How much does a virtual assistant cost?
How much does a virtual assistant cost?
$10 – $40 average cost per hour (U.S.)
$3 – $20 average cost per hour (outsourced)
Average virtual assistant pay rate
A virtual assistant costs $10 to $40 per hour on average if you hire someone from the U.S. or $3 to $20 per hour if you outsource to someone in another country. Virtual assistant pay rates depend on the assistant's experience, education, special skills required, and whether they'll work full-time or part-time.
Virtual assistant websites charge $380 to $5,400 per month for a subscription plan, depending on the number of hours and services needed.
| Assistant type | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Individual (U.S.) | $10 – $40 per hour* |
| Individual (outsourced) | $3 – $20 per hour |
| Website | $380 – $5,400 per month |
*Not including overtime or benefits
Individual virtual assistant
Hiring a virtual assistant costs $10 to $40 per hour for an assistant who lives in the United States or $3 to $20 per hour for someone in another country. U.S.-based virtual assistants can get away with charging low rates because they work from home and may even have multiple clients at once.
Outsourcing to another country like India or the Philippines costs less and provides jobs for people in areas with a lower cost of living. However, if you need an assistant with specialized knowledge or who works the same hours as you, you may have to hire someone closer to home.
Virtual assistant website
If you don't want to hire someone directly, there are many websites that hire virtual assistants whose services you can access for a monthly fee. Their subscription plans take the stress out of hiring an assistant and are customizable based on your needs.
| Website | Average cost per month | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Wishup | $999 – $5,400 |
|
| Time etc | $380 – $2,100 |
|
| Wing | $699 – $1,099 |
|
| Zirtual | $599 – $2,499 |
|
What is a virtual assistant?
A virtual assistant (VA) is a remote worker who gives administrative support to a company or person. The specific tasks a VA has depend on the business's or person's needs, but most have the following responsibilities:
Making phone calls
Sending and responding to emails
Managing appointments and meetings
Making travel arrangements
Data entry tasks
Making presentations
Social media tasks
Researching online
Before hiring a VA, figure out how much you can afford to pay and how many hours you'll need them to work.
Cost of a virtual assistant by schedule
Based on an average hourly rate of $10 to $40 or $3 to $20, you can expect to pay a virtual assistant the following rates per month:
| Hours per week | Average cost per month (U.S.) |
Average cost per month (outsourced) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | $220 – $870 | $65 – $430 |
| 10 | $430 – $1,700 | $130 – $870 |
| 15 | $650 – $2,600 | $200 – $1,300 |
| 20 | $870 – $3,500 | $260 – $1,700 |
| 25 | $1,100 – $4,300 | $330 – $2,200 |
| 30 | $1,300 – $5,200 | $390 – $2,600 |
| 35 | $1,500 – $6,100 | $460 – $3,000 |
| 40+ | $1,700 – $6,900+ | $520 – $3,500+ |
Virtual assistant cost factors
The following factors may also influence the cost of a virtual assistant:
Part-time vs. full-time: If your VA is U.S.-based and works more than 30 or 35 hours per week, you may have to pay for benefits such as health care on top of their wages.
Specialized skills: A virtual assistant who only provides basic administrative services costs less than one with specific skills like social media management, marketing, CRM software, real estate, or IT.
Company size: If a virtual assistant works for a large team or multiple people, they may charge more than working for a small company or individual.
Education: An assistant who has a higher level of education or a graduate degree is more likely to charge higher rates than someone with little or no college experience.
In-person: A traditional in-office personal assistant costs $15 to $40 per hour or $300 to $6,900 per month on average, depending on whether they work full-time or part-time. They cost slightly more than virtual assistants and require physical space in an office.
Similar professional services
If you need help with more complex tasks like bookkeeping or editing, you may need a different type of employee instead of a virtual assistant. The table below shows the average rates for a few different services:
| Professional type | Average hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Bookkeeper cost | $40 – $100 |
| Accountant cost | $150 – $400 |
| Freelance editor cost | $25 – $80 |
| SEO project cost | $50 – $300 |
FAQs about virtual assistants
Why should I hire a virtual assistant?
You should hire a virtual assistant if you want your business to operate more efficiently and be more productive. VAs also have the following benefits:
Long-term cost savings, especially when hiring overseas
More time for you to focus on important tasks
Help with specialized skills like marketing
Scaling up a business when the workload increases
More flexibility than an in-person assistant
Where do I hire a virtual assistant?
Employers can hire a virtual assistant directly through sites like Talo, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Upwork, Fiverr, Guru, or Virtual Staff Finder. If you'd prefer not to hire directly, platforms like Wishup, Time etc, Wing, and Zirtual are a good alternative and have readily available assistants.
Tips for choosing a virtual assistant
Hiring the right virtual assistant can increase your business's productivity and help you spend less time on nonessential tasks. Follow these guidelines to help you choose a competent professional:
Figure out the tasks they'll help with and how many hours they'll work.
Make sure their experience and skills match your needs.
Read reviews of virtual assistants from other employers on sites like Talo, Google, and Upwork.
Contact previous employers to make sure there are no issues with the candidate.
Factor in training time or increased costs if you require a certain skill set.
Questions to ask potential virtual assistants
When interviewing prospective virtual assistants, ask these questions:
How much relevant experience do you have?
Do you have any degrees? Where did you attend college?
How do you deal with stressful situations or deadlines?
What are your salary expectations for this position?
How proficient are you with Microsoft Office or Google Suite?
Have you used Asana, Google Calendar, or Trello?
What is motivating you to leave your current role?
Do you have experience handling sensitive information?
Are you willing to work overtime?
How much experience do you have working from home?
Do you have any questions about the role?
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.