Short answer: anywhere from $5 to $65 an hour, depending on where they're based and how they're managed. Here's how to read those numbers and pick the right plan.
Virtual assistant pricing splits cleanly into three tiers. Where you land depends on what the work actually requires — not just the sticker rate.
| Tier | Typical rate | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Offshore VAs | $5–$15/hr | Lowest cost; back-office & data work; timezone & language gaps |
| US/UK managed VAs | $30–$40/hr | Native English, dedicated assistant, client-ready, no contract |
| Full-time / executive | $2,500+/mo | Dedicated 40 hrs/week; premium screening; highest commitment |
For most US small-business owners, the middle tier is the sweet spot — and it's where our top pick, Time etc, sits.
Most reputable services price in monthly hour packages rather than pure hourly billing. The more hours you commit to, the lower your effective rate — and good providers let unused hours roll over so you're not penalized for a slow month.
Watch for two things that quietly change the real cost: whether you're billed for completed work only (better) or for the assistant's clocked time, and whether there's a long-term contract. Month-to-month with rollover is the buyer-friendly standard.
Time etc is a useful benchmark for the US/UK managed tier. As of 2026 its plans run roughly:
| Plan | Approx. monthly | Effective rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 hours / mo | ~$360 | ~$36/hr | Testing the waters |
| 20 hours / mo | ~$660 | ~$33/hr | Light ongoing support |
| 40 hours / mo | ~$1,260 | ~$31.50/hr | Steady weekly workload |
| 60 hours / mo | ~$1,800 | ~$30/hr | Heavy delegation |
Approximate 2026 figures — always confirm current pricing on Time etc's website. You only pay for completed work, and unused hours roll over.
Usually, yes — by a wide margin for part-time needs. An experienced executive assistant salary now averages over $60,000 a year, plus benefits, payroll taxes, equipment, and paid time off. With a VA you pay only for productive hours and skip the overhead entirely. For anything short of true full-time work, a managed VA is the more economical choice.
Flexible monthly hours, a dedicated US/UK assistant, and no long-term contract. Find the plan that fits your budget.
View Time etc plans →It ranges from about $5–$15/hour for offshore VAs to $30–$40/hour for US/UK-based managed services like Time etc. Premium full-time arrangements run higher. The right rate depends on whether you need native-English, client-facing work or low-cost back-office help.
Offshore platforms offer the lowest hourly rates, but you trade timezone overlap, native-English fluency, and continuity. For back-office data tasks that can work well; for anything client-facing, a US/UK managed service is usually worth the higher rate.
The best ones don't. Time etc, for example, is month-to-month with no long-term contract and rollover hours, so you can scale up or down freely.
For part-time needs, almost always. You pay only for productive hours and avoid salary, benefits, payroll taxes, and equipment costs that come with a full-time hire.