Updated November 2026. Pay data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, read October 22, 2026; federal job series from OPM, read November 2, 2026.
A property caretaker, or house caretaker, looks after a home, estate or building for its owner: upkeep, security, grounds and small repairs, often while the owner is away. As of November 2026, most caretaker jobs need no license. The closest federal pay data, for general maintenance and repair workers, shows a median of $49,590 a year in May 2025, per the BLS. Many caretaker jobs also include free housing.
Jump to: 🏠 What caretakers do · 💲 Pay · 🏛️ Federal jobs · 🪜 How to start · 🤝 For owners · ❓ FAQ
Key takeaways
- General maintenance and repair workers earned a median $49,590 in May 2025, and the BLS expects 4% job growth from 2025 to 2035.
- The typical entry level for that group is a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Live-in caretaker jobs often trade housing for work, so the cash pay can be lower.
- Owners selling a vacant home often use a caretaker to keep it safe and show-ready.
Caretaking suits people who like practical work and don’t need an office. It also suits owners who can’t be on site: snowbirds, heirs of an empty house, or anyone selling from another state. Here’s how the job works from both sides.
What does a property caretaker do?
A caretaker looks after a home or a commercial building and runs it day to day. Keeping the place sound is most of the work. The grounds need the same care, and guards like Fence Armor help shield fences and beds from daily wear.
| Type of job | Typical duties | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Live-in estate caretaker | Grounds, small repairs, security, vendor visits | Often included. |
| Seasonal home caretaker | Opening and closing the house, storm checks, mail | Sometimes. |
| Vacant home caretaker | Weekly checks, lawn, utilities, showings | Rarely. |
| Farm or ranch caretaker | Animals, fences, equipment, land care | Often included. |
| Building caretaker | Common areas, cleaning, minor fixes, tenants’ calls | Sometimes. |
Is a house caretaker different from a property caretaker?
Mostly in scale. A house caretaker minds one home, often a second home or an empty one, with weekly checks, mail and small fixes. A property caretaker, or caretaker of property, may run a whole estate, a farm or a building with several units. The skills overlap. The bigger the property, the more vendors, budgets and reports you handle.
A normal week
Walk the property and note anything new: a leak, a loose gutter, a broken lock. Fix what you can. Call a licensed trade for the rest, like electrical or plumbing work. Keep a log with photos and send it to the owner. That log is what makes an owner trust you with the keys.
How much do property caretakers make?
The BLS doesn’t publish a single “caretaker” pay line that we could find. The closest group is general maintenance and repair workers. In May 2025 their median pay was $49,590 a year, or $23.84 an hour. There were 1,621,800 such jobs in 2025, and the BLS projects 4% growth from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as average.
Caretaker pay varies a lot more than that. A live-in job may pay less cash because housing and utilities are part of the deal. A skilled estate manager with trades experience can earn more. When you compare offers, add up the cash pay plus the value of the housing.
How do you find federal or government property caretaker jobs?
Federal government jobs are posted on USAJOBS, the official federal jobs site. The title “property caretaker” is rare there, so search by the work instead. Trade jobs in federal agencies fall under the Federal Wage System, and OPM’s list of Federal Wage System job series shows the ones closest to caretaking.
| Federal series | What the work covers | Search terms to try |
|---|---|---|
| 4749, Maintenance Mechanic | Upkeep and repair of buildings and grounds | maintenance mechanic, facility maintenance |
| 4754, Cemetery Caretaking | Grounds care at national cemeteries | cemetery caretaker |
Here’s how we’d search. Create a USAJOBS profile, type the series number or the search terms above, and filter by your state. Read the “Who may apply” line first, since some jobs are open only to current federal workers or veterans. For government property caretaker jobs below the federal level, check your city, county and state job boards, where parks and housing departments post groundskeeper and maintenance roles.
What skills help most?
Owners hire caretakers they can trust. Skills come second, but they still matter. These are the ones we’d list first on a resume:
- Basic repairs: a running toilet, a sticky door, a loose step.
- Lawn, garden and tree care, plus snow removal in cold areas.
- Pool and spa care, if the home has one.
- Knowing when to call a pro, and how to get a fair quote.
- Clear notes and photos after every visit.
- A clean driving record, since many jobs need a car.
Soft skills count too. Be on time. Answer the phone. Tell the owner about bad news fast, not at the end of the month. A caretaker who flags a small leak today saves the owner a big bill next week.
How do you become a property caretaker?
- Build skills first: basic plumbing, carpentry, lawn care and small engines.
- Write a resume that leads with the skills that match the kind of home you want to mind.
- Look in the right places: job boards, company sites and word of mouth.
- Start small with house sitting or seasonal checks to earn references.
- Get insured if you go freelance, and use a written agreement for every job.
Where to find caretaker jobs
General job boards work, and sites like live-in property caretakers list jobs that come with a room. The Caretaker Gazette, published since 1983, is a newsletter of caretaking and house-sitting openings across the US and in other countries. Its site is caretaker.org. People often type caretaker.com instead; when we tried that address on November 2, 2026, it didn’t load, so use the .org address for the Gazette. Property management firms also hire; see how owners pick residential property managers.
