Virtual assistant pricing varies widely depending on the model you choose, the location of the VA, and the experience level of the person you hire. This guide gives you real, current numbers across the main options so you can make an informed decision about the most cost-effective approach for your business.
Why VA Pricing Varies So Much
You can find virtual assistants available at $5 per hour and others commanding $60 per hour. The difference reflects a combination of factors: geographic location, experience level, specialisation, whether the arrangement is freelance or dedicated full-time, and whether an intermediary provider is managing HR and compliance on your behalf.
Understanding what you are comparing – not just the headline rate – is essential to making the right cost decision.
Local Virtual Assistant Costs
A local virtual assistant in Canada, the US, or the UK typically charges on one of two models.
Employed Local VA
A full-time employed VA in a major North American or UK city typically costs between $45,000 and $70,000 per year in base salary, depending on experience. Add employer payroll taxes and benefits (15 to 25 percent), equipment and software ($2,000 to $5,000 per year), and any overhead for office space, and the true all-in cost is typically $60,000 to $95,000 per year.
Freelance Local VA
Local freelance VAs typically charge $30 to $60 per hour, depending on experience and specialisation. At 20 hours per week, this amounts to $31,000 to $62,000 per year. At full-time hours (40 per week), this is $62,000 to $124,000 per year – typically more expensive than an employed VA once you factor in the lack of employer overhead.
Freelance local VAs are also typically working across multiple clients, meaning their attention and availability are divided.
Offshore Freelance VA Costs (Platforms like Upwork)
Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and OnlineJobs.ph list offshore VAs at rates ranging from $5 to $25 per hour. The low end of this range typically reflects very limited experience or English proficiency that may not meet professional standards. Experienced, English-fluent VAs with relevant skills typically charge $10 to $20 per hour on these platforms.
At $15 per hour for 40 hours per week, this amounts to approximately $31,000 per year. However, platform VAs are typically working across multiple clients, and the vetting, management, and compliance overhead falls entirely on you.
Managed Offshore VA Costs Through Hireaway
Through Hireaway, a fully managed, dedicated offshore virtual assistant costs significantly less than local equivalents while including the management infrastructure that platform freelancers do not provide.
Entry-level VAs (general admin, scheduling, email management): $10,000 to $16,000 per year all-in. Mid-level VAs (2 to 4 years experience, tool proficiency, ecommerce or real estate support): $16,000 to $22,000 per year all-in. Senior or specialist VAs (executive support, bookkeeping, medical admin, CRM specialist): $22,000 to $32,000 per year all-in.
All Hireaway pricing includes: the agent’s full compensation, benefits, equipment, HR management and compliance, and Hireaway’s account management and support services.
There are no hidden fees, no platform commissions, and no surprises.
What Is Not Included in Platform Freelancer Rates
When comparing platform freelancer rates to managed offshore pricing, it is important to account for what is not included in the platform rate.
No HR management or compliance. No benefits administration. No equipment provisioning – you are responsible for ensuring the freelancer has what they need. No replacement guarantee – if the freelancer leaves or under-performs, you start the search again yourself. No account management or ongoing support. No quality oversight beyond what you personally monitor.
When these costs are factored in – including the cost of your own time spent on management and sourcing – the true cost of a platform freelancer is significantly higher than the headline rate suggests.
Total Cost of Ownership: A Realistic Comparison
Local employed VA, mid-level: $75,000 per year all-in.
Local freelance VA at $35/hour full-time: $73,000 per year.
Platform offshore VA at $15/hour, managed by you: $31,200 hourly cost + $10,000-15,000 in management time = approximately $45,000 per year.
Managed offshore VA through Hireaway, mid-level: $18,000 to $22,000 per year all-in.
The managed offshore model is the most cost-efficient by a significant margin, and it provides dedicated, quality-assured support without the management overhead of running the HR and vetting yourself.
Is Cheaper Always Better?
Not always. The lowest-cost VA option is only the right choice if the quality meets your needs. A VA who saves you $10,000 per year but requires constant correction, creates errors that damage client relationships, or communicates at a level that does not represent your brand well costs far more than that $10,000 in lost opportunities and management time.
Hireaway’s managed offshore model is designed to deliver strong quality at the lowest total cost. Our vetting process ensures you are not trading quality for cost savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
It varies significantly by model. Local employed VAs typically cost $60,000 to $95,000 per year all-in. Offshore managed VAs through Hireaway cost $10,000 to $32,000 per year all-in depending on experience level.
It depends on the vetting process. Very low-cost platform freelancers may have limited proficiency or experience. Managed offshore VAs from Hireaway are vetted for quality and dedicated to your business, making them genuinely cost-effective rather than simply cheap.
All Hireaway pricing is all-inclusive: agent salary, benefits, equipment, HR management, compliance, and ongoing account management support. There are no hidden fees.
Yes. Hireaway offers part-time arrangements for businesses that need 15 to 30 hours of VA support per week. Pricing is adjusted proportionally.
Ready to get a precise cost estimate for your VA requirements? Book a free consultation with Hireaway and we will provide a transparent, itemised quote.
