Filipino Virtual Assistant Cost: Rates and Fees

Published sources put Filipino virtual assistants hired directly at roughly $4 to $12 per hour, depending on experience. Managed agencies charge more, roughly $8 to $15 per hour or a monthly plan, because they handle screening, management and replacement.

These are ranges from published sources, not guarantees, and most of the sources are companies that sell hiring services, so treat them as indicative. Rates move and individual quotes vary widely. Check current listings and ask candidates what they expect before you set a budget. Figures below were checked in October 2026.

What published sources report

By experience level (direct hire)

One Philippine hiring firm’s 2026 salary guide lists these hourly rates, assuming full-time work:

Experience	Hourly (USD)	Full-time monthly (USD)
Beginner (0 to 2 years)	$5.00 – $6.00	about $880 – $1,056
Mid-level (2 to 5 years)	$6.50 – $8.00	about $1,144 – $1,408
Senior or specialist (5+ years)	$8.50 – $11.50+	about $1,496 – $2,024+

Source: HireTalent.ph salary guide. Caveats: the company sells hiring services, the page names no data source, and its listed date and its text do not fully agree.

By hiring route

Route	What sources report
Direct hire through a job board	VA pay of roughly $4 to $8 per hour, plus the board’s own fee. OnlineJobs.ph’s pricing page lists employer plans of $69 a month (Pro) and $99 a month (Premium), with discounted annual options of $299 and $349, and says it adds no markup to the salaries you pay.
Managed agency	Roughly $8 to $15 per hour all-in, covering recruitment, HR and replacement, according to one agency’s published guides. Managed monthly plans vary; one provider lists $1,999 and $2,999 a month for its VA tiers, though it is not Philippines-specific and its hours per plan were not clear.
Freelance marketplace	Upwork publishes its own virtual assistant cost guide with rate benchmarks. Check its page directly, since rates there cover freelancers from many countries.

Sources: OnlineJobs.ph pricing; Stealth Agents pricing guide (an agency, so its figures are marketing); Wishup pricing. Plans and prices change often.

A US benchmark

For comparison, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median of $23.23 per hour (about $48,310 a year) for secretaries and administrative assistants, May 2025 data. That is an employee wage before employer costs such as taxes and benefits (BLS).

By role

Specialists such as bookkeepers, e-commerce operators, designers and SEO assistants usually cost more than general admin VAs. We did not find reliable published role-by-role rates, so ask candidates for quotes and compare several.

Agencies and managed services often charge more per hour than hiring directly, because the price includes recruitment, supervision, equipment and backup. Compare the total cost, not just the hourly rate.

Monthly cost examples

Here is rough arithmetic you can adapt. Multiply the hourly rate by the hours you need.

Setup	Hours/month	At $5/hour	At $8/hour
Part-time (20 hrs/week)	about 87	about $435	about $695
Full-time (40 hrs/week)	about 173	about $865	about $1,385

These examples show the pay to the VA only. They exclude platform fees, subscriptions and other costs below.

What drives the price

Skill level. A specialist who can run your accounting software costs more than a data-entry VA.
Experience with clients like you. A VA who has worked with US or UK businesses for years often commands more.
Hours and schedule. Overnight or split shifts to match your time zone can raise the rate. See time zone tips.
Hiring channel. Job boards, platforms and agencies each price differently. See the channel comparison.
Equipment and internet. A VA with reliable backup power and a second internet connection is more dependable, and may price that in.

Costs people forget

Hiring-platform fees. Some job boards charge employers a subscription (OnlineJobs.ph lists $69 or $99 a month at the time of checking). Freelance platforms usually charge service fees to the client, the freelancer, or both. Check the current fee schedule before you commit.
Payment fees. Bank transfers, PayPal and payment services all take a cut or apply exchange rates. See how to pay a Filipino VA.
Software. Your VA may need seats on tools like a CRM, project manager or password manager.
Training time. Budget a few hours of your own time in the first two weeks.
A year-end bonus. In the Philippines, a 13th month pay is legally required for many employees. It is not a legal requirement for true independent contractors, but many clients give a December bonus anyway. Ask a professional how it applies to your arrangement.
Paid time off and holidays. If you pay for time off, agree the policy in writing.

How the cost compares with a local assistant

Hiring locally in the US, UK, Canada or Australia usually means a far higher wage, plus payroll taxes, benefits and workspace. Many businesses find offshore support saves a large share of that cost. The savings are real, but so are the trade-offs. See Filipino VA vs a local assistant.

How to avoid overpaying or underpaying

Post a range, not a single number. Let candidates tell you where they sit in it.
Pay fairly. Rates far below the market tend to attract people who will leave for a better offer.
Pay for the test task. It signals you are a serious client.
Review rates every six to twelve months. A raise for a good VA is cheaper than rehiring.

Frequently asked questions

Is cheaper always better?

No. A low rate with poor communication costs more in your own time. Optimise for reliability, not the lowest number.

Do I pay for hours or for tasks?

Hourly is the most common for ongoing support. Fixed prices suit one-off projects with a clear scope.

Do Filipino VAs work on public holidays?

They observe Philippine holidays, which differ from yours. Ask for the holiday calendar and plan around Christmas, when many take extended time off.

Sources

Prices were checked in October 2026. Several sources are commercial, and some pages blocked automated access, so confirm current figures on each site before you decide.