Fair wage for experienced DH?

Hi all, I haven't engaged a DH for more than 10 yrs and even then generally only engaged 1st timers on minimum wage, increased on new contracts with experience.


Now I need to engage one quite soon and am looking for one with experience. I've got an option on a DH with more than 10 yrs experience in HK with Chinese and Western families and good cooking skills in most styles and good sense of responsibility. She has taken many of her own courses in cooking styles and IT (and has proof) as well as good references.


I was thinking of offering around $4000 as I know the DH as she works for a neighbour (who's paying her slightly less than that), and she is a well-behaved and responsible woman. She's being released because her employer is emigrating.


Her duties for me (single parent family with 1 teenager) would include the usual housekeeping work (cleaning, laundry), some (but not all) cooking as I like to cook) and dog-walking.


Suggestions welcome - so long as they're constructive :)

3700 including food allowance for first month, if that goes well then you could increase to 4000, but leave 3,400 + 300 food allowance in the contract.


That is what I would do (and do).

She sounds worth it, and if you can afford it everyone should be happy.

Agree with the above, if she's experienced and as great as she sounds then 4000 is a bargain. After all we all expect better pay and conditions when we have years of experience in our jobs.

Ok, it's done, or rather not.


I offered her what she wanted, then she asked for more PLUS live out and travel expenses. Quite apart from being illegal (she claims she has an employer willing to give her the higher wage and live out expenses). Guess I didn't judge her very well after all. Such a shame to be so unprincipled.