Housekeeping & Private Service
Care for the residence, wardrobe, and people who live there. Distinguish daily delivery from supervision, formal service, and broader household support.
Executive Housekeeper
What the role encompasses
An executive housekeeper leads the housekeeping operation: schedules, room standards, stock, inspections, and training. The role may span several housekeepers or residences and can include hands-on work where the scale allows.
Compensation range
U.S. benchmark · limited NC evidence
- Full-time appointments
- $90,000–$150,000 / year
U.S. private-household benchmark. Team size, multiple residences and fine-surface care shape the offer.
Range context & sources
Indicative cash pay in USD, reviewed September 2026. The offer should specify hours, overtime treatment, benefits, travel and housing. Placement fees are separate.
The role may be right when
Housekeeping involves enough staff, volume, or complexity to need dedicated supervision.
Housekeeper
What the role encompasses
A private housekeeper carries out cleaning, organization, bed and bath care, and household presentation. The precise routine depends on occupancy, pets, children, finishes, and the family’s preferences. Laundry, errands, or cooking should be specified when included.
Compensation range
North Carolina planning range
- Private household care
- $25–$45 / hour
North Carolina planning range. Fine finishes, workload and agreed family-support duties can raise compensation above this range.
Range context & sources
Indicative cash pay in USD, reviewed September 2026. The offer should specify hours, overtime treatment, benefits, travel and housing. Placement fees are separate.
The role may be right when
You need reliable hands-on interior care and a consistent daily or weekly routine.
Laundress & Wardrobe Specialist
What the role encompasses
A laundress and wardrobe specialist handles washing, pressing, garment organization, linen systems, packing, and coordination with specialist cleaners or repairers. The balance between hands-on textile care and wardrobe administration varies by household.
Compensation range
U.S. benchmark · limited NC evidence
- Full-time appointments
- $60,000–$100,000 / year
U.S. specialist benchmark. Couture, textile volume, wardrobe systems and packing requirements affect pay; exceptional appointments may exceed this range.
Range context & sources
Indicative cash pay in USD, reviewed September 2026. The offer should specify hours, overtime treatment, benefits, travel and housing. Placement fees are separate.
The role may be right when
Fine garments, frequent travel, or substantial linen volume need dedicated expertise.
Butler
What the role encompasses
A butler focuses on principal and guest service: reception, table service, entertaining, presentation, and anticipation of household preferences. Depending on the home, the role may also include beverage service, packing, inventories, and supervision of other service staff.
Compensation range
U.S. benchmark · limited NC evidence
- Full-time appointments
- $90,000–$180,000 / year
U.S. private-household benchmark. Formal service, entertaining, travel and agreed hours shape compensation; overtime and benefits require separate planning.
Range context & sources
Indicative cash pay in USD, reviewed September 2026. The offer should specify hours, overtime treatment, benefits, travel and housing. Placement fees are separate.
The role may be right when
You want a professional to own personal service and hospitality, especially when welcoming guests or entertaining.
Houseman
What the role encompasses
A houseman provides practical household support such as setting up rooms, moving supplies, handling deliveries, outdoor readiness, and light maintenance. Some appointments include service or vehicle care; others concentrate on property support.
Compensation range
U.S. benchmark · limited NC evidence
- Full-time appointments
- $55,000–$90,000 / year
U.S. household-support benchmark. Technical repairs, driving, multiple properties and demanding schedules may require a higher budget.
Range context & sources
Indicative cash pay in USD, reviewed September 2026. The offer should specify hours, overtime treatment, benefits, travel and housing. Placement fees are separate.
The role may be right when
You need a capable practical professional to support the home’s daily readiness and logistics.
Domestic Couple
What the role encompasses
A domestic couple brings complementary skills to one household. One person might focus on interiors, cooking, or service while the other handles property, driving, or maintenance. Some couples also have management experience, but the combination should follow their actual strengths.
Compensation range
NC & U.S. couple planning range
- Combined pay for two professionals
- $150,000–$250,000 / year
Combined annual cash pay for two professionals. Housing and benefits are additional; agree each person’s duties, hours and pay separately.
Range context & sources
Indicative cash pay in USD, reviewed September 2026. The offer should specify hours, overtime treatment, benefits, travel and housing. Placement fees are separate.
The role may be right when
A residence needs complementary interior and property support that suits a coordinated pair.
