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How much does
a housekeeper cost?
Plan the right support for your home, with a budget that reflects the work, the hours and the person.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Start with the duties and weekly hours, then separate your budget into gross salary, employer costs and the agency fee.
For example, 25 hours a week at an assumed £25 gross per hour means £625 a week, or approximately £2,708 a month over 52 paid weeks, before employer costs and recruitment fees. This is a budgeting example, not a salary quote or current market average.
Compare the hours and salary examples and see how our agency fee is calculated. For a housekeeper cook, private chef or house manager, discuss the specific role with us rather than applying a housekeeping example.
Start with the work you need done
A housekeeping brief can range from regular cleaning and laundry to wardrobe care, shopping and day-to-day household organisation. Property size matters, but so do occupancy, finishes, laundry volume, pets and the standards you want maintained.
Write down your essential tasks and how often each should happen. This helps establish realistic hours and avoids expecting a full household service within a short cleaning visit. If cooking or childcare is a significant part of the week, consider a clearly defined combined role.
How to use salary guides sensibly
Stafftax’s household salary guide, published in September 2025 using 2024/25 payroll data, gives a housekeeper/cleaner average of £26.21 gross per hour. This is a historical payroll benchmark, not a current London-only quotation or a minimum rate.
Use published figures as context alongside the actual job description and current candidate expectations. Ask us to discuss a realistic salary for your location, working pattern and responsibilities.
Build a budget around your hours
| Weekly hours | Weekly gross | Annual gross | Monthly average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | £375 | £19,500 | £1,625 |
| 25 | £625 | £32,500 | £2,708.33 |
| 40 | £1,000 | £52,000 | £4,333.33 |
£25 is an illustrative input, not our recommended rate or a quoted market average. Examples assume 52 paid weeks. Employer costs, expenses and agency fees are additional.
Part-time, full-time or live-in?
Part-time support works best when the priorities and available time are aligned. Full-time housekeeping can provide more continuity and allow a broader agreed routine. A live-in arrangement also needs suitable accommodation, privacy and clear off-duty time.
Living at the property does not mean being continuously available. Discuss ordinary hours, any extra work and the accommodation separately. Compare the complete arrangement, rather than treating accommodation as a substitute for a fair, compliant salary.
Allow for the complete employment cost
For a directly employed housekeeper, the gross salary is not the entire household budget. Allow separately for relevant employer contributions, payroll administration, insurance, agreed expenses and any cover needed. Obtain a payroll calculation for your particular arrangement rather than estimating from take-home pay.
Our clients can ask about the 20% Stafftax Payroll & HR service-fee offer. It applies to the eligible provider service, rather than salary or statutory employment costs.
Choose the right service before setting the salary
Explore housekeepers, housekeeper cooks and nanny housekeepers. We will help clarify the responsibilities before discussing the search and agency fee.
When you contact us, include your postcode area, property size, preferred days and hours, essential tasks and intended start date. Even a short outline gives us a useful starting point.
Sources & further reading
Stafftax household salary guide (2024/25 payroll data) · GOV.UK: employing someone in your home
Sources checked 3 November 2026. Salary benchmarks retain the data period stated above. Employment guidance is general; check the current rules for your circumstances.
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