Palm Beach housekeepers are making $150,000 a year due to massive demand from the wealthy

Palm Beach housekeepers are making $150,000 a year due to massive demand from the wealthy, per CNBC.

Housekeepers in Palm Beach and South Florida are seeing their salaries soar, often exceeding $150,000, with bidding wars between mansion owners becoming common, according to staffing companies.

The influx of wealth to Florida from high-tax states like New York has created a record demand for household staff in elite Florida communities, especially Palm Beach. There is a rising need for butlers (now known as "hospitality managers" or "estate managers"), nannies, chefs, drivers, and personal security, as reported by staffing agencies.

However, the shortage of housekeepers has caused the most significant challenges for wealthy homeowners. Many affluent newcomers to Florida have purchased large homes and now require staff to maintain them. Hotels, resorts, and businesses are also competing for cleaning staff. As a result, the typical pay for housekeepers has surged from about $25 an hour in 2020 to $45 or $50 an hour today, according to some agencies.

"I have been placing staff for 30 years, and I've never seen anything like this," said April Berube, founder of The Wellington Agency, which places household staff in Palm Beach, Miami, New York, and other locations. "We've seen such a boom from people relocating, especially Palm Beach and Miami."

In Palm Beach, experienced housekeepers in wealthy homes typically earn between $120,000 and $150,000 a year, along with 401(k) plans, health care, and benefits, including overtime.

"For housekeepers, it’s wonderful," Berube said. "For us, it’s extremely difficult. It’s a severe shortage."

Melissa Psitos, founder of Lily Pond Services, mentioned a recent client in Florida who hoped to hire a housekeeper for $75,000 a year but ended up paying $110,000, which is reasonable for the current market. Executive housekeepers, who often supervise a team of other housekeepers and laundresses, can earn even more. Psitos noted one head housekeeper in Palm Beach making $250,000 a year, including overtime, and traveling with the family to their various homes.

"There is just not enough supply," she said.

Bidding wars between wealthy homeowners have become common. Staffing agencies are posting "Help Wanted" ads all over the web and throughout West Palm Beach. Clients are becoming frustrated.

"At first they’re in shock, and they say, 'No way I’m paying that,'" Berube said. "It’s even uncomfortable for me to give them the numbers. But when they try to hire someone for less, with less experience, they almost always come back to us and say, 'I learned my lesson. We are willing to pay for the experience.'"

Berube explained that housekeepers for the wealthy need highly specific skills, from moving quietly and unnoticed through the house to carefully cleaning antiques, flatware, fine art, and properly washing and pressing fine linens.

"There are specific tools and skills you need to work in fine homes," she said.

Due to the shortage of qualified candidates, Berube is considering launching a school to teach high-end housekeeping skills and generate more housekeepers.

"I would love to do it, but I don’t have the time, since we’re busy trying to find staff."