Understanding virtual assistant costs is essential for any business leader feeling overwhelmed by endless tasks. The Harvard Business Review reports that executive burnout is on the rise, and many leaders spend too much time on administrative and operational work instead of focusing on strategy and growth.
The solution? Virtual assistants (VAs).
They are game changers. They help your company delegate work and scale faster.
The question you’re asking yourself now is, “What is the real virtual assistant cost?” After all, you don’t want to blow all your profits on getting help.
Understanding the actual virtual assistant cost goes beyond comparing hourly rates. You need to identify the right talent, region, and hiring model that balances cost savings with long-term business value.
In this post, we’ll break down the key factors that influence virtual assistant cost, including location, experience level, and hiring model, and show you how to calculate what’s right for your business.
What Do Virtual Assistants Do?
A virtual assistant (VA) is a remote professional who supports your team. They typically handle administrative, operational, or specialized business tasks. Their roles have evolved far beyond scheduling and email management.
Modern VAs handle everything from bookkeeping, data entry, customer service, and social media management to sales support and technical operations.
These are the two most common types of virtual assistants:
- Generalist VAs: These handle a broad range of administrative and communication tasks.
- Specialized VAs: These focus on niche functions like accounting, project management, or digital marketing.
The value of a virtual assistant lies in freeing up your time to focus on growth and strategy. So you don’t have to deal with day-to-day operations. Many leaders now rely on global VAs to achieve this balance. And they can do it while maintaining cost control.
For a deeper understanding of global staffing strategies, you can explore our blog on how to build a remote workforce.
What Do Virtual Assistants Typically Cost?
The average cost of a virtual assistant in 2026 depends heavily on geography, expertise, and contract type.
Rates will vary based on local market conditions, language proficiency, and skill demand. For example, VAs in the Philippines or Latin America typically offer fluent English communication, a strong work ethic, and significant cost savings for businesses in the U.S.
Pricing Models
- Hourly: Best for temporary or flexible needs.
- Monthly retainer: Ideal for consistent workloads that require continuity.
- Project-based: Suited for specific deliverables, such as marketing campaigns or CRM migration projects.
To determine the actual cost, you’ll want to consider more than just wages. Training, software licenses, and management time can have a significant influence on the overall investment.
Full-Time vs. Freelance Virtual Assistants (Plus Those Hidden Costs)
Freelancers offer flexibility and lower upfront rates. Yes. But they can come with inconsistent availability, variable quality, and limited oversight. Businesses typically underestimate the hidden time spent recruiting, testing, and replacing freelancers when their performance lags.
Full-time or dedicated VAs, in sharp contrast, provide greater reliability, stronger integration, and long-term productivity. They act as legitimate extensions of your internal team.
They’re not just contractors completing isolated tasks.
However, both models do come with hidden costs that can eat away at your revenues if you don’t manage them well:
- Recruitment and vetting time.
- Payroll, tax, and compliance administration.
- Training and onboarding.
- Productivity loss during turnover or replacements.
Many local companies now prefer managed outsourcing solutions through firms like ours. This is because we handle recruitment, vetting, payroll, and compliance in one process.
What Savings and Key Factors Drive Virtual Assistant Costs?
Companies hiring from nearshore and offshore regions save an average of 50%–70% compared to hiring locally.
For instance, a U.S. company paying $5,000 per month for an in-house assistant can hire a vetted virtual assistant for around $1,500 to $2,000 per month in the Philippines or Latin America. And you won’t have to worry about compromising quality.
This is thanks to:
- Lower regional labor costs.
- Reduced need for physical office space.
- Fewer overhead expenses like insurance, taxes, and benefits.
Offshore and nearshore virtual assistants aren’t “cheap labor.” They’re strategic assets that allow your business to reallocate resources toward growth and innovation.
Key Factors That Affect VA Pricing
- Experience level: Entry-level VAs may cost $5–$10/hour. Experienced executive assistants or specialists may range from $15–$30/hour internationally.
- Skill set: Highly technical skills like CRM management, bookkeeping, or data analytics command higher rates.
