Key Takeaways
- US personal assistant salaries range from $40,000 to $125,000+/year depending on location, scope, and seniority, with Glassdoor reporting an average of $57,510 in 2026
- Full employer cost for a full-time in-person PA reaches $78,000-$175,000/year when benefits (30-40% on top of base) and hiring overhead are included
- Virtual personal assistants cost $5-$65/hour depending on location, making them 60-80% cheaper than a US in-person hire for equivalent hours
- Celebrity and HNWI personal assistants at top-tier firms command $150,000-$300,000+/year including perks
- Agency placement fees for permanent PA hires typically run 15-25% of first-year base salary, adding $9,000-$25,000 to initial hire cost
Key takeaways
- The average US personal assistant salary is $57,510/year according to Glassdoor (2026), though figures vary by source from $40,026 (Zippia) to $67,903 in California.
- When benefits, payroll taxes, and hiring costs are included, a full-time in-person PA costs $78,000 to $175,000 per year in total employer spend.
- Executive and senior-level PAs earn significantly more. Salary.com puts the executive PA average at $73,473/year; Glassdoor reports $93,414/year for that title.
- Celebrity and HNWI personal assistants at the top end of the market earn $150,000 to $300,000+ per year, with Pavillion Agency listings reaching $175,000 to $200,000 before bonuses and perks.
- Virtual personal assistants cost $5 to $65/hour depending on location, cutting costs by 60% to 80% versus a comparable in-person US hire.
- Agency placement fees for permanent PA hires run 15% to 25% of first-year base salary at most domestic staffing firms.
- UK personal assistants earn an average of £33,098/year nationally, with London roles at specialist agencies reaching £45,000 to £55,000 (Morgan McKinley, 2026).
Why personal assistant costs vary so widely
Personal assistant is one of the most range-bound job titles in the labor market. The same title covers a part-time household scheduler working 20 hours a week for a local family and a full-time executive PA embedded with a Fortune 500 CEO managing investor relations, international travel, and stakeholder communications. Those roles are not comparable on price.
Five variables move PA cost most: location (US city vs. offshore), employment model (full-time, part-time, or virtual), client type (individual executive, celebrity, HNWI, or household), scope of duties, and whether the hire goes through an agency or directly. A realistic cost budget has to account for all five. The sections below cover each one with 2026 salary data, BLS benchmarks, and published agency fee structures.
Data sources and methodology
Figures in this article draw from:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) -- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the closest proxy occupation (Secretaries and Administrative Assistants), May 2024 data with 2026 employer cost supplements
- Glassdoor -- self-reported and employer-posted salary data for Personal Assistant and Executive Personal Assistant, US and UK, 2026
- ZipRecruiter -- aggregated job posting compensation data for Personal Assistant, Part-Time Personal Assistant, Household Personal Assistant, and Celebrity Personal Assistant, April-May 2026
- PayScale -- self-reported hourly rate data for Personal Assistant, 2026
- Salary.com -- compensation benchmarking for Personal Assistant and Executive Personal Assistant, March-April 2026
- Zippia -- compensation aggregation and state-level breakdown, 2025-2026
- SalaryExpert -- national and international PA compensation, 2026
- Pavillion Agency -- published compensation guides for private household and HNWI-adjacent PA roles
- FindCelebrityJobs -- compensation benchmarks for celebrity and entertainment industry PA roles, 2026
- Morgan McKinley -- London PA salary guide, 2026
- Reed.co.uk -- London-specific PA salary data, April 2026
- Artemide Recruitment -- UK PA cost guide, 2025
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC) -- benefits as a percentage of total compensation, Q2 2025
- Aon (via Business.com) -- employer healthcare cost projections, 2026
- Riveter Consulting -- total PA cost breakdown methodology
- The Resource Company -- staffing agency markup benchmarks, 2025
- RecruitBPM -- recruitment fee structures, 2026
- Wishup, VA Masters, Time Doctor -- virtual assistant cost benchmarks by region, 2026
All salary figures represent experienced PAs with at least one to two years in the role unless stated otherwise. Agency fee ranges reflect published rate cards, not negotiated enterprise contracts.
