Month: December 2025

Ultra-high-net-worth families are paying record salaries for household staff as multi-property ownership, tax migration and strict privacy requirements collide with severe talent shortages, according to Morgan & Mallet’s 2026 staffing outlook.

The recruitment firm’s analysis of 200,000 candidates and thousands of placements across the US, UK, Europe and Middle East reveals that the average household staff tenure has plummeted from 20 years to just three years, forcing families into more frequent and expensive hiring cycles.

Monaco prioritises formal service roles

Monaco stands apart from other markets in its staffing preferences. Butlers represent 15 per cent of all staffing requests in the Principality, the highest proportion globally, followed by housekeepers at 12 per cent and laundresses at 8 per cent. The emphasis on formal service roles contrasts sharply with the US market, where personal assistants dominate at 22 per cent of requests.

The data shows Monaco families paying premium salaries for certain specialised roles. The Principality offers the highest global compensation for personal coaches, beating both the US and UAE in this wellness category. However, for most positions, Monaco families compete with American and Swiss households that consistently pay more.

US and Switzerland dominate compensation

The United States leads global household staff compensation, offering the highest salaries for 17 out of 28 tracked positions, including private chefs who can earn up to €267,857. Switzerland ranks second, paying top rates for eight positions, particularly in childcare where nannies earn €128,593 and governesses command €139,308.

Together, these two countries offer the highest compensation for 89 per cent of all household positions analysed. This creates intense competition for Monaco families seeking to attract staff who have alternatives in higher-paying markets.

Privacy commands 15-20% premium

Confidentiality requirements have become a major salary driver. Staff who maintain strict privacy protocols earn 15 to 20 per cent more than standard market rates. In Los Angeles, 77 per cent of personal assistant placements now require non-disclosure agreements, with executive assistants earning between €107,143 and €223,214 partly because they protect both business and personal secrets.

Some arrangements go further. Certain high-profile estates require staff to surrender mobile phones at security checkpoints. One Manhattan billionaire specifically hired a butler who had never worked on the East Coast to avoid overlapping social circles. The report notes that some VVIP placements operate under such strict secrecy that recruiters never learn the client’s identity.

Domestic couples hardest to find

France faces particular challenges, with 21 per cent of client requests seeking domestic couples, yet supply falls far short. The arrangement appeals to families who effectively gain two full-time workers whilst providing housing for one couple, but qualified couples willing to work together remain rare.

Estate managers represent 10 per cent of US requests as families acquire multiple properties globally, yet candidates with the required blend of security, technical and management expertise barely exist. The role typically involves managing at minimum three properties across different jurisdictions.

Geographic and political factors squeeze supply

Brexit continues to constrain the UK market by blocking EU workers from easily taking household positions without visas, pushing London salaries upward. Remote locations face even steeper challenges. Places like Uzbekistan have virtually no local talent pool for senior household positions, forcing families to pay substantial premiums for Western staff with strong passports.

The UAE offers tax-free income and pays the world’s highest salary for traveling nannies at €145,714, yet only 2.36 per cent of childcare professionals can handle rotational work. Just 4.82 per cent are available for regular travel, creating severe scarcity for families who move frequently between properties.

Multi-property ownership drives complexity

The expansion of UHNW individuals into global citizens represents the single largest factor driving staffing complexity. Loose monetary policy and geopolitical instability have pushed wealthy families to acquire multiple properties as safe havens, whilst strategic tax migration sees principals relocating from Europe to Florida, Dubai and Switzerland.

This mobility affects staff expectations and availability. Morgan & Mallet reports that despite shorter average tenures, good matches still produce stability. In Los Angeles, 92 per cent of placed personal assistants remain employed for two years or longer. In Dubai, 92 per cent of nanny placements become multi-year contracts, often involving relocation support during international travel.

Quality standards tighten supply further

For Monaco families accustomed to excellence in household service, the report suggests that securing top-tier staff now requires not only competitive compensation but also flexibility on privacy protocols, travel requirements and the recognition that even exceptional staff are unlikely to remain in post for decades as previous generations did.

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