Hendrik Engel

Household staff and wealth: when a family needs an estate manager

What published surveys show about the size of household and family-office teams, and the point at which a household needs one person accountable for all of it.

By Hendrik Engel, Senior Estate Manager for UHNW and multi-billionaire families, single or multi-property, with experience working for centi-billionaires. Published 19 October 2026. Figures as of each source's date.

Key findings

  • In a US survey of about 300 families and family offices, average estate and household staff rose with every estate-value band, from 8.0 people below $25 million to 60.4 at $500 million or more.1
  • Just over half of those staff were directly employed (11.0 of an average 20.3); the rest were contracted.1
  • North American family offices, which look after the assets rather than the homes, averaged 3 employees at $100–249 million under management and 20 above $1 billion.2

US household staff by estate value

US household teams grow with estate value, and fastest at the top. At an estate value of $500 million or more, the average team was more than twice the size of the band below it. Staffed locations rose too, from 2.0 below $25 million to 5.5 at $250–499 million (5.2 at $500 million or more).1

US household staff by estate value. Average number of people per family, by the survey's estate-value band (not net worth), survey of 2022 (published 2023).1
Estate value (not net worth), USDDirectly employed, peopleContracted, peopleTotal staff, peopleStaff locations, average
Less than $25 million4.13.98.02.0
$25–49 million6.45.311.72.8
$50–99 million8.15.914.03.1
$100–249 million9.38.517.74.6
$250–499 million14.99.924.85.5
$500 million or more34.026.460.45.2
All participants11.09.420.33.4

Source: Morgan Stanley / Botoff Consulting, Estate and Household Staff Compensation Report, 2022 survey (2023), accessed 18 Oct 2026. United Kingdom and Europe: n/a; of the sources we could read in full, none reports household staff numbers by wealth band.

Household and family-office staff by wealth band

Published averages. Each chart keeps its source's own measure (estate value, family-office assets or net worth), and none are combined.

