Hire household staff directly in West University Place and Bellaire

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.

West University Place and Bellaire are small, separate cities surrounded by Houston, a few minutes from Rice University, the Texas Medical Center and the Galleria. Locals call the first "West U". HomeHire lets families in West U, Bellaire and tiny Southside Place between them hire nannies, housekeepers, house 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've put these neighboring cities on one page because families, schools and household professionals cross between them constantly. For River Oaks, Memorial, The Woodlands and the rest of the region, see the Houston household staff guide.

What shapes household roles in West U and Bellaire

Medical Center schedules. A lot of parents here are physicians, surgeons, researchers or hospital leaders at the Texas Medical Center, or faculty at Rice. On-call weeks, early surgical starts and late clinic days mean families often need a nanny who can start before 7 a.m., stay late on short notice or cover a weekend. Spell out those patterns, and how unpredictable hours are paid, in your brief.

Young families in new homes. Both cities have seen years of teardowns and new builds, so many homes are recent, larger than the lots around them suggest, and full of family-age children. Nannies, nanny–housekeepers and family assistants are the most common hires. House managers are more common in larger new builds or where a family also owns a ranch, a lake house or a coastal home.

Schools and short distances. Families use HISD schools such as West University Elementary and Bellaire High School, plus private schools across the area, including Episcopal High School in Bellaire. Distances are short but traffic on Bellaire Boulevard, Kirby and the 610 Loop isn't, so build commute time into the schedule.

Heat, storms and flooding. Long summers mean pool, irrigation and A/C upkeep, and hurricane season runs from June to November. Many households in this part of Houston remember flooding along Brays Bayou, so house managers and experienced housekeepers often handle generator checks, storm shutters or sandbags, moving valuables upstairs and booking contractors quickly after a storm.

Parks and routines. Colonial Park and its pool in West U, and Evelyn's Park and Bellaire Town Square in Bellaire, are part of many nannies' daily routines with younger children.

Temporary cover. Families here also hire short-term: a nanny for a parent's fellowship year or residency rotation, help after a new baby, summer cover while school is out, or a house manager to see storm repairs or a renovation through. Free for families until January 2027, and candidates never pay.

Roles West U and Bellaire families hire most

Roles West U and Bellaire families hire most
Role	What it often looks like locally	More detail
Nanny	Early starts and late finishes around hospital shifts; infant and school-age care	Hire a nanny
Nanny–housekeeper / family assistant	Childcare plus laundry, meals and errands	Hire a housekeeper
House manager	Vendors, storm prep, new-build warranty and maintenance schedules	Hire a house manager
Household PA	Calendars, travel and admin for busy professionals	Hire a private PA
Private chef	Weeknight meals, dietary plans	Hire a private chef
Driver	School and activity runs, airport trips to IAH or Hobby	Hire a chauffeur

Being a household employer in Texas: what to check

Hiring directly makes you the employer. HomeHire doesn't give legal or tax advice. Start here:

Federal wage and overtime rules. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act generally covers household employees for minimum wage and overtime, with narrow exceptions (for example, live-in workers are exempt from overtime but not minimum wage). See US Department of Labor Fact Sheet #79D.
See TWC's unemployment tax registration FAQ.
Federal taxes and paperwork. IRS Publication 926 and Form I-9.
Insurance. Ask your insurer about workers' compensation, injury and auto cover. The Texas Department of Insurance explains employer coverage rules.

How hiring works on HomeHire

Write a confidential brief: city, hours (including on-call patterns), children's ages, household tasks, driving, start date.
Review structured profiles. Candidates choose whether they can be found.
Do your own hiring checks. Contact references and confirm identity and right to work yourself. Read safety & hiring tips.
Request introductions and interview. Check references yourself and consider a paid trial.
Agree terms directly, in writing.

Briefing tips for West U and Bellaire

Say "West U" or "Bellaire, near Evelyn's Park" rather than your address.
Describe your hardest hours honestly: early starts, late finishes, call weeks.
Say whether the job includes storm or flood preparation.
Mention languages spoken at home; bilingual nannies are often in demand here.

Nearby guides

Houston · Dallas–Fort Worth · Nanny in Dallas · Austin · How it works · Pricing · Candidates: find household work

Typical hourly pay in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX area
Role	Typical pay
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); Estate or high-net-worth roles: $130,000–$250,000 a year
House manager	Typical: $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 a nanny in West University Place 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 I find a nanny for early or on-call Medical Center hours?

You can describe early starts, late finishes and on-call patterns in your brief so candidates can decide if they fit; agree how variable hours and overtime are paid before the job starts.

Which wage and tax rules apply to household staff in Texas?

Federal wage and overtime rules generally cover household employees, with narrow exceptions such as the overtime exemption for live-in workers; check the official DOL and TWC pages.

What does HomeHire cost families in West U and Bellaire?

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

Is my brief posted publicly?

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

Start a confidential family brief · Register as a household professional (never pay)

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