How much does an executive assistant cost in 2026.
Real numbers by hiring model: in-house US, offshore VA EA, part-time domestic, and EA-as-a-service. We will tell you which one fits which kind of business.
TL;DR pricing snapshot
The honest range.
Executive assistant cost in 2026 spans a wider band than most operational hires. A senior US-based in-house executive assistant supporting a CEO loaded for salary, payroll tax, benefits, equipment, and overhead lands around $90,000 to $120,000 per year. A part-time US-based assistant through an agency runs $1,500 to $3,500 per month for 15 to 30 hours per week. A dedicated full-time offshore EA through an agency typically runs $1,800 to $4,500 per month, or roughly $22,000 to $54,000 per year all in.
Most founders and small business owners we work with do not actually need a Fortune 500 chief of staff. They need someone reliable, full-time, who owns the inbox, the calendar, vendor coordination, and the work that keeps falling through the cracks. That is the typical Staffify Exec Admin shape, and the price band lives in the offshore tier.
What drives executive assistant cost.
1. Seniority and scope
A junior EA running calendars, expense reports, and travel booking is one thing. A senior chief-of-staff style EA running board prep, executive comms, vendor negotiations, and HR escalations is another. The compensation gap between the two is typically 40 to 80 percent in any market, and the talent pool gets much shallower at the top end.
2. Location
Location is the biggest single lever once you have decided on seniority. The same EA function performed offshore (Philippines or Latin America) lands at roughly 35 to 50 percent of the loaded US in-house cost. Part of that is labor market differential; part is that you are not paying US benefits and payroll tax.
3. Full-time vs fractional
A common mistake is hiring full-time when the role only has 15 to 20 hours of real work in it. The fix is one of two things: either an EA-as-a-service subscription (Time etc, Boldly, Belay-style part-time) at a lower monthly check, or a full-time dedicated VA who takes on EA work plus a second function (project coordination, light bookkeeping, CSR overflow). The full-time bundle is almost always cheaper per hour of output.
4. Compliance and procurement
If you are a regulated business (financial advisory, certain legal, certain medical contexts) and your EA needs access to PII or regulated systems, US-based talent is often a procurement requirement. That removes the offshore option and forces you up the price curve.
Pricing model comparison.
| Model | Typical Range | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| In-house US EA (W-2) | $65K to $120K/yr (fully loaded) | C-suite support, regulated work, in-office requirement |
| US-based agency (part-time) | $1,500 to $3,500/mo | Founders needing 15 to 30 hours/wk with US zip code |
| EA-as-a-service subscription | $2,500 to $6,500/mo | Premium support, US/UK talent, scalable hours |
| Offshore dedicated EA (full-time) | $1,800 to $4,500/mo | Service businesses wanting full-time leverage at lower cost |
| Freelance EA (direct hire) | $400 to $2,000/mo | Buyers who can self-vet, self-train, self-manage |
When each option makes sense.
In-house US EA
The role is strategic, long-term, and your EA needs to be in your meetings, your office, or your inner circle as a real employee. Common at the $5M-plus revenue mark, founder/CEO support, or regulated industries. You take on payroll, benefits, equipment, and ongoing management in exchange for the deepest possible integration.
Part-time US-based agency
You only have 15 to 30 hours of real EA work per week, you want a US accent and time zone, and you do not want to manage hiring. Anchor on the monthly check, not the hourly rate. This is a sensible middle ground for solo founders, attorneys, and advisors.
EA-as-a-service subscription
Premium tier where you want US or UK talent, white-glove account management, and the ability to scale hours up or down by month. Pricing reflects that.
Offshore dedicated EA (full-time)
You have 30-plus hours of EA work per week (inbox, calendar, vendor coordination, project tracking, light bookkeeping, CRM hygiene), you want one person trained on your business who stays put, and you are comfortable with a Philippines or Latin America time zone overlap. This is the typical Staffify shape. Worth a read: first employee vs VA if you are weighing whether your "first hire" should be an EA or a different role entirely.
Freelance EA
Lowest sticker price, highest management cost on your side. You vet, you train, you write the SOPs, you replace when they leave. Works if you have the time and skill; expensive in hidden hours if you do not.
Common mistakes when budgeting for an EA.
- Hiring for the title instead of the workload. A "real" executive assistant role implies 40 hours of consistent EA work. If you only have 15, hire fractional or bundle the role.
- Underestimating the loaded cost of US in-house. Base salary is roughly 65 to 75 percent of true cost. Add payroll tax, benefits, paid time off, equipment, and software seats.
- Overpaying for seniority you do not use. A chief-of-staff caliber EA spending 60 percent of their week on calendar Tetris is wasted money. Right-size the seniority to the work.
- Skipping the SOP step. An EA without documented workflows is a hopeful purchase, not a hire. Even the most senior EA needs to know your inbox rules, your travel preferences, and your no-fly meeting types.
Frequently asked questions.
How much does an executive assistant cost per month?
Roughly $1,500 to $10,000 per month depending on location, seniority, and hours. A full-time dedicated offshore EA typically runs $1,800 to $4,500 per month. A US-based part-time agency EA runs $1,500 to $3,500 per month. A senior in-house US EA loaded for benefits and overhead works out to $5,400 to $10,000 per month.
How much does an in-house executive assistant cost per year?
Fully loaded (base salary plus payroll tax, benefits, equipment, software), about $65,000 to $120,000 per year in most US metros. Senior EAs supporting public-company CEOs in major markets can exceed $150,000. Base salary alone typically runs $55,000 to $90,000.
How much do offshore executive assistants cost?
Through an agency, $1,800 to $4,500 per month for a dedicated full-time EA in the Philippines or Latin America. Direct on a freelance marketplace, $400 to $2,000 per month at the cost of taking on the vetting and management yourself.
Is an offshore EA as good as a US-based EA?
For most operational EA work (inbox management, calendar, travel, vendor coordination, light project work), yes. For high-touch in-person work or roles that require US-only system access, no. The honest test is whether your workflow is async-friendly. If it is, offshore typically wins on cost per hour of output.
Should my first hire be an executive assistant?
Often yes, sometimes no. If you are personally bottlenecked on inbox, calendar, and coordination, an EA-shaped hire unlocks the most weekly hours back the fastest. If your bottleneck is sales or delivery, a different role wins. We wrote about the trade off here: first employee vs VA.
What does a Staffify Exec Admin actually do?
Full-time dedicated EA support across inbox, calendar, travel, vendor coordination, light project management, expense work, CRM hygiene, and the small stuff that keeps falling through. One VA, paired and trained on your tone and SOPs, with a lifetime replacement guarantee. More on the role page: Exec Admins.
Want a real quote for an EA role?
25 minutes. Tell us the work, the hours, and the level you need, and we will give you an honest price range, plus tell you if a different model fits better.
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