Household and family-office staff by wealth band — US household staff by estate value Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. US household staff by estate value — average staff per family (mean): directly employed plus contracted (Estate value (not net worth), USD); 6 bands: <$25m: 8.0 (directly employed 4.1, contracted 3.9). $25-49m: 11.7 (directly employed 6.4, contracted 5.3). $50-99m: 14.0 (directly employed 8.1, contracted 5.9). $100-249m: 17.7 (directly employed 9.3, contracted 8.5). $250-499m: 24.8 (directly employed 14.9, contracted 9.9). $500m+: 60.4 (directly employed 34.0, contracted 26.4). US household staff by estate value Average staff per family (mean): directly employed plus contracted 4.1 3.9 8.01 6.4 5.3 11.71 8.1 5.9 14.01 9.3 8.5 17.71 14.9 9.9 24.81 34.0 26.4 60.41 <$25m $25-49m $50-99m $100-249m $250-499m $500m+ Estate value (not net worth), USD Directly employed Contracted n Figure shown: published average
Household and family-office staff by wealth band — US household staff by estate value Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. US household staff by estate value — average staff per family (mean): directly employed plus contracted (Estate value (not net worth), USD); 6 bands: <$25m: 8.0 (directly employed 4.1, contracted 3.9). $25-49m: 11.7 (directly employed 6.4, contracted 5.3). $50-99m: 14.0 (directly employed 8.1, contracted 5.9). $100-249m: 17.7 (directly employed 9.3, contracted 8.5). $250-499m: 24.8 (directly employed 14.9, contracted 9.9). $500m+: 60.4 (directly employed 34.0, contracted 26.4). US household staff by estate value Average staff per family (mean): directly employed plus contracted Estate value (not net worth), USD <$25m 4.1 3.9 8.01 $25-49m 6.4 5.3 11.71 $50-99m 8.1 5.9 14.01 $100-249m 9.3 8.5 17.71 $250-499m 14.9 9.9 24.81 $500m+ 34.0 26.4 60.41 Directly employed Contracted n Figure shown: published average
Household and family-office staff by wealth band — US staff locations by estate value Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. US staff locations by estate value — average number of staff locations per family (mean) (Estate value (not net worth), USD); 6 bands: <$25m: 2.0. $25-49m: 2.8. $50-99m: 3.1. $100-249m: 4.6. $250-499m: 5.5. $500m+: 5.2. US staff locations by estate value Average number of staff locations per family (mean) 2.01 2.81 3.11 4.61 5.51 5.21 <$25m $25-49m $50-99m $100-249m $250-499m $500m+ Estate value (not net worth), USD n Figure shown: published average
Household and family-office staff by wealth band — US staff locations by estate value Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. US staff locations by estate value — average number of staff locations per family (mean) (Estate value (not net worth), USD); 6 bands: <$25m: 2.0. $25-49m: 2.8. $50-99m: 3.1. $100-249m: 4.6. $250-499m: 5.5. $500m+: 5.2. US staff locations by estate value Average number of staff locations per family (mean) Estate value (not net worth), USD <$25m 2.01 $25-49m 2.81 $50-99m 3.11 $100-249m 4.61 $250-499m 5.51 $500m+ 5.21 n Figure shown: published average
Household and family-office staff by wealth band — UK and Europe household staff by wealth band: no published data Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. UK and Europe household staff by wealth band: no published data. Of the sources we could read in full, none reports household staff numbers by wealth band for the UK or Europe. UK and Europe household staff by wealth band: no published data Of the sources we could read in full, none reports household staff numbers by wealth band for the UK or Europe.2,3 No data by wealth band
Household and family-office staff by wealth band — UK and Europe household staff by wealth band: no published data Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. UK and Europe household staff by wealth band: no published data. Of the sources we could read in full, none reports household staff numbers by wealth band for the UK or Europe. UK and Europe household staff by wealth band: no published data Of the sources we could read in full, none reports household staff numbers by wealth band for the UK or Europe.2,3 No data by wealth band
Household and family-office staff by wealth band — North America family offices (2025): employees by AUM Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. North America family offices (2025): employees by AUM — average employees (mean); 4 bands: $100-249m: 3. $250-499m: 7. $500-999m: 7. >$1bn: 20. Only the 2025 edition is shown; the 2024 edition gave 45 at >$1bn. North America family offices (2025): employees by AUM Average employees (mean) 34 74 74 204 $100-249m $250-499m $500-999m >$1bn Only the 2025 edition is shown; the 2024 edition gave 45 at >$1bn. n Figure shown: published average
Household and family-office staff by wealth band — North America family offices (2025): employees by AUM Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. North America family offices (2025): employees by AUM — average employees (mean); 4 bands: $100-249m: 3. $250-499m: 7. $500-999m: 7. >$1bn: 20. Only the 2025 edition is shown; the 2024 edition gave 45 at >$1bn. North America family offices (2025): employees by AUM Average employees (mean) $100-249m 34 $250-499m 74 $500-999m 74 >$1bn 204 Only the 2025 edition is shown; the 2024 edition gave 45 at >$1bn. n Figure shown: published average
