Virtual Assistant Rates: How Much Does a VA Cost? From $3/hrentry-level - $5/hr median
Compare virtual assistant rates by role, country, and experience level. See how businesses in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand save up to 80% by hiring remote assistants from the Philippines, Latin America, Kenya, and more.
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What VAs ask and employers pay
Based on 14,898 Philippines VA profiles for this skill in Philippines.
Employers offer a median of $5.00/hr for this skill.
Tiers reflect the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of listed rates - lower rates generally correspond to less experience.
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Monthly range = 25th-75th percentile x hours/week x 4.33.
How much does a virtual assistant cost?
Virtual assistants typically cost from $4/hr, usually $4-$15/hr depending on skill and region. Filipino virtual assistants run $3-$10/hr, Latin American VAs $5-$15/hr, Kenya-based VAs $4-$10/hr, and US-based VAs $20-$50+/hr. A full-time (40 hrs/week) Philippines virtual assistant works out to roughly $640-$1,280/month. Entry-level admin and data entry start at $3-$5/hr, experienced support is $5-$8/hr, and specialized roles like bookkeeping, SEO, or executive assistants are $8-$12/hr+.
What Employers Actually Pay (2026 Data)
These are rates offered on real job posts, not estimates. Sorted by number of jobs analyzed.
US-located admin roles are offered a median $15.00/hr - three times the $5.00/hr median for offshore VAs on the same platform.
| Skill | Jobs Analyzed | 25th %ile | Median | 75th %ile | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Assistant | 590 | $3.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.52 |
| Administrative Support | 311 | $4.00 | $5.00 | $7.00 | $6.48 |
| Data Entry | 300 | $3.94 | $5.00 | $6.03 | $6.00 |
| Social Media Management | 283 | $3.13 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.90 |
| Customer Service | 229 | $3.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.03 |
| Social Media Marketing | 219 | $3.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.61 |
| Customer Support | 209 | $3.75 | $5.00 | $14.00 | $7.16 |
| Lead Generation | 188 | $3.36 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.86 |
| Cold Calling | 173 | $3.75 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.67 |
| Email Handling | 167 | $4.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.14 |
| CRM | 156 | $4.00 | $5.00 | $6.00 | $5.14 |
| Appointment Setting | 147 | $4.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.79 |
| Digital Marketing | 117 | $3.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.69 |
| Real Estate | 110 | $3.81 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.12 |
| Video Editing | 104 | $3.75 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.94 |
| Content Creation | 103 | $3.44 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.59 |
| Calendar Management | 100 | $4.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.01 |
| Email Marketing | 96 | $4.00 | $5.00 | $6.00 | $5.27 |
| Graphic Design | 96 | $4.69 | $5.00 | $5.72 | $5.03 |
| SEO | 75 | $3.75 | $5.00 | $6.00 | $5.19 |
| Phone Support | 73 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $10.00 | $7.10 |
| Project Management | 70 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $7.00 | $5.82 |
| Content Marketing | 65 | $3.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.67 |
| Chat Support | 65 | $2.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.61 |
| Social Media Strategy | 64 | $4.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.46 |
| 59 | $3.50 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.84 | |
| Accounting | 58 | $4.51 | $5.00 | $6.00 | $5.18 |
| Content Writing | 55 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.31 | $4.96 |
| Sales | 55 | $2.50 | $4.00 | $5.00 | $4.28 |
| Excel | 53 | $2.50 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.54 |
| Call Handling | 51 | $2.81 | $4.00 | $5.50 | $5.12 |
| Bookkeeping | 51 | $4.95 | $5.00 | $6.00 | $5.44 |
| Shopify | 48 | $3.00 | $5.00 | $6.00 | $4.56 |
| WordPress | 45 | $4.38 | $5.00 | $7.00 | $5.69 |
| Outbound Sales | 43 | $4.00 | $5.00 | $7.00 | $5.48 |
| 43 | $4.84 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.78 | |
| Photo Editing | 42 | $3.28 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.83 |
| 42 | $4.09 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.15 | |
| Telemarketing | 42 | $4.25 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.31 |
| Office Administration1 | 39 | $14.00 | $15.00 | $16.00 | $13.54 |
| eCommerce | 33 | $4.00 | $5.00 | $6.00 | $4.90 |
| Amazon FBA | 33 | $2.50 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $4.26 |
| Customer Experience | 31 | $2.41 | $4.00 | $6.00 | $4.49 |
| General Office1 | 30 | $14.00 | $15.00 | $16.00 | $13.80 |
1 Predominantly US-located roles posted by US employers - included as a local-hiring comparison.
Methodology
Aggregated from 52,212 active VA profiles and 1,563 job posts published between May 2025 and July 2026. Job salaries normalized to hourly (weekly ÷ 40, monthly ÷ 160); fixed-price jobs and rates of $20/hr or more excluded for comparability. Asking = the rate a VA lists on their profile; Offered = the salary stated on an employer’s job post. Refreshed monthly. See our full virtual assistant statistics for scannable one-line takeaways.
