Housekeepers in Florida are making six figure salaries as masses of the American elite flock to the Sunshine State.
Palm Beach maids and butlers are earning up to $150,000 a year as the demand for help from new residents far outweighs the current supply, staffing companies told CNBC.
The population of Palm Beach County, including West Palm Beach and Boca Raton, grew by around 13 percent between 2010 and 2020, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
The influx of wealthy new residents and growing tourism has created a competitive market that saw housekeeper salaries jump from about $25 an hour in 2020 to $45 or $50 an hour this year, 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 domestic staffing company The Wellington Agency.
Palm Beach housekeepers are now making between $120,000 and $150,000 annually and have benefits including 401(k) plans, health care and overtime
‘We’ve seen such a boom from people relocating, especially Palm Beach and Miami.
‘For housekeepers it’s wonderful,’ Berube said. ‘For us it’s extremely difficult. It’s a severe shortage.’
Berube said the new hefty price tag for hiring high quality help often comes as a surprise to her clients.
‘At first they’re in shock, and they say, ‘»No way I’m paying 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 are willing to pay for the experience».’
Palm Beach was the 10th wealthiest city in Florida last year, according to a Forbes ranking, with an average 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 being clogged with Lamborghinis and Rolls Royces.
Plus, Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort is there, along with billionaire Paul Tudor Jones’ giant $71 million mansion.
An influx of new wealthy residents in Palm Beach, Florida has created an increase in demand for housekeepers
Housekeepers are now making between $120,000 and $150,000 annually and have benefits including 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 staffing company, Lily Pond Services, told The New York Post.
‘These are ultra-high net worth people who want the best, and they’re willing to pay for it. If you have a home that’s worth $100 million, that’s an investment. They want smart people managing them.
‘These are people who can manage working with high end marble surfaces, and they’re not going to ruin your imported carpet from Italy. They’re used to working in high-end homes.’
