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Salary still matters, but it’s rarely what keeps great household staff in a position. We look at what Nannies, House Managers, Domestic Couples and PAs have told us over the past six months, from sustainable hours to accommodation and what it means for your next hire.

A polished CV used to tell you something, but today, AI can rewrite a candidate’s career history in seconds, complete with every keyword a family is looking for. In private households, where trust is everything, the real work of recruitment has moved back to where it always belonged: the conversation, the references and the checks.

What do UHNW households really pay their staff in 2026? This guide breaks down current salary ranges for Housekeepers, Nannies, Private Chefs, House Managers, Estate Managers and Butlers across London, Monaco, France, Switzerland, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, plus the factors that push a candidate to the top of any salary band.

Getting household staffing wrong is expensive. Not just in fees or notice periods, in the disruption it causes, the trust it erodes and the time it takes to recover. Most principals know this and it’s often why they’re cautious. And it’s why, when they come to us, they’re often not just looking for candidates, they’re looking for someone to think it through with them first.

The arrival of a new baby changes everything, and for some families, the support they need is anything but straightforward. From first-time mothers finding their feet in a new country, to globally mobile households, Cora specialises in placing maternity nurses who are as adaptable as they are exceptional. Read on to discover how the right match can make all the difference.

The right seasonal team can make the difference between a smooth, restorative summer and a stressful one. With demand for experienced villa staff peaking early across the most sought after Mediterranean destinations, the families who plan ahead are the ones who get the best people.

The private household is evolving into a multi-location operation, spanning cities and continents and placing greater demands on those who run it. Ultra-high-net-worth families are more mobile and intentional, reshaping what “good” looks like in household staffing.

At Cora, we see this shift in most client conversations, the question is no longer who to hire, but how to build a team that keeps pace with the way they live.

For families who will accept nothing but the very best, a Norland nanny represents a standard of childcare that is difficult to match. Here, we walk you through everything you need to know, from what the Norland qualification means in practice, to finding the right candidate and agreeing a fair salary.

From a cliff-top villa in St. Tropez to a 2,500 acre estate in rural Hampshire, private estate gardening takes exceptional people to exceptional places.

But the role of a private gardener extends far beyond pruning and planting. Here’s what it really takes…