Private Chef Placement
For UHNW Families

Full-time private chef salaries vary by market. United States: $130,000 to $300,000+ annually (W-2 employment). United Kingdom: £100,000 to £230,000+ (PAYE). Europe and Monaco: €120,000 to €250,000+. Switzerland: CHF 140,000 to CHF 300,000+. Travel chefs and longevity specialists typically sit at the upper end of these ranges. Food budgets are managed separately by the household. We provide transparent salary guidance specific to your market during your consultation. See our full private chef salary guide.

Work with a specialist placement agency, not a general staffing firm. At Montclair Chef, we focus exclusively on private chef placement for UHNW families. We vet all candidates, deliver a curated shortlist within 14 days, and arrange paid trial days in your home before any commitment.

With a specialist agency, you can receive a curated shortlist within 14 days for major markets including New York, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and Monaco. For more remote locations, sourcing typically takes 14 to 21 days. Full placement, including trials and final selection, typically takes 3 to 5 weeks depending on your location and requirements.

We verify culinary experience, confirm references directly with previous UHNW principals and ensure personality fit. Every chef is personally assessed by our founder Chris Demaillet, a private chef to billionaires for 19 years and the author of The Private Chef Guide.

Executive placements carry up to 6 months of placement protection. If a placement does not work out within the guarantee period, we begin a replacement search immediately at no additional placement fee. Every candidate is pre-vetted with employment-history review and direct reference calls before they reach your shortlist.

Yes. We serve UHNW families across the United States, United Kingdom, Monaco, Switzerland, the Mediterranean, and other major markets worldwide. Whether you need a chef for your primary residence or across multiple properties in different countries, we place globally and coordinate seamlessly between markets.

Yes. Many of our placements involve travel across multiple residences, private jets, yachts, and international destinations. We specifically recruit chefs who are comfortable with a traveling lifestyle and experienced managing the logistics of cooking across different kitchens. Visit our Traveling Private Chef Services for more information.

Yes. Many of our clients maintain residences across multiple cities or countries. We place chefs experienced in managing multiple kitchens, coordinating with household staff at each property, and maintaining consistent quality across residences. Travel logistics, work permits, and seasonal scheduling are all coordinated as part of the placement.

Most agencies place every type of household staff. We place one role: private chefs. That focus is the difference. Our founder, Chris Demaillet, was a private chef to billionaires for 19 years and is Michelin-trained, with a culinary career spanning 25 years. He is the author of The Private Chef Guide. Every chef on our roster has been personally vetted by someone who has done the job at the highest level. The result: shortlists in 14 days, and placements backed by up to 6 months of replacement protection on Executive engagements.

Not all, but many do. Our founder's background in Michelin-starred kitchens gives us strong connections to elite culinary talent. We match chefs to your actual needs. Some families want fine-dining precision; others prefer a chef skilled in healthy, delicious family-style cooking. We place both, depending on what matters most to your household.

Through a specialist agency with direct access to elite culinary talent. Montclair Chef was founded by Chris Demaillet, a Michelin-trained chef with 19 years as a private chef to billionaires. We maintain relationships with top culinary professionals, many of whom you will not find on job boards, and can connect you with Michelin-trained candidates suited to your household.

A private estate chef manages your household's entire culinary operation: menu planning, sourcing premium ingredients, preparing daily meals, accommodating dietary needs, and coordinating with household staff. For families with multiple residences, they travel between properties and maintain consistency wherever you are.

A private chef works full-time for one household, available daily as part of your staff. A personal chef serves multiple clients and visits on a scheduled basis to batch-cook meals. UHNW families typically require a private chef for availability, consistency, and discretion. Read our full private chef vs personal chef comparison.

You can do either. Some families hire self-employed chefs who invoice monthly. However, contractors often take on multiple clients and may seek other work, potentially leaving you without coverage when you need them most. Montclair Chef specialises in full-time employed private chefs who work exclusively for your household: no competing priorities, no divided attention. For UHNW families who value consistency and reliability, this is the model we recommend.

Culinary credentials matter, but so does private household experience. Look for discretion, adaptability, and a service mindset. Paid trial days in your home are essential: they reveal whether the chef integrates well with your family and staff. We handle all of this as part of our placement process. Read our private chef trial guide for how to approach the trial stage.

Yes. Our chefs prepare kid-friendly meals alongside adult dining, accommodating different tastes, schedules, and nutritional needs. They coordinate seamlessly with nannies and household staff to ensure mealtimes run smoothly for the whole family.

Yes. Our chefs are experienced with medical diets, food allergies, religious requirements (kosher, halal), and lifestyle protocols, from anti-inflammatory and keto to plant-based nutrition. We match chefs to your family's specific needs. See our health and nutrition chef placement for more.

Yes. Your private chef works exclusively for you, so they can prepare anything you need, from daily family meals to business lunches, client dinners, or corporate entertaining at home. Many of our clients also employ their chef through a family office or company, which may allow the cost to be treated as a business expense.

Yes. Your private chef manages your entire kitchen operation: sourcing ingredients, keeping your fridge and pantry stocked, and ensuring everything is fresh and ready. They follow your preferences for suppliers, whether that is specific farmers' markets, organic providers, or premium butchers. Most families provide a dedicated household card or set up accounts with preferred suppliers.

Absolutely. Our chefs understand how to work quietly and professionally within your home. Discretion and professionalism are standard. All high-profile placements through Montclair Chef include comprehensive confidentiality agreements and follow strict NDA protocols.

Contact us for a confidential consultation. We discuss your requirements, then activate your search. We run a limited number of searches each month to maintain the standard our clients expect. We reply personally to every enquiry within 24 hours.