US personal assistant salary benchmarks
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track Personal Assistant as a standalone occupational code. The closest proxy is Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, which recorded a median annual wage of $47,460, ranging from below $33,840 (bottom 10%) to above $76,550 (top 10%) as of May 2024.
Salary aggregators that track the Personal Assistant title directly report higher figures, partly because the PA role has shifted toward higher-complexity executive support in the job postings that dominate their datasets.
| Source | Average annual | Average hourly | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glassdoor | $57,510 | $28 | Q1 2026 |
| ZipRecruiter | $48,191 | $23.17 | April 2026 |
| Salary.com | -- | $30 | April 2026 |
| PayScale | -- | $19.62 | 2026 |
| SalaryExpert | $47,043 | $23 | 2026 |
| Zippia | $40,026 | $19.24 | 2025 |
| BLS proxy (Admin Assistants) | $47,460 | $22.82 | May 2024 |
The $40,026 to $57,510 spread across these sources comes from real methodological differences: which job postings count as a PA role, how each platform weights entry-level vs. senior incumbents, and whether figures come from employer reports or self-reported salary data. Glassdoor tends to skew toward posted job salaries, which cluster at the higher end.
For budget planning, $48,000 to $58,000 per year for a general US personal assistant with two to four years of experience is defensible across most sources.
Executive personal assistant vs. standard PA
Executive PAs supporting C-suite leaders carry a clear salary premium over standard PA roles.
| Source | Executive PA average | Standard PA average | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salary.com (March 2026) | $73,473/year | ~$57,510/year | ~28% |
| Glassdoor (2026) | $93,414/year | $57,510/year | ~62% |
The Glassdoor executive PA figure of $93,414 includes senior roles at large enterprises and investment firms where the distinction between an EA and a PA has largely collapsed. Mid-market executive PAs at companies with 50 to 500 employees typically land in the $65,000 to $85,000 range.
US personal assistant salary by state
States with high costs of living and concentrated executive employment pay meaningfully more than the national average.
| State | Average annual salary | Premium vs. national avg |
|---|---|---|
| California | $67,903 | +69.6% |
| New York | $67,632 | +68.9% |
| Texas | $60,048 | +49.9% |
| Massachusetts | est. $62,000-$68,000 | +55-70% |
| National average | $40,026 (Zippia basis) | -- |
Source: Zippia state-level compensation data, 2025-2026.
Within California and New York, city-level data shows further concentration. San Francisco averages $75,381/year (Glassdoor), with tech-sector and HNWI roles reaching $90,000 to $130,000. New York City averages $67,816 (Glassdoor) or $52,722 (ZipRecruiter), with corporate finance and law firm roles running $90,000 to $145,000. Los Angeles entertainment industry PAs supporting celebrities earn $80,000 to $160,000+.
Full-time vs. part-time personal assistant cost
Part-time PA arrangements are common for executives who need consistent support but not full-time coverage, and for households with occasional rather than daily needs.
A full-time in-person PA costs $48,000 to $125,000/year in base salary depending on market and scope, with total employer cost (including benefits) reaching $78,000 to $175,000/year. The BLS median for the comparable admin assistant occupation puts the national midpoint closer to $47,460 to $57,510.
Part-time rates look different. ZipRecruiter puts the average part-time PA at $23.17/hour as of April 2026, which runs roughly $24,097/year at 20 hours per week. Experienced or specialist part-time PAs in major cities charge $35 to $75/hour. ZipRecruiter's household PA data shows an annualized average of $55,188, though most part-time engagements in practice run 20 to 30 hours per week at $20 to $35/hour.
The cost difference is not just in the hourly rate. A part-time employee may still trigger benefits obligations, payroll tax, and administrative overhead depending on hours. A contractor relationship avoids those costs but creates worker misclassification risk if the engagement structure resembles employment.
