How Much Does a Virtual Assistant Cost? What Smart Executives Pay

If you’re a founder, executive, or business owner, your time is worth more than almost anyone else’s in the business. So when email, scheduling, and travel start crowding your week, hiring a virtual assistant (VA) is often the first fix you consider.

A VA is a remote helper who takes that kind of work off your plate for an hourly or monthly fee. On paper, it looks like the cheapest way to get your week back.

But the rate on a VA’s quote rarely matches what you actually pay.

The hours you spend finding, training, and managing an assistant can cost you more than the assistant does. This guide breaks down real rates for each hiring option, those hidden costs, and how to choose support that fits your budget.

TL;DR: Virtual Assistant Costs at a Glance

Here’s the short version of what a virtual assistant costs and what drives the price:

• US-based virtual assistants earn about $22.73 an hour on average.
• Offshore VAs cost less, though time zones and turnover can erase the savings.
• A full-time in-house executive assistant (EA) costs about $9,300 a month once benefits are added.
• A fractional executive assistant gives you a set share of a senior assistant’s resources for a flat monthly fee.
• Hourly billing pays an assistant more the longer a task takes.
• Your own management time is the biggest hidden cost of cheap help.

Virtual Assistant Rates by Hiring Option

The term “virtual assistant” covers everyone from an offshore freelancer to a seasoned US professional. That range is why quotes can differ by thousands of dollars a month.

Here’s how the main hiring options compare on cost:

The VA figures come from job-posting data on Indeed. Philippine VAs average ₱27,430 a month (roughly $440 at the Philippine central bank’s current exchange rate). US VAs average $22.73 an hour (as of the time of writing).

The in-house figure starts with the $76,590 median salary for executive assistants, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Separate BLS data shows benefits make up 31.5% of employer costs for full-time private-industry workers. That lifts the true cost to roughly $111,800 a year.

At ProAssisting, plans start at $3,300 a month for one-third of a senior assistant’s resources. Agency pricing varies too much to average, so ask every provider for its full monthly total before you compare.

What Drives the Price of a Virtual Assistant

Two VAs with the same job title can cost very different amounts.

These 5 factors decide where a quote lands:

• Location: Assistants in lower-cost countries charge less in dollars. You give up overlap with your working day in exchange.
• Experience: An assistant who has supported senior leaders needs far less direction from you. That background costs more per hour.
• Type of work: Data entry and simple research price at the low end. Personal and household work follows its own market, which our guide to personal assistant costs breaks down.
• Client load: The more executives an assistant juggles, the less attention each one gets. A typical VA may serve 10 to 20 clients a month just to fill their schedule.
• Billing model: Hourly rates, prepaid hour blocks, and flat retainers each change what you really spend in a month.

Hourly Billing vs. a Flat Monthly Retainer

How a provider bills you shapes your real cost as much as the rate itself.

VA providers usually bill in one of these 4 ways:

• Hourly: You pay for each hour the assistant logs. It looks efficient because you only pay for work done.
• Prepaid hour blocks: You buy a set number of hours each month. Hours you don’t use may simply expire.
• Monthly retainer: You pay a flat fee for a set level of ongoing support. Your cost stays the same every month.
• Project-based: You pay a fixed price for a single defined project, such as planning an offsite. The arrangement ends when the project does.

Here’s the problem with hourly billing. An assistant who gets faster at your work earns less for getting better at it.

A flat retainer fixes that, because the assistant gains nothing by stretching a task out.

Prepaid blocks raise a different question. If you buy 30 hours and use 22, who keeps the money for the other 8?

When you compare quotes, divide each one by the support you’ll actually use in a typical month.

The Hidden Costs Behind a Low Hourly Rate

A lot of executives compare assistants on the hourly rate and stop there. But a low rate can still produce a high bill once you add up what it takes to make the arrangement work.

These costs rarely appear on an invoice:

• Your management time: A less experienced assistant needs more instructions, check-ins, and corrections. Every one of those minutes comes out of your own week.
• Turnover: Low pay pushes assistants to keep looking for better work. Each departure means you recruit and train someone new from scratch.
• Rework: Mistakes on travel, scheduling, or client emails take time to fix. Some also strain relationships you’ve spent years building.
• Time zone gaps: An assistant who works while you sleep can’t jump on a request you send at 2:00 PM.

Your Own Hourly Value Sets the Real Budget

The number that decides whether any assistant is worth it is the value of your own hour.

Chief executives earn a median of $213,990 a year, according to the BLS. Spread across a standard 2,080-hour work year, that’s about $103 an hour.

At that rate, 5 hours a week of inbox cleanup, scheduling, and travel booking costs you roughly $26,700 a year in your own time. And that’s before you count the deals, decisions, and family time those hours could have gone to. Business owners can run the same math using profit instead of salary.

In The 29-Hour Work Day, we divide annual net profit by 2,080 hours to find what each hour is worth. The book also shows you how to decide what to hand off first.

Once you know your number, any assistant’s rate becomes much easier to judge.

