Domestic Couple
The Ultimate Household Dream Team
A domestic couple is two professionals who are hired as a pair to work in the same home. Often, this may be a married or long-term couple.
As a team, they fill dual roles in a household, either serving as a larger part of the household team or covering a range of necessary household functions. A domestic couple for hire typically works the same schedule and lives separate from the main home on a different area of the property or in an off-site home.
These professional pairs typically include a combination of expertise—ranging from property management, housekeeping, and cooking to driving, maintenance, and formal service.
Hiring through a reputable domestic couples staffing agency is an ideal solution for ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families with multiple residences, seasonal estates, or large private properties that require extensive maintenance. Domestic couples can also bring significant value to busy executives in family offices, as well as clients with frequent or extensive travel schedules.
Oceanside domestic couples bring a seamless blend of skills, experience, and dedication to managing and maintaining luxury households.
With years of experience in high-profile homes, estates, and private retreats, domestic couples we place understand the unique dynamics of working together to ensure your home runs with precision, grace, and discretion. They offer a harmonious and highly efficient approach to household management, anticipating needs and executing tasks with reliability and excellence. They work as a unified front to simplify and elevate every aspect of your household.
More than just a team, an Oceanside domestic couple becomes the trusted foundation of your home’s daily operations—proactive, loyal, and devoted to upholding the standard of your family’s lifestyle.
The advantages of hiring domestic couples include: consistency and reliability in domestic oversight; broad coverage for household tasks and responsibilities; exceptional return on investment for clients with large homes or multiple properties; highly efficient coordination between professionals working and living as a pair; and stability among household staff, thanks to lower turnover.
FIND YOU A dynamic duo devoted to the art of effortless living.
Navigating an ocean of candidates to land your perfect match.
We're Rachael and Nick,
the founders of Oceanside Staffing.
With decades of firsthand experience in private service both on land and at sea, we understand the nuances of luxury living and the importance of the right fit.
Rachael began her career over 20 years ago as a nanny in a private home, later growing into roles as a private educator, chief stewardess, and hiring manager. She understands what UHNW estates need to thrive and has built a vetted private network of domestic professionals ready to support principals nationwide.
Nick's path began in military service with Britain's Airborne Infantry, followed by 20 years as a yacht captain and later, an estate manager overseeing some of the Caribbean's most prestigious properties. His operational expertise and leadership in high-pressure environments makes him a steady, confident partner.
Together, we've built a boutique agency that approaches staffing with the same care and discretion you expect in your home. No matter the complexity of the role or the stringency of your requirements, Oceanside Staffing delivers. We can find the right placement for unique requests, difficult roles, and expedited hiring processes. Call us at (954) 636-7879 or email us at info@oceansidestaffing.us for a consultation.
Lower Pay Range ($65–$75 per Hour Combined)
The couple has less than two to three years of verifiable experience working in private, high-profile residences, possesses basic, non-specialized skill sets, is working in a smaller residence with no secondary properties to oversee, or is receiving premium on-site accommodations, such as vehicle access or a guest house with utilities included.
Average Pay Range ($76–$89 per Hour Combined)
The domestic couple possesses between three and seven years of stable private service experience with excellent references and has an elevated skill set (such as handyman skills or licensure as a personal chauffeur), oversees multiple estates or a large residence, or has a higher workload that doesn’t require tight supervision.
Higher Pay Range ($90–$100 per Hour Combined)
The couple brings seven or more years of elite experience, holding certifications from recognized household service academies or licensure from state agencies.
Couples in this pay range also offer top-tier skills (such as professionally trained estate managers or private chefs), experience with discreet and high-stakes tasks and environments, and the ability to manage large-scale operations, including multi-acre estates and large staff supervision.
On average, the hourly rate for a professional domestic couple ranges from $65–$100/hour (combined).
At Oceanside, we place only experienced, full-time domestic couples who have a proven history of working in high-net-worth households, private estates, or multi-property residences. These couples often bring a wide range of complementary skills—from property and household management to culinary service, housekeeping, and maintenance.
There are several key reasons why the hourly wage varies at the lower, average, or higher end of the compensation spectrum when hiring through a domestic couple agency. The final rate will depend on the scope of responsibilities, the size of the property, and the couple’s combined qualifications and experience.
Hourly Rate
Agency Fees
To begin our search, we require a $500 engagement fee. We offer several placement options depending on the level of replacement guarantee desired. All Placement Fees are based on the candidate’s gross annual compensation and are subject to a minimum fee of $10,000:
20% Placement Fee — includes a 90-day replacement guarantee
23% Placement Fee — includes a 120-day replacement guarantee
24% Placement Fee — includes a 150-day replacement guarantee
25% Placement Fee — includes a 180-day replacement guarantee
Additional fees may apply for short-term placements or positions in especially high demand at the time of hire.
Domestic Couple Hybrid Roles
Housekeeper & Cook | Butler & Chef | Household Manager & Groundskeeper | Hospitality & Meal Preparation | Personal Security & Transportation | Staff Oversight & Vendor Coordination | Personal Assistant & Estate Manager
Other Roles We Frequently Place
Not every staffing need fits a standard job description.
Unusual requests, dual-role positions, and households with layered reporting lines, spanning the principal, family office, and outside vendors, are where we do our best work. We coordinate directly with everyone involved to build a unique and/or hybrid role that actually functions inside your household, with post-placement support to ensure harmony and the right long-term fit.
The Process
Change of heart?
No worries!
If for any reason, you decide to stop your search, you have up to one year to re-initiate your search per the conditions of our engagement fee & agreement. There are absolutely no other hidden fees or costs.
Our 90-DAY guarantee
We believe so strongly in our process, we guarantee it. If for whatever reason you’re unhappy with your match, we will offer a replacement within 90 days. We’re in the business of happy homes, guaranteed.
Our ONE-YEAR gurantee
In the event employment ends before one-year, subject to the terms of our agreement, Oceanside staffing will gladly apply a prorated portion of your placement fee towards your next search.
How LONG does it take?
We work around the clock to find the perfect fit for you and your family - but our rigorous process takes time. On average, our matching process typically takes between 2-4 weeks to find your perfect match; however, during our initial consultation, we will always ask about your timing restraints. Should you find yourself in a bind, we can expedite our 2-4 week process for an additional cost.
FAQs About Domestic Couples
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A domestic couple is a two-person team, often a married couple or long-term partners, hired to jointly manage and maintain a private estate. Typically assigned multiple household duties, they divide tasks based on their individual strengths to provide comprehensive, seamless coverage for high-net-worth individuals and private residences.
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Those looking to hire domestic couples should specify a minimum of two to three years of verifiable private estate experience with strong references. Domestic couples should possess valid driver’s licenses and be able to pass a clean background check.
You’ll also want to highlight required technical skills, such as smart-home management, culinary certifications, chauffeur licensure, or professional executive housekeeping expertise.
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Compensation from a domestic couples staffing agency is based on the couple’s combined experience, property size, and specialized skill sets. Rates typically range from $65 to over $100 per hour combined. Elite skills, like those of a certified estate manager or private chef, can often command top-tier market rates.
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The live-in setup often works best for households and estates that require 24/7 security, flexible emergency coverage, or maintenance of rural properties. It is particularly ideal for those who can provide separate premium on-site accommodations, which are essential for attracting and retaining top-tier talent.
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Hiring a live-out domestic couple requires establishing predictable working hours, coordinating reliable commuting schedules and modes of transportation, and budgeting for higher hourly wages since housing is not provided. It is essential to have your accountant and staff coordinator manage standard domestic payroll taxes, workers’ compensation insurance, and benefits packages.