You’re exhausted. The mental load is crushing. Between running errands, meal planning, managing schedules, and keeping track of everything that makes your household run, you’re wondering if there’s a better way. Enter… the house manager.
If you’ve been curious about what a house manager actually does, and whether your family could benefit from one, this guide covers everything from daily tasks and average salary to creating a job description and finding the right fit.
What Is a House Manager?
A house manager is a professional who oversees the daily operations of your home. They’re the COO of your household, handling logistics, systems, and tasks that keep everything running smoothly.
Unlike personal assistants who typically focus on individual schedules and tasks, a house manager takes ownership of the entire household run. They’re proactive problem-solvers who anticipate needs, manage systems, and ensure your home functions without you micromanaging every detail.
The role looks different for every family. Your house manager adapts to your unique needs, not the other way around.
What Does a House Manager Actually Do?
The beauty of hiring household help is that the role is completely customizable. Common responsibilities include:
Daily operations: Meal planning and prep, grocery shopping, running errands, managing household schedules, and coordinating with other household staff or service providers.
Home management: Organizing spaces, managing inventory, overseeing home maintenance and repairs, and implementing systems that prevent chaos.
Event planning: Birthday parties, dinner parties, holiday gatherings, your house manager handles the logistics so you can actually show up and enjoy it.
Family support: School drop-offs and pickups, activity coordination, travel planning, and managing the mountain of paperwork that comes with a busy household.
The key word? Delegation. A house manager handles the daily tasks that drain your time and energy so you can focus on what matters, whether that’s your career, your kids, or finally having breathing room.
House Manager vs. Family Assistant: What’s the Difference?
While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there’s a subtle distinction worth noting.
A family assistant typically focuses more on personal and administrative tasks, managing calendars, booking travel, handling correspondence. They work for family members.
A house manager manages the household itself. They focus on home operations, systems, and ensuring the physical environment runs smoothly.
That said, many professionals blend both roles depending on family needs. The most important thing is finding someone whose skill set matches what you actually need help with.
How Much Does a House Manager Cost?
Let’s talk numbers, because this is usually where people think they’re priced out.
The average salary for a house manager varies based on location, experience, and scope of work. In 2026, you’re typically looking at $25–45 per hour for part-time household support.
Most families hire for 15–20 hours per week. That’s roughly $1,500–3,600 per month to reclaim significant time and energy.
It’s an investment. But when you compare it to the cost of burnout, resentment, or constantly feeling like you’re failing at everything, the math starts looking different. We actually broke out the salary of a House Manager in this comprehensive article that you can check out here.
Do I Really Need a House Manager?
If you’re asking yourself this question, you probably do.
You’re constantly running errands on your “day off.” Your weekends disappear into meal prep, laundry, and catching up on everything you couldn’t get to during the week. You snap at your partner over who emptied the dishwasher last. You can’t remember the last time you felt truly relaxed in your own home.
If any of this sounds familiar, household support isn’t a luxury, it’s infrastructure. It’s the thing that lets you stop barely surviving and start actually living.
Creating a House Manager Job Description
If you decide to hire, you’ll need a solid job description. This table outlines the six essential components to include so you attract qualified candidates who align with your household’s needs.
| Component | What to Include |
|---|---|
| Core Responsibilities | Be specific about daily tasks you need handled—meal prep, errands, household management, event planning, coordinating with service providers |
| Schedule & Hours | Part-time vs. full-time support, specific days and times needed (most families start with 15-20 hours/week) |
| Must-Have Skills | Non-negotiable experience or expertise required for the role (e.g., meal planning, home organization, calendar management) |
| Nice-to-Have Skills | Bonus qualifications that aren’t required but would add value (e.g., event planning experience, dietary knowledge) |
| Compensation | Be transparent about hourly rate ($25-45/hour typical) and any benefits like paid time off or mileage reimbursement |
| Household Culture | Values and qualities important in your home—communication style, flexibility, proactive problem-solving |
Finding the Right Household Manager for Your Family
Finding qualified professionals isn’t as simple as posting on Facebook and hoping for the best. You need someone trustworthy, proactive, and aligned with your family’s needs, and top-tier talent gets hired quickly.
Sorting through applications, conducting interviews, checking references, it all takes time you don’t have. Plus, knowing what questions to ask and red flags to watch for requires experience most families don’t have when hiring household staff for the first time.
Working with a hiring service takes the guesswork out. Instead of spending hours (or weeks) trying to find the right person, you get matched with pre-vetted candidates who actually fit your household.
At Sage Haus, we help busy families hire house managers, family assistants, and meal prep chefs who fit like a glove. We handle the recruiting, vetting, and matching process, and we stand by every placement with a 60-day guarantee.
Book a FREE Info Call Here
What to Expect After You Hire
Hiring a household manager isn’t just about filling a position, it’s about building a partnership. The first few weeks are all about communication, establishing systems, and figuring out what works for your specific household.
Give it time. Like any new working relationship, there’s a learning curve. But once you’ve found the right person and established a rhythm, the relief is real.
You’ll notice it in small moments, coming home to a stocked fridge, realizing someone else handled the pharmacy run, having space to be present with your kids instead of mentally running through tomorrow’s logistics.
Frequently Asked Questions About House Managers
The terms are interchangeable. Both refer to professionals who oversee daily household operations, manage systems, and ensure your home runs smoothly.
Yes! The role is completely customizable to your family’s needs. Many house managers include childcare elements like school pickups, activity coordination, homework help, and supervising kids during certain hours. The beauty of hiring a house manager is that you can scope the role to include whatever support your family needs most.
Yes. Most families hiring through Sage Haus budget $25–35 per hour for 15–20 hours per week of support. This makes household staff accessible to middle-class families, not just the ultra-wealthy.
Typically 4–6 weeks when working with a professional hiring service. The timeline includes posting the position, screening candidates, conducting interviews, and checking references.
Working with a reputable hiring service like Sage Haus comes with guarantees. We offer a 60-day replacement guarantee, if your household employee leaves within the first 60 days for any reason, we’ll find you a replacement at no additional cost.
You Don’t Have to Keep White-Knuckling It
Maybe you’ve been telling yourself you just need to be more organized. More efficient. Better at meal prep or calendar management or keeping on top of the laundry.
But what if the problem isn’t you? What if you’re simply trying to do a job that actually requires two people, or more?
Hiring a house manager isn’t about admitting defeat. It’s about building the infrastructure your household needs to actually function. It’s about recognizing that the invisible labor draining your time and energy doesn’t make you a better parent or partner, it just makes you exhausted.
You deserve support. Your family deserves a version of you that isn’t constantly running on empty.
If you’re ready to explore what household support could look like for your family, we’re here to help!
Learn more about our hiring services here.
If you enjoyed this article, House Manager 101: Everything You Need to Know in 2026, you might also enjoy:
- Managing a Home Like a CEO: Smart Systems for a Stress-Free Life
- How to Become a House Manager: Your Step-by-Step Guide to a Meaningful, In-Demand Career
- House Manager Solutions at Sage Haus: Giving You More Time for What Matters
Pin-it for later: House Manager 101: Everything You Need to Know in 2026
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