In short: Most virtual assistants in the Philippines earn $7 to $15 an hour. Entry-level VAs with proven skills start around $6 to $8, and specialized skills run $15 and up. Pay a little more if your VA works US hours, since that’s their night shift.
The rates I use
Here’s what I recommend to every owner I match with a virtual assistant in the Philippines:
- $6 to $8 an hour: entry level, with proven skills
- $7 to $15 an hour: most roles
- $15 an hour and up: specialized skills
If your VA works US hours, add a little more. Your workday falls in the middle of their night.
The cost of cheap
You can find someone for $3 an hour. They’ll stay about six weeks. You’ll babysit the work, and then you’ll start over.
A fair rate is how you keep a great VA for years. That’s the whole point of hiring well.
Ask who gets the money
If you’re paying a company every month for your VA, ask what your VA actually takes home. You should know.
I’m not an agency, and I don’t take a cut of what a VA earns. They earn their money and I earn mine. When you hire directly, you pay your VA directly, and they keep what they earn.
The 13th month
Filipino companies pay employees an extra month of pay each December. It’s part of the standard pay package there.
Your VA is an independent contractor, so they don’t get it automatically. If you offer it, put it in your agreement. One simple way: after a year, average their monthly pay and send that amount in December.
Holidays
The Philippines has a lot of holidays. Ask which ones matter to your VA’s family.
Then agree on how you’ll handle them. Some owners give the day off paid. Some give it off unpaid. Others have their VA make up the hours that week. Any of these works, as long as you both know the plan.
Tools and equipment
Your VA runs their own business, so the computer and internet are theirs.
Any software you require them to use is yours to pay for. That includes your CRM, your project management tool and any paid app in your workflow.
Flat monthly rate or hourly?
Either works. On a flat monthly rate, agree on the hours they’re available to you.
Either way, track time for the first 90 days. Tracking shows you how long each task really takes, and whether a task belongs with your VA or somewhere else.
When life happens
A blackout once cut my VA’s internet. She went silent, and I had no idea why. I wasn’t worried about the work. I was worried about her.
Now my VAs know: if a storm or blackout hits, send me one word, “typhoon,” so I know you’re OK.
Still a clear expectation. Still human.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a virtual assistant in the Philippines cost per hour?
Most roles pay $7 to $15 an hour. Entry-level VAs with proven skills start around $6 to $8, and specialized skills run $15 and up.
Do I have to pay a 13th month to a Filipino VA?
No. The 13th month is required for employees of Philippine companies, and your VA is an independent contractor. If you choose to offer it, put it in your agreement.
Should I pay a virtual assistant hourly or a flat monthly rate?
Either works. On a flat monthly rate, agree on available hours, and track time for the first 90 days to learn how long tasks take.
Find a VA who fits how you work.
Linq Collective runs the whole search for you, from the job description to a shortlist of three, matched to your workstyle with Extended DISC. Your VA works directly with you from day one.
See how VA Matchmaking works, or book a discovery call with Riah.