Household staffing in Washington DC: hire directly across DC, Maryland and Virginia

HomeHire is an alternative to a household staffing agency in Washington DC: you hire household staff directly, with no agency fees. Post a confidential brief for a house manager, estate manager, nanny, private chef or household PA in Georgetown, Bethesda, McLean or anywhere in the DMV, and speak to candidates yourself. Free for families until January 2027, and candidates never pay.

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.

Find nannies, housekeepers, house managers, private chefs, private PAs, chauffeurs/drivers, and estate managers around Washington DC through confidential family briefs and direct introductions. Public listings require family consent. Consider Georgetown, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, and the DMV when describing the work area. HomeHire's free period is nationwide; this guide is a local starting point, not a service boundary.

Why Washington DC households use a discreet model

Local starting points include Georgetown, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, and the DMV. Schedules across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, building entry, and occasional travel may matter more than a broad “DMV” location. Describe the actual work area and days. A private brief helps you explain practical requirements without publishing household identifiers. Northern Virginia guide: McLean, Great Falls & Vienna.

  • Share a confidential household brief rather than a public household job ad.
  • Review structured candidate profiles; candidates control their discoverability.
  • Families hire directly and do their own checks, including references, identity, right to work and relevant qualifications.
  • Use messaging and direct introductions to decide whom to interview; the family and worker agree the engagement directly.
  • Describe permanent, part-time, temporary, or one-off work in the confidential brief; the same direct model applies.

Household roles in Washington DC

Use the national role guides for more specific briefing advice. Chauffeur/driver and estate manager responsibilities can also be described in a confidential brief.

Household roles in Washington DC
RoleLocal briefing considerationsNational guide
NannyClarify school pickups and whether care crosses between Georgetown and Bethesda.Nanny guide
HousekeeperDescribe cleaning and laundry duties and any different building access needs in DC versus Arlington.Housekeeper guide
House managerSet out vendor scheduling and property oversight if the household uses homes in DC and McLean.House manager guide
Private chefDistinguish regular meals from entertaining or event cooking in Georgetown or Chevy Chase.Private chef guide
Private PAState whether errands and appointments involve DC, Alexandria, or both, and identify on-site days.Private PA guide
Chauffeur/driverSpecify routes across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, working hours, and vehicle expectations.Chauffeur/driver guide
Estate managerName the jurisdictions and properties involved in DMV vendor oversight without disclosing addresses.Estate manager guide

Household staffing in Washington DC without an agency

DC-area households often span three jurisdictions. A family might live in Georgetown or Chevy Chase, keep a second home in McLean or Great Falls, and work to a calendar shaped by Congress, embassies or international travel. Free for families until January 2027, and candidates never pay.

Hiring a house manager, estate manager or household PA in the DMV

A house manager may run vendors, deliveries and entertaining in a DC townhouse. An estate manager may oversee a larger Potomac or Great Falls property and its staff. A household PA often manages tight, travel-heavy calendars. State whether the work crosses DC, Maryland and Virginia, since employment rules can differ by jurisdiction. Describe any security or discretion expectations in general terms, and keep access details private until there's mutual interest. For pay context, see the US household salary guide.

Related guides

How to hire locally

Give candidates enough information to judge a fit while keeping private household information out of public-facing text.

  1. Start with a city, neighborhood, or ZIP code around Washington DC, not just “Global”; do not publish the exact address.
  2. Specify the role, start date, hours, and whether the work is ongoing, part-time, temporary, seasonal, or one-off.
  3. Describe actual duties, experience, pay expectations, and logistics. State whether work is in Georgetown, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Arlington, Alexandria, or McLean and whether crossing between jurisdictions is expected.
  4. Families hire directly and do their own checks, including references, identity, right to work and relevant qualifications.
  5. Use messaging to request a direct introduction, interview the person, check references, and make your own hiring decision.
  6. Protect children's identities, home addresses, access instructions, and other sensitive details until appropriate after mutual interest.

Temporary and seasonal cover

Travel periods, school holidays, and events can call for temporary cover with a clearly defined handover and end date. Explain the dates, hours, duties, location, and handover in your brief. Long-term, part-time, temporary, seasonal, and one-off direct engagements are in scope, but HomeHire does not promise an agency roster or available cover.

The family and worker agree work and pay directly; HomeHire is not the employer or payroll provider.

For candidates in Washington DC

Household professionals in Washington DC can create a structured profile, set their preferred location and availability, and control discoverability. Candidates never pay HomeHire to find work. Explore other metro guides or learn how nationwide introductions and pricing work.

Practical Washington DC briefing tips

Describe security or building-entry requirements generally, then exchange sensitive access details only after mutual interest. Distinguish baseline duties from event-day or extra-property responsibilities and state the commute expectations. Share building entry arrangements only after mutual interest; never publish addresses, gate codes, keys, or children's identifying details.

Interview and check references yourself. Families hire directly and do their own checks, including references, identity, right to work and relevant qualifications. it cannot establish suitability or safety.

Typical hourly pay in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 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

Is HomeHire a household staffing agency in Washington DC?

No; HomeHire is a self-serve hiring marketplace and an alternative to an agency; families post a confidential brief and hire directly; HomeHire does not place staff or act as the employer.

Can I hire a house manager or estate manager in McLean, Potomac or Bethesda?

Yes; list the properties, vendors, staff and schedule in a confidential brief, then request direct introductions.

Does it matter if the job crosses DC, Maryland and Virginia?

Say so in your brief; Commutes and employment rules can differ by jurisdiction, so check the official guidance for where the work happens; HomeHire does not give legal or tax advice.

Does HomeHire employ staff or run payroll in DC?

No; the family is the employer and handles wages, tax, insurance and any screening; HomeHire makes introductions.

What does HomeHire cost DC-area families?

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

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