Household and family-office staff by wealth band — Europe (incl. UK) family offices (2024): employees by AUM Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. Europe (incl. UK) family offices (2024): employees by AUM — average employees (mean); 3 bands: <$0.5bn: 7. $0.5-1bn: 9. >$1bn: 34. Europe (incl. UK) family offices (2024): employees by AUM Average employees (mean) 75 95 345 <$0.5bn $0.5-1bn >$1bn n Figure shown: published average
Household and family-office staff by wealth band — Europe (incl. UK) family offices (2024): employees by AUM Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. Europe (incl. UK) family offices (2024): employees by AUM — average employees (mean); 3 bands: <$0.5bn: 7. $0.5-1bn: 9. >$1bn: 34. Europe (incl. UK) family offices (2024): employees by AUM Average employees (mean) <$0.5bn 75 $0.5-1bn 95 >$1bn 345 n Figure shown: published average
Household and family-office staff by wealth band — Family offices at the top bands: in-house staff by AUM Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. Family offices at the top bands: in-house staff by AUM. $500m–$1bn AUM: 7 (Campden Wealth/RBC, North America, 2025); 9.3 (J.P. Morgan, 2024); 9.6 (Botoff, 2023). Above $2.5bn AUM (highest public band): 28.3 (Botoff, 2023). $10bn+: no published survey. Means. J.P. Morgan medians: 2.8 ($501–999m) and 9.1 ($1bn+). Agency estimate, not survey data: Talent Gurus puts a $500m–$1bn household at about 18 staff (range 14 to 28). Family offices at the top bands: in-house staff by AUM $500m–$1bn AUM 74 Campden Wealth/RBC, North America, 2025 9.39 J.P. Morgan, 2024 9.68 Botoff, 2023 Above $2.5bn AUM highest public band 28.38 Botoff, 2023 $10bn+: no published survey Means. J.P. Morgan medians: 2.8 ($501–999m) and 9.1 ($1bn+). Agency estimate, not survey data: Talent Gurus puts a $500m–$1bn household at about 18 staff (range 14 to 28).7 n Figure shown: published average No data by wealth band
Household and family-office staff by wealth band — Family offices at the top bands: in-house staff by AUM Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. Family offices at the top bands: in-house staff by AUM. $500m–$1bn AUM: 7 (Campden Wealth/RBC, North America, 2025); 9.3 (J.P. Morgan, 2024); 9.6 (Botoff, 2023). Above $2.5bn AUM (highest public band): 28.3 (Botoff, 2023). $10bn+: no published survey. Means. J.P. Morgan medians: 2.8 ($501–999m) and 9.1 ($1bn+). Agency estimate, not survey data: Talent Gurus puts a $500m–$1bn household at about 18 staff (range 14 to 28). Family offices at the top bands: in-house staff by AUM $500m–$1bn AUM Campden Wealth/RBC, North America, 2025 74 J.P. Morgan, 2024 9.39 Botoff, 2023 9.68 Above $2.5bn AUM highest public band Botoff, 2023 28.38 $10bn+: no published survey Means. J.P. Morgan medians: 2.8 ($501–999m) and 9.1 ($1bn+). Agency estimate, not survey data: Talent Gurus puts a $500m–$1bn household at about 18 staff (range 14 to 28).7 n Figure shown: published average No data by wealth band
Household and family-office staff by wealth band — Family offices with five or fewer employees Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. Family offices with five or fewer employees: 41% of UK respondents; 40% of Europe (incl. UK) respondents. Base: individual survey respondents, not unique family offices. Family offices with five or fewer employees 41%6 of UK respondents 40%6 of Europe (incl. UK) respondents Base: individual survey respondents, not unique family offices.
Household and family-office staff by wealth band — Family offices with five or fewer employees Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. Family offices with five or fewer employees: 41% of UK respondents; 40% of Europe (incl. UK) respondents. Base: individual survey respondents, not unique family offices. Family offices with five or fewer employees 41%6 of UK respondents 40%6 of Europe (incl. UK) respondents Base: individual survey respondents, not unique family offices.
Household and family-office staff by wealth band — Estate-manager step by net worth: one agency's view (Talent Gurus, 2026) Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. Estate-manager step by net worth: one agency's view (Talent Gurus, 2026): $80–120m net worth, or a second residence with 12+ staff (house manager to estate manager). One agency's view, not a survey finding. Not comparable with the estate-value chart. Labelled in the source file: AGENCY; confidence: low - single agency, no method. Estate-manager step by net worth: one agency's view (Talent Gurus, 2026) $80–120m7 net worth, or a second residence with 12+ staff (house manager to estate manager) One agency's view, not a survey finding. Not comparable with the estate-value chart. Labelled in the source file: AGENCY; confidence: low - single agency, no method.
Household and family-office staff by wealth band — Estate-manager step by net worth: one agency's view (Talent Gurus, 2026) Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. Estate-manager step by net worth: one agency's view (Talent Gurus, 2026): $80–120m net worth, or a second residence with 12+ staff (house manager to estate manager). One agency's view, not a survey finding. Not comparable with the estate-value chart. Labelled in the source file: AGENCY; confidence: low - single agency, no method. Estate-manager step by net worth: one agency's view (Talent Gurus, 2026) $80–120m7 net worth, or a second residence with 12+ staff (house manager to estate manager) One agency's view, not a survey finding. Not comparable with the estate-value chart. Labelled in the source file: AGENCY; confidence: low - single agency, no method.

