational opportunities outside the home-in public school terms, “field trips”! They should also give children exposure to the fine arts and will accompany them on social outings. Governesses will have a degree in education, usually live-in, and be on call 50 to 70 hours a week . To touch children’s minds as well as their hearts, the Governess will receive a salary ranging from $40,000 to $70,000 a year. |