As of October 2026, in US dollars: US agencies charge about $36 to $65 an hour, managed offshore teams about $6 to $9 an hour, and experienced freelancers $38 to $50 or more. For 20 to 40 hours a month, a US agency costs roughly $760 to $2,600 a month.
The numbers
These are prices the providers publish themselves, checked in October 2026. Hourly rates marked as worked out are the monthly price divided by the hours.
US agencies
- Time etc lists US-based assistants at $390 for 10 hours, $760 for 20 hours, $1,480 for 40 hours and $2,160 for 60 hours a month. That works out to $36 to $39 an hour. It says unused hours roll over, there is no setup fee, and you can cancel with one email.
- Boldly lists $2,600 for 40 hours, $3,900 for 60 hours, $5,200 for 80 hours and $6,500 for 100 hours a month, or $65 an hour worked out. Specialist work such as project management or design is $79 an hour. Card payments add a 2.9% fee. Boldly says its staff are US-based employees, or Europe-based if you choose.
- Prialto sells units of 55 hours a month. Its page lists $1,500 to $1,600 a unit, a 90-day minimum and a $250 setup fee that is waived on a one-year agreement. Support runs 9 am to 6 pm on weekdays in US and UK time zones.
- BELAY does not publish prices. Its own FAQ says US-based virtual assistants generally cost $30 to $75 an hour, or $1,200 to $3,000 a month part-time. That is BELAY's view of the market, not its quote.
Managed offshore
- Wing Assistant lists a general virtual assistant at $699 a month for 80 hours, or $999 a month for 160 hours. That works out to about $6 to $9 an hour. Its Philippines page describes its assistants as Filipino.
Offshore teams cost far less per hour. The trade-offs are time zone overlap, how much context they have about your market, and how much checking you do on written work that clients will read.
Freelance marketplaces
Upwork's own rate page shows a median of $10 to $20 an hour for virtual assistants. It also gives bands for North American freelancers with more than 1,000 hours and a 90% success rate:
- Administrative and data entry work: $12 to $20 or more an hour.
- Marketing, customer service or accounting support: $20 to $35 or more an hour.
- Advanced assistants and executive assistants: $38 to $50 or more an hour.
Upwork may add client fees on top of the freelancer's rate. Check its current pricing page before you budget. For how the two big marketplaces differ, see Fiverr vs Upwork.
How many hours you actually need
It is easy to guess wrong. Count instead. For one normal week, write down every task you would hand over and how long it took. Then multiply by four.
Typical work for a virtual executive assistant:
- Inbox triage: sorting, archiving, drafting routine replies.
- Calendar: booking, moving and confirming meetings.
- Meeting prep: agendas, background notes, documents ready the day before.
- Follow-ups: chasing replies, sending notes after meetings.
- Travel: flights, hotels, a simple itinerary.
- Admin: expenses, invoices to send, files to sort.
Say your count comes to six hours a week. That is about 24 hours a month, so a 20-hour plan is too small and a 40-hour plan has room for growth. Start one size smaller than you think if the plan lets you add hours, as Time etc says it does.
What changes the price
- Where the assistant lives. US and European assistants cost several times more per hour than offshore ones.
- Experience. Executive-level assistants who make judgment calls charge more than task-based help.
- A dedicated person or a pool. One named assistant usually costs more than whoever is free.
- Minimum terms. Watch for minimum months, setup fees and notice periods.
- Payment method. Some agencies add a fee for card payments.
- Specialist tasks. Design, bookkeeping or project management may be billed at a higher rate.
- Time zone. Live coverage during your working day costs more than overnight work.
Agency, offshore or freelancer
- Pick a US or European agency if the assistant will write to your clients, needs to know your market, and you want a backup when they are away. You pay more per hour for less risk.
- Pick a managed offshore team if the work is clear and repeatable, such as data entry, research and scheduling, and you can write good instructions.
- Pick a freelancer if you want to choose the person yourself, are happy to vet them, and can manage the work directly.
Before you hire anyone as a freelancer, check whether the relationship looks like employment. The IRS looks at who controls the work. Rules differ by state and country, so ask an accountant if you are unsure.
Questions to ask any provider
- What is the total monthly price, including any setup, card or platform fees?
- Is there a minimum term, and how much notice do I give to cancel?
- What happens to unused hours? What happens if I go over?
- Will I work with one named assistant? Who covers when they are away?
- Where is the assistant based, and what hours overlap with mine?
- How do you handle access to my email, calendar and passwords?
- Which tasks cost more than the standard rate?
- Can I try a first task, or get a refund if the first month does not work?
Before the first hour
Write down how you work before you start. A short page on your rules for email, meetings and priorities saves hours of back and forth. How to delegate tasks covers what to hand over first, and an SOP template turns repeat tasks into steps anyone can follow. If you also want to compare with an in-house hire, check the full cost of salary, benefits and payroll tax before you decide.