In-person vs. virtual personal assistant cost
Virtual personal assistants are now a standard alternative to in-person PA hires for executives whose support needs are primarily digital: calendar management, email, research, travel booking, document work.
| PA model | Typical cost range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| In-person US PA (salary) | $48,000-$125,000/year | Plus 30-40% benefits |
| US-based VA (hourly) | $22-$65/hour | No benefits obligation if contractor |
| Managed full-time VA service | $1,988-$3,000/month | Agency handles sourcing and management |
| Latin America VA | $10-$30/hour | Similar timezone, strong English |
| Philippines VA | $5-$17/hour | Largest offshore market, strong English |
| India VA | $4-$18/hour | Large talent pool, some timezone friction |
Sources: Wishup (2026), VA Masters (2026), Time Doctor (2026), ZipRecruiter (2026).
A full-time offshore VA in the Philippines working 40 hours per week at $7/hour costs approximately $14,560/year, compared to a $57,510 national average for a US in-person PA. That is a 60% to 75% reduction before accounting for reduced benefits obligations. The real cost is in the tradeoffs: timezone gap, the quality variance that comes with offshore hiring, and the onboarding time needed to build consistent workflows across an async relationship.
For executives who need physical presence, in-person handling of sensitive matters, or real-time phone availability during US hours, in-person PAs are the more practical choice at a meaningful price premium.
Celebrity and HNWI personal assistant rates
Personal assistants working for high-net-worth individuals, celebrities, family offices, or billionaires occupy a separate segment of the market where compensation structures diverge sharply from standard benchmarks.
| Tier | Experience | Annual compensation range |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (2-4 years) | HNWI, family office | $65,000-$95,000 |
| Mid-level (5-10 years) | Celebrity, senior HNWI | $95,000-$150,000 |
| Top-tier (10-15+ years) | A-list celebrity, ultra-HNWI | $150,000-$250,000+ |
| Elite/billionaire-adjacent | 15+ years, ultra-high trust | up to $300,000+ |
Sources: FindCelebrityJobs (2026), Pavillion Agency, Frontline Source Group.
Geographic premiums apply within this tier. Manhattan and Hamptons UHNWI roles listed on Pavillion Agency run $175,000 to $200,000 before bonuses. Los Angeles entertainment PA roles for A-list talent run $85,000 to $160,000+. Palm Beach HNWI roles typically land at $95,000 to $150,000.
Beyond base salary, HNWI-adjacent PAs at this level regularly receive discretionary bonuses (10% to 25% of base), full employer-paid health coverage, 401(k) contributions, and housing or travel allowances worth $20,000 to $40,000/year for live-in or travel-heavy roles. Total compensation value at the top tier can reach $350,000+ even when base salary caps at $250,000.
Benefits and total employer cost
Base salary is only part of what a personal assistant costs. Benefits and payroll taxes add 30% to 40% on top of base salary for full-time employees.
The breakdown:
- Employer payroll taxes (FICA): 7.65% of wages
- Employer health insurance: projected to surpass $17,000 per employee in 2026, up 9.5% from 2025 (Aon, via Business.com)
- Health coverage accounts for 50% to 60% of total benefits spend
- BLS ECEC data (Q2 2025): benefits average $15.03/hour in civilian employment, or 31% of total compensation
Total employer cost at different salary levels (35% benefits load):
| Base salary | Benefits (35%) | Total annual employer cost |
|---|---|---|
| $48,000 | $16,800 | $64,800 |
| $57,510 | $20,129 | $77,639 |
| $75,000 | $26,250 | $101,250 |
| $100,000 | $35,000 | $135,000 |
| $125,000 | $43,750 | $168,750 |
First-year costs run higher once hiring overhead is added. SHRM's 2025 benchmarking data puts average cost-per-hire at $5,475 for non-executive roles, with onboarding adding approximately $1,830 per new employee. For a PA hired at $57,510, first-year total employer spend including hiring costs and benefits approaches $85,000 to $90,000.