“Virtual assistants are hired at a median rate of $5.00/hr, according to marketplace data from eVirtualAssistants (evirtualassistants.com/virtual-assistant-rates.html).”
“Virtual assistants and employers converge on a $5.00/hr median rate, according to data from 52,212 profiles and 1,563 job posts on eVirtualAssistants (evirtualassistants.com/virtual-assistant-rates.html#asking-vs-offered).”
Asking vs. Offered: Where the VA Market Clears
Median asking and offered rates both sit at $5/hr across most skills - the VA market has a clear clearing price. On several skills the average offer even exceeds the average ask, meaning employers are willing to pay a premium above what VAs list.
| Skill | Median Asking (profiles) | Median Offered (job posts) | Avg Asking | Avg Offered | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Assistant | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.73 | $5.52 | -0.21 |
| Administrative Support | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.76 | $6.48 | +0.72 |
| Data Entry | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.32 | $6.00 | +0.68 |
| Social Media Management | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.69 | $4.90 | -0.79 |
| Customer Service | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.45 | $5.03 | -0.42 |
| Social Media Marketing | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.61 | $4.61 | -1.00 |
| Customer Support | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.61 | $7.16 | +1.55 |
| Lead Generation | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.34 | $4.86 | -0.48 |
| Cold Calling | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.65 | $4.67 | -0.98 |
| Email Handling | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.45 | $5.14 | -0.31 |
| CRM | $5.50 | $5.00 | $6.18 | $5.14 | -1.04 |
| Appointment Setting | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.73 | $4.79 | -0.94 |
| Digital Marketing | $5.00 | $5.00 | $6.28 | $4.69 | -1.59 |
| Real Estate | $5.50 | $5.00 | $6.04 | $5.12 | -0.92 |
| Video Editing | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.86 | $4.94 | -0.92 |
| Content Creation | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.93 | $4.59 | -1.34 |
| Calendar Management | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.82 | $5.01 | -0.81 |
| Email Marketing | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.80 | $5.27 | -0.53 |
| Graphic Design | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.69 | $5.03 | -0.66 |
| SEO | $5.50 | $5.00 | $6.27 | $5.19 | -1.08 |
| Phone Support | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.59 | $7.10 | +1.51 |
| Project Management | $6.00 | $5.00 | $6.75 | $5.82 | -0.93 |
| Chat Support | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.38 | $4.61 | -0.77 |
| $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.38 | $4.84 | -0.54 | |
| Accounting | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.61 | $5.18 | -0.43 |
| Content Writing | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.81 | $4.96 | -0.85 |
| Excel | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.23 | $4.54 | -0.69 |
| Call Handling | $5.00 | $4.00 | $5.34 | $5.12 | -0.22 |
| Bookkeeping | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.88 | $5.44 | -0.44 |
| Shopify | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.78 | $4.56 | -1.22 |
| WordPress | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.79 | $5.69 | -0.10 |
| Outbound Sales | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.52 | $5.48 | -0.04 |
| Photo Editing | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.22 | $4.83 | -0.39 |
| Telemarketing | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.43 | $5.31 | -0.12 |
| Office Administration | $5.00 | $15.00 | $5.49 | $13.54 | +8.05 |
| eCommerce | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.79 | $4.90 | -0.89 |
| Amazon FBA | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.32 | $4.26 | -1.06 |
| Customer Experience | $5.00 | $4.00 | $5.43 | $4.49 | -0.94 |
Philippines VAs only. Skills with fewer than 500 profiles hidden. Spread = Avg Offered - Avg Asking.
What You Can Hire at Each Rate
Pick a budget and see what roles are realistic at that price point.
Annual Cost Comparison: Local Employee vs Virtual Assistant
See how the total cost stacks up across three common hiring options.
Includes salary, payroll, benefits, overhead, and management costs.
Higher hourly rates, but more flexible than a full-time employee.
- $5/hr x 40 hrs x 52 weeks
- Flexible hours, no office overhead
- No agency fees
Why Virtual Assistant Rates Vary
Five factors decide what you should expect to pay.
Location
Philippines, Kenya, and some global markets are usually more affordable. Latin America often costs more but offers better time-zone overlap for US companies.
Experience Level
Entry-level assistants cost less. Experienced executive assistants, bookkeepers, sales reps, and specialists cost more.
Role Complexity
Admin and data entry are cheaper. Sales, bookkeeping, e-commerce, design, and technical roles usually cost more.
Hours and Availability
Full-time, part-time, graveyard shift, and time-zone overlap can all affect pricing.
English and Client-Facing Work
Customer-facing assistants with strong English and phone skills may command higher rates.
VA Asking Rates by Country (2026 Data)
These are the hourly rates virtual assistants list on their own profiles.
