Key Takeaways
- The US mean wage for executive assistants is $74,720, but fully loaded employer cost runs $95,000-$130,000 a year
- Employer benefits and overhead add 28-42% on top of base salary before the EA does any work
- Virtual executive assistants cost $18,000-$40,000 a year, roughly 40-60 cents on the dollar versus an in-house hire
- Offshore EAs in the Philippines and Latin America run $1,200-$2,500 per month for equivalent core competencies
- Turnover adds a hidden cost: replacing an EA runs 50-75% of annual salary, and in-house EA turnover sits near 29%
Executive assistant cost statistics 2026: what the data actually shows
Most companies budget for an executive assistant by looking at one number: the salary. That number is the smallest part of the real cost.
Between employer taxes, benefits, equipment, office space, recruiting, and turnover, the fully loaded cost of an in-house executive assistant runs 30-75% above the posted salary. A $75,000 EA is really a $100,000-plus line item once every cost component is counted. The gap between that number and what a virtual or offshore EA costs is the reason so many founders and operators have moved the role out of the office entirely.
This article pulls together the 2026 cost data on executive assistants across every hiring model, from in-house senior EAs to offshore virtual assistant arrangements.
Data sources and methodology
Cost figures in this article draw from:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 43-6011 Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants, 2025 release
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) - Employer cost and benefits load benchmarks, 2025
- Robert Half International - Administrative and Office Support Salary Guide, 2026
- Salary.com and Payscale - Executive assistant compensation data, 2025-2026
- ZipRecruiter - Executive assistant and virtual assistant pay reports, 2025-2026
- Belay Solutions - Virtual assistant and EA pricing benchmarks, 2025 annual report
- Prialto - Managed virtual EA benchmark data, 2025
- International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) - Compensation and benefits survey, 2025
- Deloitte and Gallup - Turnover and replacement cost research, 2024-2025
All fully loaded cost figures apply an employer overhead multiplier to base salary using SHRM and BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC) data. Virtual and offshore ranges reflect published provider pricing cross-referenced against ZipRecruiter and IAAP compensation data. Where studies conflict, ranges are reported rather than single point estimates.
Base salary: what executive assistants earn in 2026
The starting point for any cost analysis is base compensation, and the range is wide because the title covers everything from a junior scheduler to a senior chief-of-staff-adjacent operator.
BLS (2025): The mean annual wage for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants (SOC 43-6011) is $74,720, with a median of $70,310. The top 10% earn more than $102,000.
Robert Half (2026 Salary Guide): Executive assistant base pay ranges from $58,500 at the 25th percentile to $98,750 at the 75th percentile, with senior EAs supporting C-suite principals reaching $110,000 or more in major metros.
Salary.com (2026): The national average executive assistant salary is $76,100, with a typical range of $67,400 to $86,900 before bonuses.
| Seniority Level | Base Salary Range (US) |
|---|---|
| Junior / Administrative Assistant | $45,000-$58,000 |
| Mid-Level Executive Assistant | $58,000-$78,000 |
| Senior Executive Assistant | $78,000-$98,000 |
| C-Suite / Executive Business Partner | $95,000-$135,000 |
Source: BLS 2025; Robert Half 2026 Salary Guide; Salary.com 2026
The employer load: what salary does not tell you
Base salary is the number that shows up in the job posting. It is not the number that shows up on the company's books.
SHRM and BLS ECEC (2025): Employer costs for benefits, payroll taxes, and paid leave add an average of 29-43% on top of base wages for full-time office and administrative workers. For a salaried EA, the practical multiplier most finance teams use is 1.28 to 1.42.
Here is what that overhead is made of for a $75,000 in-house EA:
| Cost Component | Annual Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $75,000 | Posted compensation |
| Employer FICA (7.65%) | $5,738 | Social Security and Medicare |
| Health insurance | $8,400-$13,200 | Employer share, single to family |
| Paid time off (15 days) | $4,327 | Value of paid leave |
| 401k match (3-4%) | $2,250-$3,000 | Typical match |
| Equipment and software | $1,800-$3,200 | Laptop, phone, licenses |
| Office space allocation | $4,200-$8,400 | Rent, utilities, facilities |
| Recruiting and onboarding | $4,500-$9,000 | Amortized over tenure |
| Training and development | $1,200-$2,500 | Ongoing |
| Total fully loaded cost | $107,415-$123,765 | 1.43-1.65x base |
Source: SHRM 2025; BLS ECEC 2025; IAAP 2025
The headline: an EA posted at $75,000 costs roughly $107,000 to $124,000 a year fully loaded. Across the common salary band, in-house EA all-in cost lands between $95,000 and $130,000 for most companies.
