The Many Hats of a Household Manager

In the Private Service Industry, there are many positions ranging from a: Housekeeper, Laundress, Valet, Nanny, to a Personal Assistant, Chauffeur, Chef, Houseman, and Household/Estate Manager.

Knowing what you need depends on the number of homes involved, size and family lifestyle to understand how to effectively care for each property and all the personal needs for each family member. Typically, any home that is under 10,000SF could potentially be managed by one Household Manager and a staff of 1-2 full charge housekeepers.  However, if the owners are hi-profile individuals with very demanding schedules, then additional staff may be required. Any residence 15,000SF and up would require a trained Estate Manager and additional staff members. 

Here is a general description of responsibilities and salaries that are associated with each of these job titles:

Estate/Household Manager: Also referred to as Butler, Major Domo, or Household Administrator, is responsible for the smooth operation of the employer's residence(s). Duties entail hiring, training, and termination of the staff members, interviewing and supervising all outside contractors, managing of household accounts, orchestration of functions, stocking and care of the wine cellar, scheduling preventative maintenance for the home and autos, and in general , making sure that his/her employers life is as carefree as possible. The Estate Manager wears many hats, and is a stickler for detail, detail, detail. Salaries for this position range from $85,000 to well over $150,000 depending on the experience level, living arrangements, benefits, and the scope of the assignment.

Houseman: This position may include more of the "hands on" duties for daily care of the home. This may include anything from filling in for the housekeeper if they call in sick to helping the chef in preparation for a formal dinner party. The responsibilities can vary greatly depending on the type of household and the employer requirements. If it is an extremely casual home the job could encompass a range of responsibilities from handyman to personal assistant. In following with the varied job duties also comes a varied salary range; anywhere from $52,000 to $70,000.

Personal Assistant: This position is also known as a Social Secretary, Family Assistant, or Executive Assistant. This position entails more of a one on one relationship with the employer. Duties would include keeping of the family agenda, arranging for reservations of various events, travel bookings, tending to the needs of guests, event planning, some secretarial responsibilities, gift shopping, and running errands of all types. The salary range for this position is between $52,000 and up depending on experience and the assignment.

When a household manager wears all of these hats, it can be challenging. In today's economy you will find many private service professionals taking on responsibiities that would otherwise be managed by more than one person. In this case, it would be appropriate to offer a salary that is commensurate with the level of responsibility.

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