- Industry expertise: Real estate, SaaS, and eCommerce VAs tend to earn more due to niche knowledge.
- Time zone and schedule alignment: Nearshore hires in Latin America often cost slightly more but offer real-time collaboration with U.S. teams.
When hiring globally, you always want to focus on value. Don’t just think about the rate. The right VA can efficiently deliver five to ten times its cost in productivity gains and revenue impact.
How to Budget for Your Virtual Assistant
When budgeting, start by defining your goals:
Are you trying to reduce administrative burden, improve customer service, or scale operations? Your VA’s scope of work determines your budget. It’s not the other way around. A full-time, offshore VA can cost as little as $1,500 to $2,000 per month. Meanwhile, a senior executive-level assistant might cost $3,000 to $4,000 monthly.
Next, calculate your expected ROI by considering the hours you’ll save weekly and their impact on revenue or customer experience.
Hiring the cheapest VA may seem cost-effective initially. But training, rework, and missed deadlines can quickly offset your savings. For a framework on building sustainable outsourcing strategies, visit our outsourcing solutions page.
Are There VA Solutions For U.S. Companies?
Many executives initially hire freelancers independently. Then, they realize the true challenges of compliance, payroll, and retention.
Managed VA staffing models solve these issues by providing a turnkey approach to hiring.
With a managed solution:
- You get pre-vetted, qualified candidates ready to work within days.
- Payroll, HR, and compliance are entirely handled.
- Time-to-hire is dramatically reduced. This is often within just five business days.
Our AI-powered Talent Cloud matches companies with vetted global talent from over 150 countries. So our clients make a hire in under two weeks with a 98% placement success rate.
This managed approach ensures your virtual assistants are not just cost-effective. They’re compliant, reliable, and aligned with your business culture. Explore more insights on why businesses are shifting to managed hiring in our blog on scaling with offshore staffing.
How 1840 & Company Makes Virtual Assistant Hiring Simple and Easy
We help U.S. businesses hire vetted, full-time virtual assistants through a streamlined, end-to-end global staffing process.
We offer:
- Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) for ongoing hiring needs.
- Offshore and nearshore staffing for cost-effective team scaling.
- Global payroll and compliance management to eliminate cross-border complexities.
Clients save up to 70% on hiring costs without sacrificing quality or communication. Our rigorous vetting process ensures every candidate meets technical, linguistic, and cultural fit standards before your client interviews.
Unlike freelance marketplaces, we provide long-term, full-time placements. This ensures stability, consistency, and team integration.
Learn more about how we support scaling teams globally.
FAQs About The Costs of Hiring A Virtual Assistant
Discover how to calculate the actual virtual assistant cost and what factors really impact your bottom line.
How Much Does a Virtual Assistant Cost per Month?
Costs vary by region and skill level. In the U.S., you can expect $4,000–$8,000/month, while offshore VAs typically range from $800–$2,500/month for full-time support.
What Tasks Can a Virtual Assistant Handle?
Virtual assistants can manage administrative duties, customer service, bookkeeping, data entry, social media management, sales outreach, and more.
How Can I Ensure Quality When Hiring a VA?
Partner with a vetted staffing provider like 1840 & Company to access pre-qualified professionals. They’re tested for skills, communication, and reliability.
Can 1840 & Company Help With Payroll and Compliance?
Yes. We provide complete global payroll and compliance management. This ensures all hires meet local employment laws and regulations. See how at Global Payroll & Compliance Solutions.
Final Thoughts
Hiring a virtual assistant isn’t about finding the lowest rate. It’s about finding the right partner who delivers value, consistency, and compliance.
Our company acts as an extension of your HR and operations team. We manage everything from candidate sourcing and vetting to payroll and international compliance. Through our AI-powered Talent Cloud, we connect you to vetted professionals in 150+ countries across all business functions.
Our clients typically make a hire in less than two weeks, enjoy a 98% placement success rate, and reduce hiring costs by up to 70%.
Combining technology, human vetting, and global expertise. This means we guarantee that businesses can scale confidently. And you don’t run the risk and administrative burden of managing remote teams alone.