How much does a virtual assistant cost in 2025? Here’s a breakdown of real VA rates — from offshore freelancers to executive-level assistants — plus pricing models, hidden fees, and cost-saving strategies.
Introduction
The first time I looked for a virtual assistant, I thought I’d cracked some secret code.
A listing promised $5/hour. Another offered a “full-time assistant for $400/month.” I thought I’d found a loophole in the economy. But three months later — after missed deadlines, sloppy work, and a vanishing VA — I realized something painful: cheap isn’t always cheap.
The cost of hiring a VA in 2025 goes far beyond hourly rates. There’s a difference between a $5/hour offshore VA who needs constant hand-holding… and a $12/hour managed assistant who saves you 10 hours a week without supervision. There’s a difference between spending $1,800/month on a skilled professional and spending $900/month on someone whose mistakes cost you thousands in lost sales.
This is the raw, honest virtual assistant cost guide most people never see — the real numbers, the models, the traps, and the smart trade-offs that let entrepreneurs hire correctly the first time.
Pricing Models for Virtual Assistants in 2025
There are four dominant ways VAs charge:
| Pricing Model | Description |
|---|---|
| Hourly (freelance) | Pay only for tasks or time tracked |
| Monthly (full-time/part-time) | Fixed number of hours per week/month |
| Subscription (managed VA services) | Pre-packaged bundles & agency managed |
| Project-based | One-off tasks or deliverables (graphic design, research reports, etc.) |
Real Rate Ranges by Location
Offshore Virtual Assistants (Philippines, India, Latin America)
- Freelancer hourly: $4 – $8/hour
- Agency-managed hourly: $7 – $12/hour
- Full-time monthly (160 hrs): $800 – $1,400
US / UK / AU / Canada-Based VAs
- Hourly: $25 – $50/hour
- Specialized roles (executive VA, bookkeeping, marketing): $35 – $65/hour
- Part-time plans: $2,000 – $3,500/month for 80 hours
Agency vs Freelance Cost Differences
| Category | Freelance VA | Agency/Managed VA Service |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly Rate | $4 – $15/hr (varies by country) | $8 – $20/hr (offshore) or $25+/hr (US-based) |
| Training | None (you do it) | Often pre-vetted & trained |
| Replacement? | No guarantee | Free replacement offered |
| Management | You manage directly | Agency supervises & reports |
| Reliability | Varies | Generally higher |
Agencies cost more, but the time you save in hiring, vetting, and replacing unreliable freelancers often pays for itself.
Subscription & Bundle Plans
Some companies now sell “VA packages” like productized services:
| Provider Type | Sample Plan |
|---|---|
| Managed Offshore | 40 hrs/month = $350 – $500 |
| US VA Agency | 20 hrs/month = $900 – $1,200 |
| Premium Executive VA (U.S.) | 40 hrs/month = $3,500+ |
The benefit: predictable billing. The downside: unused hours may expire.
The Cost of Hidden Errors
Many new entrepreneurs only compare VA pricing. Smart entrepreneurs compare value per hour.
Example:
- $5/hr VA takes 6 hours to complete a task = $30
- $12/hr VA finishes in 2 hours = $24
- Which one actually saved more money?
A cheap VA who makes mistakes sends customers incorrect emails, misses follow-ups, makes you redo tasks. That’s a silent cost most people never calculate.
Real-World Cost Scenarios (Monthly)
| Scenario | Description | Typical Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Part-time offshore VA | 80 hrs/month | $600 – $900 |
| Full-time offshore VA | 160 hrs/month | $1,200 – $1,700 |
| Managed offshore VA | 80 hrs/month with agency | $800 – $1,200 |
| US-based executive assistant | 160 hrs/month | $6,000 – $8,000 |
When a Higher Rate Is Actually Cheaper
If your tasks are revenue-generating (sales CRM, email follow-ups, lead qualification, appointment setting), a higher-skill VA at $12/hr who books you 3 sales calls/week is far more profitable than a $4/hr VA who fumbles every lead.
Cost Red Flags & Hidden Fees
- Setup fees disguised as “onboarding charges”
- Minimum contract lock-ins (3–6 months)
- Time tracking manipulation (overreporting hours)
- Agency VA bonuses billed back to client without notice
Always request:
➡ “Is this hourly or billable hours?”
➡ “Are there any onboarding or ‘software platform’ fees?”
➡ “Can I cancel anytime?”
Final Thoughts: How Much Should You REALLY Pay in 2025?
If you’re still making under $10k/month in revenue — start with a part-time offshore VA at $6–$8/hr. Scale up as SOPs develop.
If you’re growing and value reliability over training someone from scratch — go with a managed offshore VA agency in the $9–$12/hr range.
If you’re a 6–7 figure business with confidential data flows, clients, or C-suite level calendar needs — hire a US-based executive VA starting at $25–$35/hr (and yes, it pays off).
Bottom line: A virtual assistant isn’t just an expense. Done right, it’s a force multiplier — they free your time, protect your focus, and unlock new revenue capacity.
So don’t ask: “How cheap can I get a VA?”
Ask: “How much is my time worth… and who can guard it flawlessly?”