How much do virtual assistants make?
Virtual assistant pay varies sharply by region and engagement model. US-based VAs typically earn $15 to $35 per hour through agencies, with senior or specialized VAs (executive assistants, paralegal-trained, marketing-trained) reaching $40 to $60 per hour. Offshore VAs in the Philippines and Latin America earn roughly $4 to $12 per hour, which translates to $600 to $2,000 monthly at typical hours. Freelance VAs working independently through Upwork or direct contracts earn similar rates to agency VAs but keep more of the gross since they pay the agency margin. Annualized full-time equivalents put US senior VAs in the $50,000 to $80,000 range and US generalist VAs in the $30,000 to $50,000 range. The role has held pay levels through 2024-2026 despite AI adoption because the highest-judgment VA work (executive support, project management, sales operations) is genuinely complementary to AI rather than substitutable. the virtual assistant FAQ hub. How AI changes the hiring math.
VA pay by region and tier (2026)
- US generalist VA (agency)
- $15 to $25 per hour
- US senior or specialist VA
- $30 to $60 per hour
- Offshore VA (Philippines, LATAM)
- $4 to $12 per hour
- US generalist VA (annualized FTE)
- $30,000 to $50,000
- US senior VA (annualized FTE)
- $50,000 to $80,000
Related questions
- What does a virtual assistant do?Virtual assistants handle email, scheduling, research, admin, and light project work async. Here's the realistic 2026 scope of the role and where it stops.
- How much does a virtual assistant cost?VA costs run $300 to $2,000 per month depending on agency type and hours. Here's the 2026 breakdown across US agency, offshore, and freelance, and where AI is cheaper.
- AI virtual assistant vs human VA: when does each win?AI tools win on phone coverage and structured workflows. Human VAs win on judgment, relationships, and complex async work. Here's how to think about the split.