Agency placement fees vs. direct hire
Employers have three routes to a personal assistant hire: direct sourcing, general staffing agencies, and specialized household or executive staffing firms.
Direct hire means no placement fee, but the employer absorbs the full sourcing and screening load. A realistic recruiting timeline for a qualified general PA is three to eight weeks. The downside is no replacement guarantee if the hire does not work out.
General staffing agencies charge a markup of 25% to 71% over the worker's wage, with most running 35% to 41% (The Resource Company, 2025). A PA earning $25/hour costs the employer $33.75 to $36/hour through a general agency.
Permanent placement agencies charge a one-time fee of 15% to 25% of first-year base salary, with 20% being the most common rate. Executive and specialized searches run 25% to 35%. Pavillion Agency, which specializes in domestic and household staff, charges 20% of projected gross annual salary. A PA hired at $80,000/year through a 20% fee agency costs $16,000 upfront in placement fees (RecruitBPM, 2026).
Specialized household and celebrity staffing firms charge 20% to 30% of annual compensation, with some charging flat fees starting at $5,000 to $8,000 for household PA roles. Replacement guarantees typically extend 60 to 90 days after placement.
For a PA hired at $75,000/year, total first-year cost including a 20% agency fee runs approximately $112,000: $75,000 salary + $26,250 in benefits + $15,000 placement fee + $5,000 in onboarding and hiring overhead.
UK personal assistant salaries
UK PA costs are lower in absolute terms than US benchmarks. National averages sit around £30,000 to £33,000, though London roles placed through specialist agencies close some of the gap.
| Source | UK national average | London average | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glassdoor UK | £33,098/year (£16/hr) | £37,432/year (£18/hr) | March 2026 |
| Indeed UK | £32,487/year | -- | March 2026 |
| Reed.co.uk | -- | £41,051/year | April 2026 |
| Morgan McKinley | -- | £45,000-£55,000 | 2026 |
| PayScale UK | £30,386/year | -- | 2026 |
Sources: Glassdoor UK, Indeed UK, Reed.co.uk, Morgan McKinley 2026 Salary Guide, Artemide Recruitment UK.
Experience premiums in the UK follow a similar pattern to the US. Entry-level PAs (0 to 2 years) start at £28,000+. Experienced PAs with three to five years earn £35,000+. Executive PA roles at senior levels reach £45,000 to £70,000.
International personal assistant rates
For employers considering offshore PA support or hiring in markets outside the US and UK:
| Market | Average annual salary (local) | USD equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | AUD $74,728-$95,000/year | ~$48,000-$61,000 |
| Canada | CAD $44,784-$58,831/year | ~$32,000-$43,000 |
| Singapore | SGD $50,520/year | ~$37,000 |
Sources: Indeed Australia, PayScale Australia, Glassdoor Canada, Talent.com Canada, Glassdoor Singapore.
Philippines-based personal assistants working virtually earn significantly less. Dedicated executive PA roles in Manila placed by international employers typically run $8 to $15/hour, or $13,000 to $31,200/year at full-time hours. Indian VAs providing personal assistant services run $4 to $18/hour.
What personal assistants actually cost: a comparison summary
| Scenario | Annual cost (employer) |
|---|---|
| Part-time US PA (20 hrs/week, $25/hour) | $26,000 + potential benefits |
| Full-time US PA, national average (no agency) | $77,000-$90,000 total |
| Full-time US PA, New York/San Francisco | $100,000-$145,000+ total |
| Celebrity/HNWI PA, top-tier | $200,000-$350,000+ total |
| Full-time virtual PA, Philippines | $13,000-$31,200 (no benefits) |
| Full-time virtual PA, US-based | $40,000-$80,000+ (if contracted) |
| Agency-placed PA ($75k salary, 20% fee) | ~$112,000 first-year total |
Cutting personal assistant costs
There are a few ways to reduce PA spend without going to the bottom of the market on quality.