Defining executive housekeeper responsibilities
Explain the level of formality, fine-surface care, guest turnover, laundry arrangements, and the manager’s authority. Strong candidates can describe practical systems for maintaining standards without making the household feel institutional.
Settle these details first
- Team, residence, and inspection responsibilities
- Specialist surfaces, laundry, and guest turnover
- Hands-on workload alongside scheduling and training
Defining housekeeper responsibilities
Give candidates an accurate view of the workload and the tools available. Discuss cleaning products, delicate items, privacy, access, and how to report damage or maintenance concerns. A workable schedule matters as much as the desired standard.
Settle these details first
- Occupied rooms, frequency of care, and household routines
- Laundry or other additional duties
- Products, equipment, access, and privacy expectations
Defining laundress & wardrobe specialist responsibilities
Describe the fabrics, volume, equipment, travel patterns, and items requiring outside expertise. Agree inventories and handling protocols for valuable pieces. The appointment should allow time for careful work rather than treating specialist care as an incidental housekeeping duty.
Settle these details first
- Garment and linen volume, fabrics, and equipment
- Packing, seasonal rotation, and inventory requirements
- Outside cleaners, repairs, and handling procedures
Defining butler responsibilities
Define whether the household is formal or informal, the level of entertaining, and how the butler works with the chef and manager. Practical service skill, discretion, and the ability to read the household’s preferred pace should be assessed together.
Settle these details first
- Formality, table service, and entertaining frequency
- Personal service and packing requirements
- Team coordination, working hours, and coverage
Defining houseman responsibilities
List the actual work, physical requirements, equipment, and any driving. Specify which repairs belong to qualified contractors and who assigns priorities. The title is broad, so a task-based brief is essential for finding the right experience.
Settle these details first
- Regular tasks, equipment, and driving requirements
- Service duties versus maintenance support
- Supervisor, priorities, and contractor boundaries
Defining domestic couple responsibilities
Write a separate remit for each person, then explain how they work together. Discuss reporting, accommodation where offered, time off, individual compensation, and cover during absence. The household benefits from coordination when the arrangement is realistic for both professionals.
Settle these details first
- A separate scope and schedule for each person
- Accommodation, privacy, and time-off arrangements
- Individual skills, reporting, and absence coverage
A beautiful residence needs thoughtful daily work: interiors, laundry, service, supplies, and preparation for the people who live there. The right appointment depends on the standard, the workload, and who will coordinate it.
Housekeeping and private service contain distinct specialties. Combining them can work, but only when the hours, equipment, training, and priorities support the combination. A clear brief protects both the household’s expectations and the professional’s ability to deliver.
A more useful brief
Make the service standard specific
Describe the home in use
Room count alone does not describe the workload. Include occupancy, pets, guest turnover, fine surfaces, laundry volume, entertaining, and seasonal openings or closings.
Separate leadership from delivery
Say whether the appointment leads a team, carries out the work, or does both. Include time for ordering, inspections, schedules, and training when those responsibilities are part of the role.
Write down specialist care
Identify delicate textiles, valuable garments, unusual finishes, and any manufacturer or conservation guidance. Ask how the candidate recognizes work that should go to an outside specialist.
Schedule, access, and privacy
Define the working schedule, occupied and unoccupied periods, alarm or access procedures, family privacy, guest expectations, and how changes or household concerns should be reported.
The Founder’s Office
From the right brief to a considered introduction.
Within a private residence, excellent service is found in the details. We define the home’s routines, finishes, laundry, presentation standards, privacy requirements, staffing structure, and service schedule before assessing relevant experience, references, judgment, discretion, and fit. A paid working trial, where appropriate, allows both sides to understand the work in the household’s actual environment.
How we assess households and candidates →Compensation & conditions
Plan the whole service appointment
Discuss compensation alongside the residence, workload, evening or weekend coverage, travel, accommodation, time off, equipment, uniforms, and any supervisory duties. Candidate compensation and employment costs are separate from Silverthorne’s search and placement fees.
Client fees & placement terms →Looking for work? View available positions.
Before you decide
Questions worth asking.
Private households throughout North Carolina.
From Charlotte and Lake Norman to Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill; across the Triad, the Blue Ridge, and the coast. Tell us where the work happens, including travel or additional residences. Location, commuting expectations, and relocation needs belong in the brief from the beginning.
Explore the appointments
The rest of the household.
Explore responsibilities, compare related roles, and clarify the support your home needs.