Virtual executive assistant cost
The virtual model removes most of the overhead: no office space, no equipment, no employer benefits load, no recruiting drag. What remains is the service or salary cost.
Belay Solutions (2025): US-based managed virtual EAs run $32,000-$48,000 per year for part-time to near-full-time coverage, billed as a monthly retainer.
Prialto (2025): Managed virtual EA engagements average $1,500-$2,700 per month depending on hours and scope, or roughly $18,000-$32,400 annually.
ZipRecruiter (2026): Independent virtual assistants handling executive-level admin bill $25-$75 per hour in the US, with the executive-support tier concentrated at $35-$55 per hour.
| Virtual EA Model | Annual Cost | Effective vs. In-House |
|---|---|---|
| US managed virtual EA (full service) | $32,000-$48,000 | 40-50% of loaded cost |
| US independent virtual EA (retainer) | $24,000-$40,000 | 30-42% of loaded cost |
| Fractional / part-time virtual EA | $12,000-$24,000 | Scales to need |
Source: Belay Solutions 2025; Prialto 2025; ZipRecruiter 2026
Against a $107,000-$124,000 fully loaded in-house hire, a virtual EA at $24,000-$48,000 lands at roughly 40-60 cents on the dollar, and the higher-cost overhead items simply disappear from the equation.
Offshore executive assistant cost
Offshore is where the cost curve bottoms out. The Philippines and Latin America are the two dominant sourcing regions for executive-level virtual support.
ZipRecruiter and provider benchmarks (2025-2026): Skilled offshore EAs in the Philippines cost $1,200-$2,200 per month for full-time dedicated support. Latin American EAs, valued for US time zone overlap, run $1,600-$2,500 per month.
| Region | Monthly Cost (Full-Time) | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines | $1,200-$2,200 | $14,400-$26,400 |
| Latin America | $1,600-$2,500 | $19,200-$30,000 |
| Eastern Europe | $1,800-$3,000 | $21,600-$36,000 |
Source: ZipRecruiter 2026; provider pricing benchmarks 2025
At $14,400-$30,000 for full-time dedicated coverage, an offshore EA costs 15-30% of a fully loaded US in-house hire. For companies comparing providers, the top virtual assistant companies list breaks down where these arrangements are sourced and how they are managed.
Cost by hiring model: the full comparison
Pulling the models together shows the spread from most to least expensive per year of coverage.
| Hiring Model | Annual Cost | Overhead Included |
|---|---|---|
| In-house senior EA (fully loaded) | $107,000-$130,000 | Yes |
| In-house mid-level EA (fully loaded) | $95,000-$110,000 | Yes |
| US managed virtual EA | $32,000-$48,000 | No overhead |
| US independent virtual EA | $24,000-$40,000 | No overhead |
| Offshore EA (Latin America) | $19,200-$30,000 | No overhead |
| Offshore EA (Philippines) | $14,400-$26,400 | No overhead |
Source: BLS 2025; SHRM 2025; Belay Solutions 2025; ZipRecruiter 2026
The delta between an in-house senior EA and an offshore EA is roughly $80,000-$110,000 per year for comparable core administrative competencies. That gap is why cost-conscious founders default to the virtual model and reserve in-house EAs for roles requiring on-site presence.
Recruiting and hiring costs
Before an EA earns a paycheck, the company has already spent money to find them.
Robert Half and SHRM (2025): Agency placement fees for executive support roles run 15-25% of first-year salary. On a $75,000 EA, that is $11,250-$18,750 in placement cost alone.
SHRM (2025): The average cost per hire across all roles is $4,700, but administrative and executive support roles that use recruiters or search firms routinely exceed that, landing at $6,000-$12,000 once sourcing, screening, and onboarding time are included.
Time to fill is a cost too: SHRM puts the average time to fill an administrative role at 36-42 days, during which the executive absorbs the unsupported workload directly.