Offshore hiring makes sense for digital-only work. Email management, scheduling, travel booking, document preparation, research, and vendor communication are all fully viable remotely. A Philippines-based VA at $8 to $12/hour handles those tasks at 70% to 80% lower cost than a US in-person hire.
A hybrid model works well at the mid-market level. Many employers use a US-based or local PA for in-person and high-judgment tasks while routing high-volume process work to offshore VA support. The combined cost typically comes in below a single full-time US PA.
For standard roles without unusual household or HNWI complexity, direct hiring is worth considering. Avoiding a 15% to 25% placement fee on a $70,000 to $90,000 hire saves $10,500 to $22,500. LinkedIn, Indeed, and specialist PA job boards (PA Life, Exec Secretaries) have made direct sourcing accessible without internal recruiting teams.
Where the engagement genuinely requires fewer than 30 hours per week, structuring the hire as a part-time contractor rather than a full-time employee eliminates the 30% to 40% benefits overhead -- provided the engagement meets IRS worker classification requirements.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics -- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Occupational Outlook Handbook. bls.gov/ooh. May 2024.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics -- Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC). bls.gov. Q2 2025.
- Glassdoor -- Personal Assistant Salary. glassdoor.com. Q1 2026.
- Glassdoor -- Executive Personal Assistant Salary. glassdoor.com. 2026.
- Glassdoor UK -- Personal Assistant Salary. glassdoor.co.uk. March 2026.
- ZipRecruiter -- Personal Assistant Salary. ziprecruiter.com. April 2026.
- ZipRecruiter -- Part Time Personal Assistant Salary. ziprecruiter.com. April 2026.
- ZipRecruiter -- Household Personal Assistant Salary. ziprecruiter.com. May 2026.
- ZipRecruiter -- Celebrity Personal Assistant Salary. ziprecruiter.com. 2026.
- PayScale -- Personal Assistant Hourly Pay. payscale.com. 2026.
- Salary.com -- Personal Assistant Salary. salary.com. April 2026.
- Salary.com -- Executive Personal Assistant Salary. salary.com. March 2026.
- SalaryExpert -- Personal Assistant Salary in the United States. salaryexpert.com. 2026.
- Zippia -- Personal Assistant Salary. zippia.com. 2025.
- Zippia -- Personal Assistant Salary by State. zippia.com. 2026.
- FindCelebrityJobs -- Personal Assistant Salary Range in 2026. findcelebrityjobs.com. 2026.
- Pavillion Agency -- How Much Do Personal Assistants Make? pavillionagency.com. 2026.
- Pavillion Agency -- Fees and Terms. pavillionagency.com. 2026.
- Morgan McKinley -- Personal Assistant Salaries London, 2026 Salary Guide. morganmckinley.com. 2026.
- Reed.co.uk -- Average Personal Assistant Salary in London. reed.co.uk. April 2026.
- Indeed UK -- Personal Assistant Salary. uk.indeed.com. March 2026.
- Artemide Recruitment -- How Much Does a PA Cost in the UK? artemiderecruitment.com. 2025.
- Frontline Source Group -- Elite Personal Assistant Search for HNWIs and Celebrities. frontlinesourcegroup.com. 2026.
- Riveter Consulting -- How Much Does a Personal Assistant Cost? riveterinc.com. 2026.
- The Resource Company -- Average Staffing Agency Markup in 2025. theresource.com. October 2025.
- RecruitBPM -- Recruitment Fees in 2026. recruitbpm.com. 2026.
- Aon via Business.com -- Healthcare Employer and Employee Costs in 2026. business.com. 2026.
- Soteria HR -- Cost of Employee Benefits Per Hour, Month, and Year. soteriahr.com. 2025.
- Wishup -- Virtual Assistant Cost in 2026. wishup.co. 2026.
- VA Masters -- How Much Does a Virtual Assistant Cost? 2026 Rates. vamasters.com. 2026.