Build trust and keep learning
Methods and tools change, so courses and trade journals keep you current. Build ties with owners, tenants and local trades. Good ties lead to new job opportunities through referrals more often than any job form. Above all, be reliable. You hold the keys to someone’s home.
Go freelance
Minding several homes on contract can pay more, and you own your schedule. You’ll need a simple contract, a fixed visit schedule, insurance and a way to bill. Charge per visit or per month, and price extra tasks separately.
When should an owner hire a caretaker?
The most common case we see is a vacant home. Maybe you moved for work, or you inherited a parent’s house. Empty homes need someone to check for leaks, keep the lawn tidy, collect mail and make it look lived in. Our list of ways to protect a vacant property pairs well with a caretaker’s checklist.
Sell smarter
List your home on the MLS from $99
A flat fee instead of a percentage, and $0 to Beycome at closing. You stay in control of your sale.
Sell your home →Buy smarter
Get up to 2% back at closing
On homes listed by other agents, Beycome credits you up to 2% of the price at closing (1% kept, $1,499 minimum; not on FSBO homes or homes listed by Beycome sellers).
Buy a home →Empty homes also attract trouble. Unwanted occupants are a real risk in some areas. Regular visits, working lights and a cared-for yard help. If it happens anyway, read our guide to legal ways to deal with squatters.
What to put in a caretaker agreement
- Visit schedule and what each visit covers.
- Spending limit for repairs without asking first.
- Who holds keys and alarm codes.
- How and when reports and photos are sent.
- Pay, insurance and how either side can end it.
Selling a vacant home
A caretaker can open the house for showings, turn on lights and keep it clean between visits. That makes a remote sale much easier. If you’re handling an estate, our guide to selling a deceased parent’s house walks through the steps. Selling an inherited or vacant home in Florida? See our Jacksonville guide to selling an inherited house for probate and tenant questions.
When you’re ready to sell, a Beycome flat fee MLS listing puts the home on the major home search sites and the MLS, from $99 in most states (see your state page), with $0 due to Beycome at closing. ShowingTime scheduling is included where the MLS offers it, so your caretaker can help with showing times. If you’d like an expert to work with you on offers while you’re away, see Concierge (see current price); you stay in control of every decision. For the whole process, see our guide to selling your home without a realtor.
Caretakers who want to buy
Many caretakers save on rent and later buy a place of their own. Our buyer program has no upfront fee. Beycome keeps 1% of the price, with a $1,499 minimum, and credits the rest of the buyer-agent commission to you at closing, with lender approval.
Property caretaker questions
What is a property caretaker?
Someone who looks after a property for its owner: upkeep, grounds, security and small repairs, often with housing included.
How much does a property caretaker make?
It varies. The closest BLS group, general maintenance and repair workers, had a median of $49,590 in May 2025. Live-in jobs often pay less cash.
Do you need a license to be a caretaker?
Usually not. Some tasks, like electrical or plumbing work, need a licensed trade, and freelancers should carry insurance.
Where can I find federal caretaker jobs?
Federal government jobs are posted on USAJOBS. Search for caretaker or maintenance roles in your area.
Which federal job series fit property caretaker work?
The closest Federal Wage System series on OPM’s list are 4749, Maintenance Mechanic, and 4754, Cemetery Caretaking. Search them on USAJOBS.
What is a house caretaker?
Someone who minds one home for its owner, often a second or empty home: checks, mail, lawn and small repairs.
Is caretaker.com the Caretaker Gazette?
No. The Caretaker Gazette is at caretaker.org. The .com address didn’t load when we checked on November 2, 2026.
What is the Caretaker Gazette?
A newsletter published since 1983 that lists caretaking and house-sitting openings in the US and other countries.
Should I hire a caretaker while selling an empty house?
It often helps. Regular checks prevent damage, keep the home show-ready and make it look lived in.
Is a caretaker the same as a property manager?
Not quite. A caretaker does the hands-on upkeep. A property manager usually handles tenants, rent and leases, and may hire caretakers. Licensing rules for managing rentals vary by state.
Pay and job figures are BLS data for general maintenance and repair workers (May 2025 pay; 2025–35 outlook), used as the closest match; caretaker pay varies by job and housing. Outside links are examples, not endorsements.
Beycome prices as of November 2026: Basic is from $99 in most states (see your state page), and Concierge pricing is on the Concierge page. “$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing; other closing costs, taxes and any buyer-agent compensation you agree to still apply. ShowingTime is included where the MLS offers it. Buyer credit: Beycome keeps 1% (minimum $1,499); lender approval required. General information, not legal advice.
Sources
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, General maintenance and repair workers, read October 22, 2026.
- The Caretaker Gazette, read October 22, 2026.
- USAJOBS, official federal jobs site, read November 2, 2026.
- OPM, Federal Wage System job series (4749 Maintenance Mechanic, 4754 Cemetery Caretaking), read November 2, 2026.
- Beycome, listing package features, October 2026.
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