Hire household staff directly in Los Gatos, Saratoga and Monte Sereno

Short answer: Nanny: Typical: $21–$28/hr (about $44,000–$58,000 a year full-time); Housekeeper: Typical: $17–$28/hr (about $35,000–$58,000 a year full-time); Private chef: Typical: $40–$60/hr (about $83,000–$125,000 a year full-time); House manager: Typical: $35–$55/hr (about $73,000–$114,000 a year full-time) (salary guide). Free for families until January 2027, and candidates never pay. Agencies charge fees that vary by agency and role; HomeHire is a direct-hiring marketplace with no agency fees.

Los Gatos, Saratoga and little Monte Sereno between them sit where Silicon Valley meets the Santa Cruz Mountains. They have walkable village downtowns, hillside estates and vineyards, and Highway 17 runs over the hill to the beach. HomeHire lets families here hire nannies, housekeepers, house managers, estate managers, household PAs, private chefs and drivers directly. You write a confidential brief, review structured profiles and choose whom to meet. The family is the employer.

We cover the three towns on one page because they share a high school district, roads and household professionals. For Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton and the rest of the region, see the San Francisco Bay Area guide.

What shapes household roles in Los Gatos and Saratoga

Village flats and mountain roads. Homes near downtown Los Gatos, along the Los Gatos Creek Trail and around Saratoga Village on Big Basin Way are on regular suburban lots. Up in the hills, toward Highway 9, the Saratoga foothills and the roads above Los Gatos, properties get bigger and more remote, with long private driveways, gates, pools, orchards and sometimes small vineyards. Those estates often need a house manager or estate manager as well as a housekeeper.

Orchard and horse country history. Saratoga and the hills above Los Gatos were orchard and ranch land long before they were tech suburbs, and some properties still have fruit trees, paddocks or barns. These estates need someone to coordinate arborists, irrigation, fencing and animal care, often alongside the regular house routine. If your property has acreage or animals, describe it in broad terms so candidates know what's involved.

Weather and the hills. Winter storms can close mountain roads and knock out power, and fire season brings vegetation work and possible power shutoffs. Families in the hills often want someone who keeps generators, water systems, road and tree contractors, and an emergency plan in order.

Second homes nearby. Many families also own a place in Santa Cruz, Aptos, Carmel or Tahoe. House managers and estate managers here often coordinate both properties: opening and closing the beach house, moving supplies and organizing guests.

Schools and activities. Children go to schools in the Los Gatos and Saratoga elementary districts and then Los Gatos High or Saratoga High in the Los Gatos–Saratoga Joint Union High School District, or to private schools such as Hillbrook in Los Gatos and Saint Andrew's in Saratoga. Nannies and family assistants handle school runs, music and sports, and summer days at Vasona Lake or the beach.

Tech and creative schedules. Parents often work at nearby tech and streaming companies, startups or venture firms, with launch weeks, travel and evening calls. Families often need flexible nanny hours or a household PA.

Short-term needs. Families also hire for summer cover, newborn help, a long-term nanny's vacation, or a house manager for a remodel or storm repair. These are direct hires on HomeHire too.

Roles Los Gatos and Saratoga families hire most

Roles Los Gatos and Saratoga families hire most
RoleWhat it often looks like locallyMore detail
Nanny / family assistantSchool runs, activities, summer schedules, light household tasksHire a nanny
HousekeeperLarger homes; laundry, guest preparation, care of fine finishesHire a housekeeper
House managerVendors, storm and fire-season prep, projects, second-home logisticsHire a house manager
Estate managerHillside estates with grounds, vineyards or several staffHire an estate manager
Household PACalendars, travel and personal adminHire a private PA
Private chefFamily meals, entertaining, wine-country dinnersHire a private chef
DriverSchool runs, San José airport and SFO tripsHire a chauffeur

Being a household employer in Santa Clara County: what to check

Hiring directly makes you the employer. HomeHire doesn't give legal or tax advice. Useful official starting points:

  • Overtime. California's Domestic Worker Bill of Rights extends overtime pay to certain personal attendants working in the home. Other household roles fall under the state's household-occupations wage order (Wage Order 15).
  • Minimum wage. Santa Clara County's minimum wage chart lists Los Gatos, Saratoga and Monte Sereno at the California state rate, while nearby San Jose and Cupertino set their own higher rates. If a role includes work in another city, check that city's rate.
  • Paid sick leave. California's paid sick leave law covers employees who work at least 30 days for the same employer within a year, with narrow exceptions.
  • Taxes and paperwork. EDD household employer pages, IRS Publication 926 and Form I-9.
  • Insurance. Ask about workers' compensation and auto cover, especially for staff who drive mountain roads.

How hiring works on HomeHire

  1. Write a confidential brief: town, property type, duties, hours, second-home travel, start date.
  2. Review structured profiles. Candidates choose whether they can be found.
  3. Do your own hiring checks. Contact references and confirm identity and right to work yourself. Read safety & hiring tips.
  4. Request introductions and interview. Check references yourself and consider a paid trial.
  5. Agree terms directly, in writing.

Briefing tips for Los Gatos, Saratoga and Monte Sereno

  • Say "Saratoga foothills" or "near downtown Los Gatos" rather than an address.
  • Mention steep or long driveways and gates in general terms.
  • Separate estate duties from childcare or personal duties.

Nearby guides

San Francisco Bay Area · Los Angeles · Orange County · Seattle · How it works · Pricing · Candidates: find household work

Typical hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area

Full-time annual equivalents use hourly pay × 2,080, rounded to the nearest $1,000; gross pay before tax. Private chef estimates cover full-time work for one family. Local salary guide.

US typical range; local pay varies with local wages and minimum-wage rules.

Based on Care.com and US Bureau of Labor Statistics pay data and published household-staff salary surveys, Oct 2026. Actual pay depends on duties, hours and experience.

Typical hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area
RoleTypical pay
NannyTypical: $21–$28/hr (about $44,000–$58,000 a year full-time)
HousekeeperTypical: $17–$28/hr (about $35,000–$58,000 a year full-time)
Private chefTypical: $40–$60/hr (about $83,000–$125,000 a year full-time); Estate or high-net-worth roles: $130,000–$250,000 a year
House managerTypical: $35–$55/hr (about $73,000–$114,000 a year full-time); Estate or high-net-worth roles: $110,000–$180,000 a year

Next steps for families

HomeHire is a self-service marketplace, not an agency: families review profiles, contact candidates and hire directly, and the family is the employer. Free for families until January 2027, and candidates never pay.

Explore more hiring guides

Explore the US Salary Guide for national, state, and metro pay context.

Frequently asked questions

Can I hire an estate manager in Saratoga or Los Gatos without an agency?

Yes; HomeHire lets you write a confidential brief, review structured profiles and request introductions yourself; you hire directly, and the family is the employer.

Can one house manager cover our Los Gatos home and a beach house?

Yes, if that's what you agree; describe both properties, travel expectations and how travel time is paid in your brief.

Why are Los Gatos, Saratoga and Monte Sereno on one page?

They share a high school district, roads and the same pool of household professionals; your brief can still name just one town.

What does HomeHire cost families here?

Free for families until January 2027, and candidates never pay.

Is my brief posted as a public job ad?

Household briefs are private unless the family chooses to publish a public job listing; public listings show only the role, town/ZIP area, schedule, pay range and start date — never the family's name, address or contact details.

Get started with HomeHire

Start a confidential family brief · Register as a household professional

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