Housekeepers in Florida are earning six-figure salaries as much of America’s elite moves to the Sunshine State.
Palm Beach’s maids and butlers are earning up to $150,000 a year as demand for help from new residents far exceeds current supply, staffing agencies said. CNBC.
The population of Palm Beach County, including West Palm Beach and Boca Raton, grew by about 13 percent from 2010 to 2020, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
The influx of wealthy new residents and growing tourism have created a competitive market in which housekeepers’ salaries have risen from about $25 an hour in 2020 to $45 or $50 an hour this year, according to some agencies.
“I’ve been hiring for 30 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” says April Berube, founder of domestic staffing agency The Wellington Agency.
Housekeepers in Palm Beach now earn between $120,000 and $150,000 annually and have benefits such as 401(k) plans, health care and overtime
“We’ve seen such tremendous growth in relocations, especially in Palm Beach and Miami.
“It’s great for housekeepers,” Berube said. ‘It is extremely difficult for us. It is a serious shortage.’
Berube said the new high price tag for hiring high-quality help often comes as a surprise to her clients.
‘At first they are in shock and say: ‘I am absolutely not going to pay that.’ It’s even uncomfortable for me to give them the numbers,” she said.
“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’re willing to pay for the experience.’
Palm Beach was the 10th richest city in Florida last year, according to a Forbes ranking, with a median household income of $332,764 and a staggering median home value of $1,523,100.
The city itself is a symbol of wealth and excess, with superyachts parked in the marina and the streets lined with Lamborghinis and Rolls Royces.
Plus, there’s Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, along with billionaire Paul Tudor Jones’ massive $71 million mansion.
An influx of newly wealthy residents in Palm Beach, Florida, has led to an increase in demand for housekeepers
Housekeepers now earn between $120,000 and $150,000 annually and have benefits such as 401(k) plans, health care and overtime.
“There’s been a drastic change that started with Covid,” Melissa Psitos, who provides domestic help through her employment agency Lily Pond Services, told me. The New York Post.
‘These are very wealthy people who want the best and are willing to pay for it. If you have a house worth $100 million, that’s an investment. They want smart people to manage them.
“These are people who can work with high-quality marble surfaces, and they won’t ruin your imported carpet from Italy.” They are used to working in luxury homes.’