How much does a virtual assistant cost in 2026.
Honest ranges by location, experience, and hiring model. We will tell you when offshore is the right call, when US-based is, and when a freelance marketplace beats both.
TL;DR pricing snapshot
The honest range.
Virtual assistant cost in 2026 spans from about $8 per hour at the bottom (offshore through an agency) to over $65 per hour at the top (premium US-based with 10-plus years of experience). The right number for your business depends less on the headline rate and more on three things: location, experience, and whether you are paying agency overhead or going direct.
Most service business owners we work with land somewhere in $2,000 to $4,500 per month for a full-time dedicated VA, which works out to roughly $12 to $28 per hour fully loaded. That is the typical Staffify price band for our roles: Executive Admins, Video Editors, Customer Service Reps, and Sales and Outbound.
What drives the cost.
1. Location
Location is the biggest single lever. A US-based full-time VA loaded for benefits, payroll tax, and overhead lands around $4,500 to $7,500 per month. The same role staffed offshore (Philippines or Latin America) through an agency runs roughly $2,000 to $4,500 per month. The work output is comparable for most operational roles; the cost difference reflects labor markets, not skill.
2. Experience level
Entry-level admin VAs (1 to 3 years of experience) run on the low end of the range. Senior executive assistants (5-plus years, complex stakeholder management, executive support) run at the top. The premium is usually 50 to 100 percent above entry-level for the same hours.
3. Full-time vs hourly
Hourly pricing always looks higher because you are paying for capacity slack. A US hourly VA at $38 per hour for 20 hours per week is about $3,300 per month. A full-time dedicated VA at $3,000 per month is 160 hours of capacity, which is twice the throughput at a lower check. If your work fills the week, full-time wins. If it does not, hourly wins.
4. Agency vs freelance
Agencies charge a markup (typically 50 to 100 percent on top of the VA's pay) to cover sourcing, vetting, training, replacement, and management. Freelance marketplaces (Upwork, OnlineJobs.ph) let you pay closer to the VA's gross rate but you own the vetting, the onboarding, and the replacement when it goes sideways. The agency premium is a real value if you do not have time or skill to manage that yourself.
Pricing model comparison.
| Model | Typical Range | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| US in-house W-2 hire | $4,500 to $7,500 / mo (fully loaded) | Long-term strategic admin, regulated workflows, in-office support |
| US-based agency (part-time) | $1,200 to $3,500 / mo (20 to 40 hrs/wk) | Founders needing US zip code with low hour count |
| US-based premium subscription | $2,600 to $6,500 / mo (40 to 100 hrs) | Executive support requiring seniority and US/UK location |
| Offshore agency (dedicated) | $1,500 to $4,500 / mo (full-time) | Service businesses needing full-time bandwidth at lower cost |
| Offshore freelance marketplace | $400 to $1,800 / mo (direct hire) | Buyers who can self-vet, self-train, self-manage |
When each option makes sense.
US in-house hire
You are willing to take on payroll, benefits, equipment, and ongoing management. The role is strategic, long-term, and benefits from physical proximity or being in your meetings as a real employee. Cost ceiling is high but so is the integration. See our take on first employee vs VA for the decision tree.
US-based agency (part-time)
You need a US accent on calls, regulated industry constraints, or you just want the cultural fit of a domestic assistant, and you only need 10 to 40 hours per month. Anchor on the monthly check, not the hourly rate.
Offshore agency (dedicated, full-time)
You have enough work to fill 30-plus hours per week, you want one person trained on your business who stays put, and you want someone else to handle the vetting, the SOP build, and the replacement if it does not work out. This is the typical Staffify shape. Worth a read: offshore talent fit.
Freelance marketplace
You have the time and skill to vet candidates, write your own SOPs, train the VA, and replace them yourself when they leave (offshore freelance turnover is real). The pricing is the lowest available, but the management cost on your side is non-trivial.
Common mistakes when budgeting.
- Anchoring on hourly rate instead of monthly outcome. A $40/hr part-time VA at 20 hrs/wk costs roughly the same as a $20/hr full-time VA, but you get half the hours.
- Forgetting the management tax. A "cheap" $5/hr freelance VA who takes 3 hours of your week to manage is not actually cheap if your time is worth $150 to $300 per hour.
- Buying capacity you can't fill. Hiring full-time when you only have 10 hours of real work per week leaves you paying for slack and frustrated that "the VA isn't doing anything."
- Skipping the SOP step. A VA without an SOP is a hopeful purchase, not a hire. Budget time (or money) for documenting the work before the VA starts.
Frequently asked questions.
How much does a virtual assistant cost per month?
Roughly $1,200 to $7,500 per month depending on location, experience, and hours. Offshore full-time dedicated VAs through an agency typically run $2,000 to $4,500 per month. US-based part-time agency VAs run $1,200 to $3,500 per month. Premium US/UK subscription services run $2,600 to $6,500 per month.
How much do offshore virtual assistants cost?
Through an agency, $8 to $20 per hour or $1,500 to $4,500 per month for a dedicated full-time VA in the Philippines or Latin America. Direct on a freelance marketplace, $5 to $12 per hour but you take on the management cost.
Is it worth paying more for a US-based VA?
Sometimes. If you need a US accent on client calls, regulated industry compliance, or US-only procurement, yes. If your need is bandwidth and the work is operational, the math usually favors a dedicated offshore VA at lower cost per hour.
What is the cheapest way to hire a virtual assistant?
Direct on a freelance marketplace like Upwork or OnlineJobs.ph. You can land sub-$10/hr offshore VAs. The trade off is you own vetting, onboarding, training, performance management, and replacement. Many founders try this once, lose 60 to 90 days to a bad hire, and then go through an agency.
What is included in a typical agency VA price?
Sourcing, vetting, paired matching, onboarding support, ongoing performance management, replacement if the VA leaves or under-performs, and (in Staffify's case) training the VA on your tone and SOPs. The agency premium is what you pay for not having to do all of that yourself.
Are there hidden costs?
Sometimes. Watch for setup fees, contract minimums, tool fees, scope-creep upcharges, or per-task fees on top of a base rate. Staffify charges a single flat monthly rate per VA, no setup fees, no minimums beyond the placement, no per-task charges.
Want a real quote for your specific role?
25 minutes. Tell us the role, the hours, and the work, and we will give you an honest price range, plus tell you if a different model fits better.
Get a quote — 25-min call