Report: Palm Beach Billionaires Shelling Out Six Figures for Housekeeping

In Palm Beach, Florida, the demand for household staff has reached unprecedented levels, with housekeepers now earning salaries well into six figures. According to a report by CNBC, housekeepers in Palm Beach are commanding salaries as high as $150,000 per year, with hourly rates reaching up to $50. This surge in wages is attributed to a severe shortage of workers in the field and an influx of wealthy new residents from places like New York.

April Berube, founder of household staffing agency The Wellington Agency, expressed astonishment at the current situation, stating, “For housekeepers it’s wonderful. For us, it’s extremely difficult. It’s a severe shortage.” In addition to lucrative salaries, household staff in Palm Beach are also receiving full-time employee benefits such as 401(k) plan enrollment, health care, and overtime pay.

Despite the high pay, discretion is a key requirement for house staff in Palm Beach. They are privy to the intimate secrets of the rich and famous, and are compensated for keeping them confidential. One housekeeper named Ana, who earned $161,000 last year, shared, “Affairs, money, divorces. We know them better than even their best friends know them. I don’t think they even know how much we know.”

Melissa Psitos, who runs staffing company Lily Pond Services, noted that the demand for household services skyrocketed during Covid and has continued to rise. “These are ultra-high net worth people who want the best, and they’re willing to pay for it,” Psitos explained. With the average cost of a home in Palm Beach at $2,114,224, the demand for household staff shows no signs of slowing down.