Chart sources (all accessed 18 October 2026)

  1. Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management / Botoff Consulting, Morgan Stanley Estate and Household Staff Compensation Report (2022 survey) (2023). p.9, p.10. Source type: survey. https://www.uhnwinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Estate-and-Household-Staff-Compensation-Survey-Complimentary-Report70.pdf
  2. Office for National Statistics, Occupational breakdown of domestic workers in private households (FOI-2025-2744). Source type: independent. https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/occupationalbreakdownofdomesticworkersinprivatehouseholds
  3. Morgan & Mallet International (recruitment agency), Beyond The Butler 2025/26. Source type: agency. https://www.householdstaff.agency/wp-content/uploads/Beyond-The-Butler-Household-staff-salaries-and-shortages-in-UHNW-households-around-the-world-in-2025_26.pdf
  4. Campden Wealth / RBC Wealth Management, The North America Family Office Report 2025. Fig 3.1. Source type: survey. https://www.rbcwealthmanagement.com/assets/wp-content/uploads/documents/campaign/the-north-america-family-office-report-2025.pdf
  5. Campden Wealth / HSBC Global Private Banking, The European Family Office Report 2024. Fig 3.2. Source type: survey. https://www.campdenwealth.com/sites/default/files/The_European_Family_Office_Report_2024.pdf
  6. KPMG Private Enterprise / Agreus Group, Global Family Office Compensation Benchmark Report 2025. p.14, p.25. Source type: survey. https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/xx/pdf/2025/10/global-family-office-compensation-benchmark-report.pdf
  7. Talent Gurus Inc. (recruitment agency), Household Staff Structure by Net Worth Tier: $5M to $1B+ (2026). Source type: agency. https://www.talent-gurus.com/household-staff-structure-by-net-worth
  8. Botoff Consulting, 2023 Single Family Office Compensation Report. Source type: survey. https://www.uhnwinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-Botoff-Family-Office-Compensation-Survey-Full-Report.pdf
  9. J.P. Morgan, 2024 Global Family Office Report. Fig 18, p.73. Source type: survey. https://assets.jpmprivatebank.com/content/dam/jpm-pb-aem/global/en/documents/2024-global-family-office-report.pdf
View as table

The figures shown in the charts above. One table per chart; the agency view is shown as text only.

