One of the most common questions I get from business owners is, “How much does it cost to hire a virtual assistant?”
It’s a great question, and the answer—like with hiring any employee—depends on several factors. Whether you’re hiring locally or building a remote team in the Philippines, the cost will vary depending on the person’s experience, skill set, and the tasks you need them to handle.
If you’re considering hiring a virtual assistant (VA) in the Philippines, here’s what you need to know.
The Cost of a VA in the Philippines
To give you an idea, a full-time VA in the Philippines typically costs $500 to $1,500 per month.
This range covers everything from entry-level assistants to highly skilled professionals. Keep in mind that I’m talking about hiring a VA as a dedicated, full-time member of your team—not a freelancer or gig worker who jumps between projects.
If you want a more detailed breakdown, check out the Philippines Online Worker Salary Guide for Employers. It’s packed with insights and tips to help you budget for your remote team.
For real-world examples of active candidates, you can also browse the VAs on VirtualStaff.ph to see what Filipino VAs are offering.
What Affects VA Salaries?
Several factors influence how much a VA will cost, including:
Experience and Expertise
A VA just starting their career will generally cost less than someone with years of experience. If you’re looking for someone who has mastered tools like CRMs, email marketing, or project management, you’ll need to pay more for their expertise.
Specialized Skills
Specialized roles like healthcare virtual assistants, legal VAs, or real estate VAs often require advanced knowledge, which increases their value—and their cost.
Task Complexity
Basic administrative tasks, like managing your email or scheduling, are usually more affordable than complex roles, like running an e-commerce store or managing lead generation campaigns.
If you’re unsure what you need, browsing potential employees on VirtualStaff.ph can give you a sense of what’s available and how much you can expect to pay.
Why You Shouldn’t Cut Corners
Hiring internationally requires more than just finding someone with the right skills—you also need to handle contracts, compliance, and payroll properly.
Some people try to cut corners by using general job boards, but this approach comes with serious risks. Non-compliance with legal and labor laws in the Philippines or your home country could land you in hot water.
That’s why I always recommend doing things the right way. Platforms like VirtualStaff.ph make it easy to recruit top Filipino talent while ensuring everything is handled legally and ethically. With our platform, you can manage Recruitment, HR, payroll, and compliance all in one place, giving you peace of mind.
Why VirtualStaff.ph?
At VirtualStaff.ph, we’ve helped over 10,000 companies build their remote teams in the Philippines. Our platform isn’t just about connecting you with talent—it’s about simplifying the entire process.
We’re proud to have saved businesses over $10 billion in costs, and our platform is designed to help you build dedicated, long-term teams without the headaches of compliance and payroll.
Final Thoughts
Hiring a virtual assistant in the Philippines is one of the smartest moves you can make to grow your business. You’ll find a wealth of talented professionals available at a fraction of the cost of hiring locally.
Just remember that the cost will depend on the VA’s experience, skills, and the tasks you need them to handle. And always prioritize doing things the right way—compliance, payroll, and contracts matter.
Ready to get started? Sign up now and start building your team today.
