Estate Budgeting Tool

Household Staffing Cost Calculator

Understand the full annual cost of employing household staff before you begin a search. Select the roles your residence requires, choose your market, and see a transparent estimate covering salary, employer taxes, benefits, accommodation, and placement. When only the best will do, it helps to plan with clarity.

Your Household

Staff roles

Estimated Staffing Cost

Per year, all roles combined

Total annual cost

$—
Recurring — per year —
Placement fees — one time —
First-year total —

Figures are illustrative estimates for budgeting only, drawn from current luxury-market ranges and standard employer obligations. Actual compensation is shaped by experience, household complexity, travel, and benefits negotiated per placement. Canadian figures shown in CAD.

Receive your full staffing report

A tailored PDF with role-by-role compensation ranges, benefit benchmarks, and a hiring timeline for your market — prepared discreetly and ready to download instantly.

  • Salary ranges by experience tier
  • Employer tax & benefit breakdown
  • Live-in accommodation guidance
  • Typical time-to-placement

Your details are held in confidence and never shared. By requesting the report you agree to be contacted by Hadley Reese.

Cost questions, answered

How much does a private chef cost?
A full-time private chef for a luxury household generally costs between $95,000 and $200,000 per year before employer taxes and benefits, with rates rising in New York, San Francisco, and other high-demand markets. Seasoned chefs managing formal service or multiple residences command the upper end. A part-time personal chef is considerably less.
How much does a nanny cost?
A professional nanny or newborn care specialist in a private household typically ranges from $75,000 to $150,000 per year, depending on city, experience, and whether the role is live-in. Specialist newborn care and roles requiring travel or additional languages sit toward the higher end.
What is a butler’s salary?
Butler salaries in luxury households are usually six figures, commonly $90,000 to $200,000 per year. Formal-service experience, estate-management duties, and discretion handling high-profile principals all raise compensation. Live-in arrangements add the value of accommodation on top of cash salary.
How much does a personal assistant cost?
A private or personal assistant generally costs $85,000 to $160,000 per year. Compensation reflects the breadth of responsibility — calendar and travel management, household oversight, and confidential coordination — as well as availability outside standard hours.
What is included in the total cost of household staff?
Beyond gross salary, employers should plan for the employer share of payroll taxes (FICA in the U.S.; CPP and EI in Canada), a health insurance contribution, the value of accommodation for live-in roles, and a one-time agency placement fee. This calculator combines all of these into a single annual and first-year figure.
Why does an agency placement fee apply?
A placement fee covers a thorough, confidential search: sourcing, vetting, reference and background verification, and the matching of a candidate to your household’s standards. It is a one-time cost in the first year and is reflected separately in the estimate above.

“When Only the Best Will Do.”

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