US household staff by estate value — Average staff per family (mean): directly employed plus contracted
Estate value (not net worth), USDDirectly employedContractedTotalNoteSources
<$25m4.13.98.01
$25-49m6.45.311.71
$50-99m8.15.914.01
$100-249m9.38.517.71
$250-499m14.99.924.81
$500m+34.026.460.41
US staff locations by estate value — Average number of staff locations per family (mean)
Estate value (not net worth), USDValueNoteSources
<$25m2.01
$25-49m2.81
$50-99m3.11
$100-249m4.61
$250-499m5.51
$500m+5.21
UK and Europe household staff by wealth band: no published data
SeriesDataSources
UK and Europe household staff by wealth band: no published dataOf the sources we could read in full, none reports household staff numbers by wealth band for the UK or Europe.2,3
North America family offices (2025): employees by AUM — Average employees (mean). Only the 2025 edition is shown; the 2024 edition gave 45 at >$1bn.
BandValueNoteSources
$100-249m34
$250-499m74
$500-999m74
>$1bn204
Europe (incl. UK) family offices (2024): employees by AUM — Average employees (mean)
BandValueNoteSources
<$0.5bn75
$0.5-1bn95
>$1bn345
Family offices at the top bands: in-house staff by AUM. Means. J.P. Morgan medians: 2.8 ($501–999m) and 9.1 ($1bn+).
AUM bandSurveyValueNoteSources
$500m–$1bn AUMCampden Wealth/RBC, North America, 202574
$500m–$1bn AUMJ.P. Morgan, 20249.39
$500m–$1bn AUMBotoff, 20239.68
Above $2.5bn AUMBotoff, 202328.3highest public band8
Family offices with five or fewer employees
ItemValueSources
of UK respondents41%6
of Europe (incl. UK) respondents40%6

Charts of published household and family-office staff averages by wealth band. US household staff by estate value — average staff per family (mean): directly employed plus contracted (Estate value (not net worth), USD); 6 bands: <$25m: 8.0 (directly employed 4.1, contracted 3.9). $25-49m: 11.7 (directly employed 6.4, contracted 5.3). $50-99m: 14.0 (directly employed 8.1, contracted 5.9). $100-249m: 17.7 (directly employed 9.3, contracted 8.5). $250-499m: 24.8 (directly employed 14.9, contracted 9.9). $500m+: 60.4 (directly employed 34.0, contracted 26.4). US staff locations by estate value — average number of staff locations per family (mean) (Estate value (not net worth), USD); 6 bands: <$25m: 2.0. $25-49m: 2.8. $50-99m: 3.1. $100-249m: 4.6. $250-499m: 5.5. $500m+: 5.2. UK and Europe household staff by wealth band: no published data. Of the sources we could read in full, none reports household staff numbers by wealth band for the UK or Europe. North America family offices (2025): employees by AUM — average employees (mean); 4 bands: $100-249m: 3. $250-499m: 7. $500-999m: 7. >$1bn: 20. Only the 2025 edition is shown; the 2024 edition gave 45 at >$1bn. Europe (incl. UK) family offices (2024): employees by AUM — average employees (mean); 3 bands: <$0.5bn: 7. $0.5-1bn: 9. >$1bn: 34. Family offices at the top bands: in-house staff by AUM. $500m–$1bn AUM: 7 (Campden Wealth/RBC, North America, 2025); 9.3 (J.P. Morgan, 2024); 9.6 (Botoff, 2023). Above $2.5bn AUM (highest public band): 28.3 (Botoff, 2023). $10bn+: no published survey. Means. J.P. Morgan medians: 2.8 ($501–999m) and 9.1 ($1bn+). Agency estimate, not survey data: Talent Gurus puts a $500m–$1bn household at about 18 staff (range 14 to 28). Family offices with five or fewer employees: 41% of UK respondents; 40% of Europe (incl. UK) respondents. Base: individual survey respondents, not unique family offices. Estate-manager step by net worth: one agency's view (Talent Gurus, 2026): $80–120m net worth, or a second residence with 12+ staff (house manager to estate manager). One agency's view, not a survey finding. Not comparable with the estate-value chart. Labelled in the source file: AGENCY; confidence: low - single agency, no method. Sources and data tables: https://hendrikengel.com/estate-manager-household-staff/

The figures above show how many people a household employs. The chart below shows how that work is usually split: the family office handles wealth, administration and advisers, while estate management is led by one senior role whose title tends to change with the size of the estate.

