Private Household Staff Salaries
The headline salary is rarely the most important figure in a private appointment. This guide sets out the bands we have seen, and the terms that sit around them.
Last reviewed 2026-08-08
We give the figures below with a caveat we would ask every reader to keep in mind. They describe what we have actually seen in serious private households over the last decade. They vary considerably with the country, the size of the establishment, the seniority of the candidate and the way the rest of the package is arranged. No single figure should be treated as a benchmark divorced from those factors.
Indicative annual salary bands
| Position | Indicative band (GBP) | Accommodation commonly included |
|---|---|---|
| Butler (senior, large household) | £100,000 to £200,000 | Yes |
| Head housekeeper (senior) | £70,000 to £140,000 | Yes |
| Palace manager or estate manager | £150,000 to £200,000 | Yes |
| Chief of staff | £150,000 to £300,000 | Frequently |
| Private chef (senior) | £80,000 to £150,000 | Frequently |
| Governess | £60,000 to £120,000 | Yes |
| Chauffeur or head driver | £45,000 to £90,000 | Sometimes |
| Lady's maid or valet | £45,000 to £85,000 | Yes |
Positions in the Gulf and in parts of Asia frequently sit above these bands, particularly where the appointment is tax free, requires relocation, or carries responsibility across several residences. Positions in smaller establishments, or in households that entertain rarely, sit below them.
Why the salary line understates the offer
A house in central London that offers a butler one hundred and forty thousand pounds and asks him to find his own accommodation is, in real terms, offering less than a house in the country that offers ninety thousand pounds with a private cottage, full board, school fees for one child and a contributory pension. Any candidate of experience reads the second as the more generous of the two, and is right to do so.
- Accommodation: a furnished flat, cottage or set of rooms in the establishment or a property held for the purpose.
- Board: meals on duty, and in some houses extended to the staff member's own household.
- Working dress: provided, cleaned and maintained where the position requires it.
- Medical cover: of the standard the principal would expect for himself.
- Pension: a genuine contribution, treated as a serious matter rather than an afterthought.
- Leave: paid, and of a length suited to the seniority of the role.
- Bonus: commonly paid privately at the end of the calendar year.
The value of a senior position is felt over the long horizon of the appointment, not expended on the salary line alone.
What moves a figure within its band
| Factor | Effect on the figure |
|---|---|
| Number of residences covered | Raises materially |
| Staff reporting to the position | Raises with the size of the team |
| Frequency and scale of entertaining | Raises |
| Travel required with the family | Raises |
| Accommodation and board provided | Lowers the salary line, raises real value |
| Languages held by the candidate | Raises in international households |
| Length of service in comparable houses | Raises, and is the factor households weigh most |
How compensation should be reviewed
The best households review terms annually, at a fixed point in the year, whether or not the staff member raises the matter. This removes the awkwardness of asking and protects the household from the slow drift by which a long serving member becomes materially underpaid relative to the market. A review that is expected causes no difficulty. A review that must be requested causes a great deal.
In the most enduring appointments there is also a small understanding, seldom written down and always honoured, of what the family will do for the person in old age. It is not a contractual matter, and it is one of the reasons the finest staff remain with one family for the length of a career.
Common questions
- How much does a butler earn?
- A senior butler in a major European or North American household is typically appointed at between £100,000 and £200,000, with accommodation and full benefits in addition.
- What does an estate manager earn?
- A palace manager or estate manager commonly sits between £150,000 and £200,000, and a chief of staff responsible for several residences between £150,000 and £300,000.
- Is accommodation usually included for private household staff?
- For senior live in positions, yes. Accommodation, board, working dress, medical cover and a pension contribution are ordinary parts of a serious offer and materially change what it is worth.
- How often should household staff salaries be reviewed?
- Annually, at a fixed point in the year, on the household's initiative rather than at the staff member's request.
Should you wish to discuss a position in your own household
Our office advises principals on the definition, search and appointment of senior private staff, in confidence.
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