Kenyan VAs ask a median $7.00/hr - 40% above the Philippines’ $5.00/hr median.
| Country | Profiles | 25th %ile | Median | 75th %ile | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | 43,991 | $3.13 | $5.00 | $6.25 | $5.45 |
| Kenya | 4,296 | $5.00 | $7.00 | $10.00 | $8.07 |
| Nigeria | 979 | $5.00 | $6.25 | $8.80 | $7.22 |
| Pakistan | 390 | $4.09 | $6.00 | $9.38 | $6.94 |
| India | 196 | $5.00 | $6.25 | $10.00 | $7.71 |
| South Africa | 108 | $5.50 | $6.60 | $8.03 | $7.58 |
| United Arab Emirates | 100 | $4.38 | $5.62 | $8.03 | $6.95 |
| Bangladesh | 100 | $5.00 | $6.00 | $10.00 | $7.57 |
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Virtual Assistant Rate FAQs
Common questions about VA costs, salaries, and fair hourly rates in 2026.
- How much does a virtual assistant cost?
- Virtual assistant rates range from $3 to $50+ per hour. Philippines VAs cost $3-$10/hr, Latin American VAs cost $5-$15/hr, Kenya-based VAs cost $4-$10/hr, and US-based VAs cost $20-$50+/hr. Full-time (40 hrs/week) Philippines VAs typically run $640-$1,280/month.
- What is the hourly rate for a Filipino virtual assistant?
- Filipino virtual assistants typically charge $3-$10/hr. Entry-level admin, data entry and research start at $3-$5/hr; experienced admin, customer support and social media run $5-$8/hr; specialized roles like bookkeeping, SEO, WordPress and executive assistants are $6-$12/hr.
- Are Latin American VAs more expensive than Filipino VAs?
- Yes. Latin American VAs charge $5-$15/hr versus $3-$10/hr for Filipino VAs - roughly 30-50% more on average. You pay the premium for US time-zone overlap and stronger Spanish/Portuguese coverage, which is valuable for sales, customer-facing support and bilingual roles.
- How much should I pay a virtual assistant per hour?
- Pay $3-$5/hr for entry-level data entry or research, $5-$8/hr for experienced admin, customer support or social media, $8-$12/hr for bookkeeping, sales and e-commerce specialists, and $12+/hr for executive assistants and senior technical roles. Most full-time hires from the Philippines land around $5-$8/hr.
- How much does a virtual assistant cost in 2026?
- Virtual assistant rates range from $3 to $50+ per hour. Entry-level Philippines VAs start at $3-$5/hr, experienced VAs cost $5-$12/hr, and US-based VAs typically charge $20-$50+/hr.
- What is the average hourly rate for a virtual assistant?
- The global average is around $5-$10/hr. Philippines VAs average $5/hr, Latin American VAs average $8/hr, and US-based VAs average $25-$35/hr.
- How much does a Philippines virtual assistant cost?
- Philippines virtual assistants typically charge $3-$10/hr depending on role and experience. Entry-level admin and data entry start at $3-$5/hr; specialized roles like bookkeeping and SEO cost $5-$12/hr.
- How much does a Latin America virtual assistant cost?
- Latin American VAs typically charge $5-$15/hr. They cost more than Philippines VAs but offer strong US time-zone overlap, which is valuable for sales, customer support, and client-facing roles.
- What is a fair rate for a bookkeeping VA?
- A fair rate for a bookkeeping VA is $5-$10/hr from the Philippines and $8-$15/hr from Latin America. US-based bookkeepers typically charge $25-$50/hr.
- What is a fair rate for a social media VA?
- A fair rate for a social media VA is $4-$8/hr from the Philippines and $6-$12/hr from Latin America. US-based social media managers charge $20-$40/hr.
- What is a fair rate for an executive assistant?
- A fair rate for an executive assistant is $6-$12/hr from the Philippines and $8-$15/hr from Latin America. US-based executive assistants charge $25-$45/hr.
- Why are US virtual assistants more expensive?
- US-based VAs cost more because of higher local cost of living, local taxes, and local labor market rates. They are often hired for high-touch client-facing work or US-market knowledge.
- Can I hire a virtual assistant for $3/hr?
- Yes. Entry-level virtual assistants in the Philippines can be hired from $3/hr for data entry, research, and basic admin tasks. More complex work typically starts at $5/hr.
- What is the best country to hire an affordable virtual assistant?
- The Philippines offers the best balance of affordability ($3-$10/hr), strong English, and a large talent pool. Kenya and parts of LatAm are also affordable options.
- How much can I save by hiring a VA instead of a local employee?
- Most businesses save 70-80% by hiring an offshore VA. A US employee costs about $60,000/year, while a full-time Philippines VA costs from $7,800/year.
- Does eVirtualAssistants charge agency fees?
- No. eVirtualAssistants charges 0% commission and no ongoing platform fees. Browsing virtual assistants, posting jobs, and receiving applicants is free. A minimum $67 payment is only required when you want to contact a virtual assistant. VAs keep 100% of what they earn.
Data updated January 2026. Rates are estimates based on market research and platform data.