Tier key: staff (mean) by estate value

  • <$25m 8.0
  • $25-49m 11.7
  • $50-99m 14.0
  • $100-249m 17.7
  • $250-499m 24.8
  • $500m+ 60.4

$10bn+: no published survey

Illustrative: which functions a family has depends on its size and estates.

Family

Family office wealth, admin, advisers

Estate management

Guidance, not a rule: below ~$250m net worth, family-office work usually sits inside the family business; ~$250m–$1bn, a dedicated but mostly outsourced office; from ~$1bn, a single family office that brings more services in-house (UBS, 2024, p.13). Median surveyed office: $462m assets under supervision (J.P. Morgan 2024, p.21).

  • HR
  • Finance
  • Legal counsel
  • Personal assistant
See the family office in detail

Illustrative: no single family office has all of these

  • HR
    • Head of people/talentBotoff 2023, p.64; J.P. Morgan 2024, p.90
  • Finance
    • Chief Financial OfficerBotoff 2023, p.41
    • Finance DirectorBotoff 2023, p.55
    • ControllerBotoff 2023, p.54
    • Financial AdministrationJ.P. Morgan 2024, p.26
    • Bill payCampden 2025, p.50
    • Accounting ManagerBotoff 2023, p.60
  • Legal counsel
    • Chief Legal Officer/General CounselBotoff 2023, p.44

    Legal services often outsourced Botoff 2023 p.13; J.P. Morgan 2024 p.26; Campden 2025 p.50

  • Personal assistant
    • Executive AssistantBotoff 2023, p.69
Also found in surveyed family offices

J.P. Morgan 2024, p.26 (Fig 4.1)

  • Investment Management
  • Accounting & Taxes
  • Balance Sheet Aggregation & Reporting Services
  • Estate Planning
  • Family Governance & Succession Planning
  • Philanthropic Services
  • Insurance Management
  • Cybersecurity Services

Function names as listed in J.P. Morgan 2024 Global Family Office Report, Botoff Single Family Office Compensation Report 2023 and Campden Wealth/RBC North America Family Office Report 2025 surveys.

Lead role (changes with size)

  1. House manager <$25m
  2. Estate manager $25m–$249m
  3. Head of household $250-499m
  4. Director of residences $500m+
  • Maintenance
  • Grounds and gardensgroundsmen, ranch hands, gardeners
  • Animal care and equestriangrooms, stable staff
  • Activities, sports and trainerspersonal trainers, physio
  • Food and beverage service
  • Kitchen
  • Housekeeping and laundryPersonal stylistFloristOn- and off-site storage
  • Medical team
  • Security, close protection and chauffeursCar collectionHow security fits into a well-run household →
  • Guest servicesguest houses
  • Conciergerestaurant and shop bookings
  • AviationHelicopter bookings; owned or chartered aircraft management
  • Health and safety
  • Event management
  • Project management
  • IT & AV
  • ProcurementGoods receiving
  • Childrennannies, teachers, tutors

How I take over an established estate →How a household is built from nothing →

  • reports to
  • optional

Shade shows the smallest tier where each lead title typically first appears. Illustrative.

Mean staff by estate-value tier: Morgan Stanley/Botoff, 2022 survey (publ. 2023), p.9.

Reporting: survey sources show the estate lead reporting to the family directly or through the family office.

The survey bands families by estate value, not net worth: read the bands as scale, not net-worth thresholds. Figures are averages, include contracted staff, and are indicative, not advice.

How the bands are defined

Altrata defines ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals as those with a net worth above $30 million.3 Each survey keeps its own bands, in US dollars. Households are banded by estate value, family offices by assets under management. These measures differ from net worth and from each other, so they are never placed on one scale here.

