Do you want to hire a house manager in the Chicago area? Are you wondering where to start with the recruitment process? Are you still considering if a house manager is the right role for your private household? At MHM, we pride ourselves in making sure we help you find the best-fit candidate for your needs and requirements when hiring any domestic staff. In this blog, we’ll discuss 3 things you need to consider when starting your search for a house manager in Chicago.

Do you need a Nanny or a House Manager?

First off, it is worthing considering whether it is a house manager that you need for your private household. Depending on what roles and responsibilities you want to have assistance with, a nanny may be a better position to recruit for. So what is the difference between a nanny and a house manager?

A nanny is solely responsible for childcare and child-related tasks, while a house manager will take care of your laundry, dishes, errands, grocery shopping and light meal preparation. Think of a house manager as a personal assistant that can act as a third “head of household” to oversee household projects and other household staff in your absence. 

If you’re looking for someone who could potentially work in a hybrid nanny/house manager role, be prepared to compensate them accordingly. A nanny/house manager is compensated more than a nanny, because of the increased responsibilities. Equally, if you already have a nanny that you enjoy working with, you could discuss the potential for promotion as many nannies naturally “graduate” into this role when children grow up and childcare requirements reduce.

If it is just a house manager that you’re looking for, make sure you are clear on exactly what you will require of them. A true house manager can operate a standard single family home, or they take on the role of “butler” at a single property for a HNW or UHNW employer that owns a large estate, or multiple homes in different states. Here, the house manager will directly oversee other household staff like housekeepers, nannies, and manage payroll, training, and household bill payment for the home. Many of these experienced house managers later become estate managers.. 

How long will it take to find a nanny or a house manager?

Naturally, the process can vary from case to case but generally, if you are using an agency like MHM the full process will take 4-6 weeks. Certainly, we recommend not starting your search any sooner than 3 months out from needing someone to commence work. Once your role is posted, you can expert to receive the largest amount of candidate responses during the first 2 weeks and from there, applicant screening and interviews can be scheduled. If you are eager to hire an employee and are available for interviews, you can complete the process in less than 1 month.

How much should I expect to pay a house manager?

You should expect to pay any household employee an hourly rate rather than a true salary. This is because all domestic staff are considered as hourly employees that are to be paid overtime for working over 40 hours per week. However, a professional, career household employee could expect to earn about $90,000 per year with bonuses as a house manager, and pay increases from there.

In terms of hourly rates, the rates will vary by city and the current labor market situation, but in Chicago hourly house manager pay begins at about $35/hr, as of 2023. This will fluctuate dependant on role and experience required. For example, a nanny/house manager might be seeking a minimum of about $30/hr pre-tax, while an extremely senior level house manager providing white-glove level service may be seeking $70/hr or about $145,000 per year. There is a significant difference between the experience, personality, and characteristics of these two types of employees and an agency like MHM is able to help you determine what is needed for your family. 

Please remember that the needs of your family and therefore, the qualifications and experience level of the candidate best suited for your household will be unique. My Household Managed will work with you to advise and consult on the pay and benefits package that makes the most sense in order to attract the right candidate for your role.

Not sure where to start with hiring a new nanny, housekeeper or house manager?

My Household Managed takes a consultative and personalized approach to household staffing.

We help you hire the domestic staff qualified to fit your unique needs, saving you time and providing peace of mind.

Let us help you find the best nanny, house manager, housekeeper or any other domestic employee you may be searching for and submit an application with My Household Managed.