Private Household Worker

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Work Tasks

PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD WORKERS clean homes, care for children, plan and cook meals, do laundry, administer the household, and perform numerous other duties. Most household workers are general house workers and usually the only worker employed in the home. Households with a large staff may include a household manager, housekeeper, or butler, as well as a cook, caretaker, and launderer. A large staff may also include a nanny to tend a child's early education; child-care worker or babysitter; and a companion or personal attendant to assist elderly, convalescent, or persons with disabilities.

Salary, Size & Growth

• $26,000 average per year ($12.50 per hour)
• A large occupation (866,000 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow slowly (0.6% per year)

Entry Requirements

No special education or training is usually needed to get a job as a PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD WORKER. Some training takes place on the job. Home economics courses can be obtained in high school. Vocational and adult education schools offer training in cooking and childcare. Courses in child development, first aid, and nursing in post-secondary schools are also helpful. Private household workers need no license or certificate.