Family-office staff by assets under management

Family-office staff by assets under management (not net worth), North America, 2025. Average employees per family office.2
Assets under management, USDAverage employees, people
$100–249 million3
$250–499 million7
$500–999 million7
More than $1 billion20

Source: Campden Wealth / RBC, The North America Family Office Report 2025, Fig. 3.1, accessed 18 Oct 2026. The same publisher's 2024 North America edition reported 45 employees above $1 billion, against 20 in 2025 (a different sample); this table shows the 2025 edition. Europe: see Table 3, which uses different bands.

Family-office staff by assets under management (not net worth), Europe including the UK, 2024. Average employees per family office.7
Assets under management, USDAverage employees, people
Less than $0.5 billion7
$0.5–1 billion9
More than $1 billion34

Source: Campden Wealth / HSBC, The European Family Office Report 2024, Fig. 3.2, PDF p. 46 (101 European family offices), accessed 18 Oct 2026. UK only, by band: n/a.

In Europe, including the UK, family offices averaged 7 employees below $0.5 billion under management, 9 at $0.5–1 billion and 34 above $1 billion.7 Worldwide they employ 12 people on average,4 and 39% report one to three employees.5 The family office looks after the assets; the estate team looks after the homes. Neither replaces the other.

United States, United Kingdom and Europe compared

The household survey covers the United States only. Of the sources we could read in full, none reports household staff numbers by wealth band for the United Kingdom or Europe, and none gives UK-only family-office figures by band. In KPMG/Agreus's 2025 survey, 41% of UK respondents and 40% of European respondents (including the UK) work in family offices with five or fewer employees.6 Where a figure is missing, this page says n/a rather than estimate it.

The top bands: $500 million to $1 billion, and above $10 billion

Published figures thin out at the top. For families worth $500 million to $1 billion, no survey reports household headcount by net worth.

The nearest survey band measures something else. Morgan Stanley/Botoff's 2022 survey bands families by estate value, not net worth; its top band, $500 million or more, averaged 60.4 staff.1 The two figures are not comparable and are never placed on one scale.

The family office adds its own team. Three surveys of offices with $500 million to $1 billion under management agree closely: 9.6 in-house staff (Botoff, 2023),10 9.3 employees (J.P. Morgan, 2024)11 and 7 (Campden Wealth/RBC, North America, 2025).2 These are means. J.P. Morgan's medians are far lower, 2.8 at $501–999 million and 9.1 at $1 billion or more, so the distribution is skewed.11

Above $10 billion, no published survey reports household or family-office headcount. The highest public band is family offices above $2.5 billion under management, at 28.3 in-house staff on average (Botoff, 2023).10 It is the nearest published figure, not one for $10 billion or more.

For scale only, and not a family estate: the UK Royal Household averaged 539 full-time-equivalent staff paid for by the Sovereign Grant in 2024–25.12

When a family needs an estate manager

In the 15 sources reviewed, no survey sets a level of wealth at which a family needs an estate manager. Staffing agencies tie the role to properties and team size instead. One US agency, Talent Gurus, puts the step from house manager to estate manager at "$80 million to $120 million net worth, or a second residence with 12+ staff". That is the agency's own view, and it publishes no method.8 This is an inference, at low-to-medium confidence. In practice the signal is not net worth but complexity. A household usually reaches that point when several of these are true:

  • There is more than one residence, or one residence with guest houses and grounds.
  • There is a permanent team, with seasonal staff added around the family's calendar.
  • Works are under way, such as a renovation or a repositioning, while the house is lived in.
  • The family is away for long periods and expects the house to be ready on arrival.
  • More decisions reach the family than the family wishes to make.

If the owner is still the one coordinating, the household has outgrown its structure. An estate manager takes every cost, budget, staffing and maintenance decision off the owner's desk.

Estate manager vs butler

A butler leads service inside the house: the table, the guests, the rhythm of the day. An estate manager is accountable for the whole: the property, the budget, the team (including the butler), maintenance, works and suppliers. The butler often reports to the estate manager where there is one; otherwise to the principal or a management company.9

Estate manager vs house manager

A house manager runs the daily operation of one residence: staff schedules, supplies, housekeeping and contractors on site. An estate manager carries that accountability across grounds, buildings, capital works and often several residences, and answers for the whole budget. Many households begin with a house manager and add an estate manager as they grow.