When a Low-Cost VA Makes Sense and When It Doesn’t

A budget VA is the right choice in some situations.

A low-cost VA tends to work well when:

• Your tasks are defined and repeatable: Data entry, list building, and basic research follow clear instructions that rarely change.
• Your budget is tight: An early-stage founder can offload simple admin work without a large monthly commitment.
• Speed matters more than polish: Bulk work where small errors are easy to catch suits a lower-cost assistant.

A more experienced assistant is the better buy when:

• The assistant will represent you: Emails to board members, investors, and top clients need the right tone every single time.
• You need judgment calls: Deciding which meeting moves when 2 priorities collide takes experience from past roles.
• Your business and personal lives overlap: Fitting a board meeting around a child’s school event requires someone who sees your whole calendar.
• Confidentiality is part of the job: Access to your finances, contracts, and family details calls for proven discretion.

If you’re unsure which side you fall on, our 2-minute executive support assessment points you to the right level of support.

How a Fractional Executive Assistant Compares on Cost

A fractional executive assistant sits between a task-based VA and a full-time hire. You get senior-level help without paying for a full-time salary and benefits.

That’s where ProAssisting comes in.

A ProAssistant is our name for the US-based EAs we match with executives. Each one has at least 5 years of experience as an EA, project manager, or equivalent at globally recognized brands. And less than 5% of applicants are accepted.

Plans start at $3,300 a month for one-third of a ProAssistant’s resources. You can move up to one-half or two-thirds as your workload grows.

With no equipment expense, onboarding fee, benefits, or overtime to cover, that support costs 50 to 80% less than hiring in-house.

Where your money goes matters too. An underpaid assistant is always one better offer away from leaving.

That’s why more than 75% of your retainer goes directly to your ProAssistant. The pay keeps the same experienced person by your side for as long as you need them.

A ProAssistant covers 5 roles we call the performance multipliers:

• Business partner: They sit in on interviews and give you feedback on plans and operations.
• Chief of staff: They act as the single point of contact for your clients, team, family, and vendors.
• Project manager: They run events, offsites, and complex travel from start to finish.
• Assistant/scheduler: They manage your calendar, inbox, and daily logistics.
• Personal assistant: They handle personal appointments, research, and family logistics.

A free 30-minute consultation shows you which tier fits your workload and what your first month could take off your plate.

Questions to Ask Any Assistant Provider Before You Sign

The same rate can buy very different support depending on how a provider runs its business.

Before you sign with any VA company or assistant service, get clear answers to these questions:

• The assistant’s pay: Ask how much of your fee reaches the person doing the work. Pay predicts experience and how long they’ll stay.
• Executive load: Ask how many executives each assistant supports. A shorter list usually means faster replies.
• Unused hours: If you prepay for hours, ask what happens to the ones you don’t use.
• One assistant or a team: Confirm whether you’ll work with one dedicated person or a rotating pool.
• Response times: Get the promised reply time in writing, including help when you travel.
• Executive tenure: Ask how long executives usually stay with the provider. Long relationships point to assistants who stick around.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are quick answers to the questions executives ask most about virtual assistant costs:

How Much Does a Virtual Assistant Cost Per Hour?

US-based VAs average about $22.73 an hour, based on Indeed job postings. Offshore VAs usually cost less, while experienced US professionals cost more.

How Much Does a Virtual Assistant Cost Per Month?

A full-time US VA paid the Indeed average costs roughly $3,900 a month before benefits. Part-time and offshore arrangements cost less. Fractional executive support starts around $3,300 a month.

Is a Virtual Assistant Cheaper Than an In-House Assistant?

It usually is. An in-house EA costs about $9,300 a month once benefits are included. A remote VA or fractional assistant spares you benefits, payroll taxes, and equipment.

Is It Better to Pay a Virtual Assistant Hourly or Monthly?

Hourly pay suits occasional, one-off tasks. For ongoing support, a flat monthly fee is easier to budget and rewards the assistant for working efficiently.

What Is the Difference Between a Virtual Assistant and a Fractional Executive Assistant?

A VA typically completes defined tasks, often for many clients at once. A fractional executive assistant is a senior EA who supports a small number of executives and handles judgment-heavy work, like representing you to clients.

Does a More Expensive Virtual Assistant Perform Better?

Not always, but pay and experience usually move together. An assistant with years of senior-level experience needs less direction, which saves you time even at a higher rate.

Get Executive-Level Support With ProAssisting

The cheapest assistant can cost you the most once you count your own hours. So start with what your time is worth, then choose the support that protects it.

ProAssisting pairs you with a fractional executive assistant based in the US. Our ProAssistants have supported leaders at Fortune 500 companies like Oracle, Target, and JPMorgan Chase. You get that premium support for 50 to 80% less than hiring in-house.

Plans start at $3,300 a month. Your ProAssistant replies within an hour during business hours. They handle your work and personal tasks, so you can focus on the work only you can do.

Book your free consultation and start getting your hours back.