Estate manager vs chief of staff

A chief of staff manages the principal's time and wider affairs: the diary, travel and projects. An estate manager manages the places the family lives in. The two work closely, and neither stands in for the other.

Security and chauffeurs: why they don't replace an estate manager

Security protects people and property; chauffeurs move the family. Neither is accountable for the house as a whole: its budget, upkeep, team and readiness. In a well-run estate, the estate manager coordinates them; they don't stand in for one.

Questions families ask

When does a family need an estate manager?
When the household's complexity, rather than its wealth, outgrows the owner's time. See When a family needs an estate manager.
How many household staff does a UHNW family have?
No survey reports this by net worth. By estate value, one US survey found averages from 8.0 to 60.4 people.1
How many staff does a family office employ?
Twelve on average worldwide.4 In North America, the average ran from 3 employees at $100–249 million under management to 20 above $1 billion.2 In Europe, it ran from 7 to 34.7
What is the difference between an estate manager and a butler?
The butler leads service in the house. The estate manager is accountable for the whole estate, the butler included.
What is the difference between an estate manager and a house manager?
A house manager runs the daily operation of one residence. An estate manager answers for the whole estate and its budget, often across several residences.
What is the difference between an estate manager and a chief of staff?
The chief of staff manages the principal's affairs. The estate manager manages the family's homes.
Does a single residence need an estate manager?
It can, when the residence carries a permanent team, grounds, guest houses or ongoing works. The number of homes matters less than the number of moving parts.
What is classed as UHNW?
A net worth above $30 million, in Altrata's definition.3

Sources and method

  1. Morgan Stanley, prepared by Botoff Consulting. Estate and Household Staff Compensation Report, 2022 survey (Jun–Aug 2022), published 2023, pp. 9–10. About 300 families and family offices; over 1,000 incumbents; United States. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.
  2. Campden Wealth / RBC Wealth Management. The North America Family Office Report 2025, Fig. 3.1. 141 North American family offices, out of 317. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.
  3. Altrata. World Ultra Wealth Report 2025. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.
  4. UBS. Global Family Office Report 2025, pp. 51–52. 317 UBS family office clients. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.
  5. Citi Private Bank. 2025 Global Family Office Report, p. 13. 346 participants in 45 countries. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.
  6. KPMG Private Enterprise / Agreus. Global Family Office Compensation Benchmark Report 2025, pp. 14 and 25. 585 survey respondents (family-office professionals); regional sample not stated. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.
  7. Campden Wealth / HSBC Global Private Banking. The European Family Office Report 2024, Fig. 3.2, PDF p. 46. 101 European family offices, out of 360. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.
  8. Talent Gurus (US staffing agency). Household Staff Structure by Net Worth Tier, 2026. Agency view; method and sample not published. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.
  9. International Institute of Modern Butlers. Household staff definitions. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.
  10. Botoff Consulting. 2023 Single Family Office Compensation Report, table "Average Number of In-house Staff". 406 single family offices; 1,728 incumbents. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.
  11. J.P. Morgan Private Bank. 2024 Global Family Office Report, Fig. 18, p. 73. 190 single family offices. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.
  12. The Royal Household / HM Treasury. Sovereign Grant Annual Report 2024–25, PDF p. 19 (printed p. 15). Comparator only. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.

Method. Figures appear as published, in US dollars, in each source's own bands; a missing figure reads n/a. Agency views are attributed by name: never in a table or on a shared axis; shown only as a labelled text callout. Pay is left out. Figures are indicative, not advice.

Cite as: Engel, H. (2026). US household staff by estate value. hendrikengel.com/estate-manager-household-staff/#us-household-staff

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About Hendrik Engel