The hidden cost: EA turnover and replacement
Turnover is the cost component most budgets ignore, and for executive assistants it is significant.
IAAP (2025): Voluntary turnover among in-house executive assistants runs 24-31% annually, driven by burnout, compensation compression, and limited advancement paths.
Deloitte and Gallup (2024-2025): The cost to replace an administrative professional is estimated at 50-75% of annual salary once recruiting, onboarding, lost productivity, and ramp time are counted. For a $75,000 EA, replacement runs $37,500-$56,250.
Belay Solutions (2025): Managed virtual EA arrangements report 12-month retention near 84%, versus roughly 71% for in-house EAs, which shifts the replacement-cost math meaningfully in favor of the virtual model.
If an in-house EA turns over every 3 years and replacement costs $45,000, that is an amortized $15,000 per year in hidden cost layered on top of the fully loaded salary.
Cost by metro: where in-house EAs cost the most
Geography drives in-house EA cost sharply because the role is priced to local cost of living.
Robert Half (2026): Executive assistant base pay carries metro adjustments ranging from roughly 85% of the national baseline in lower-cost markets to 135% or more in the highest-cost metros.
| Metro Tier | Example Markets | EA Base Salary Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (highest cost) | San Francisco, New York, Boston | 125-140% of baseline |
| Tier 2 | Seattle, Los Angeles, Washington DC | 110-125% of baseline |
| Tier 3 | Austin, Denver, Chicago | 100-110% of baseline |
| Tier 4 (lower cost) | Midwest, Southeast secondary metros | 85-98% of baseline |
Source: Robert Half 2026 Salary Guide; Salary.com 2026
A senior EA who costs $98,000 in a Tier 3 metro can cost $125,000 or more in San Francisco or New York for the same scope, which is a primary driver of remote and virtual EA adoption among companies headquartered in high-cost cities.
Key cost statistics summary
| Statistic | Source |
|---|---|
| $74,720 US mean executive assistant wage | BLS 2025 |
| $70,310 US median executive assistant wage | BLS 2025 |
| $102,000+ top-decile executive assistant wage | BLS 2025 |
| 29-43% employer benefits and tax load on base salary | SHRM / BLS ECEC 2025 |
| $95,000-$130,000 fully loaded in-house EA cost | SHRM 2025; BLS 2025 |
| $32,000-$48,000 US managed virtual EA annual cost | Belay Solutions 2025 |
| $24,000-$40,000 US independent virtual EA annual cost | ZipRecruiter 2026 |
| $1,200-$2,200/month offshore EA (Philippines) | ZipRecruiter 2026 |
| $1,600-$2,500/month offshore EA (Latin America) | Provider benchmarks 2025 |
| $35-$55/hour US executive-support virtual assistant rate | ZipRecruiter 2026 |
| 15-25% of first-year salary in agency placement fees | Robert Half 2025 |
| $6,000-$12,000 cost per hire for executive support roles | SHRM 2025 |
| 36-42 days average time to fill an administrative role | SHRM 2025 |
| 24-31% annual turnover for in-house EAs | IAAP 2025 |
| 50-75% of annual salary to replace an EA | Deloitte / Gallup 2024-2025 |
| 84% 12-month retention for managed virtual EAs | Belay Solutions 2025 |
| 125-140% metro cost adjustment in Tier 1 markets | Robert Half 2026 |
What the cost data means for hiring decisions
The cost story is consistent across every dataset:
- Base salary understates the real number. Plan for 1.3-1.6x posted salary once the employer load, overhead, and amortized recruiting are counted.
- Turnover is a recurring hidden cost. At 24-31% annual in-house EA turnover and 50-75% replacement cost, the churn tax is real and compounds.
- The virtual model removes the expensive components. No office, no equipment, no benefits load, and higher retention combine to land virtual EAs at 40-60% of in-house cost, and offshore EAs lower still.
- Geography magnifies in-house cost. Tier 1 metros push the same role 25-40% higher, which is exactly where remote and virtual arrangements deliver the largest savings.
For companies deciding how to staff the role, the practical question is rarely whether an EA is worth it. It is which hiring model delivers the coverage at the lowest fully loaded cost, and for most SMBs and growth-stage companies the answer points toward a virtual assistant rather than an in-house hire.
Methodology and source notes
Cost figures reflect data published through Q2 2026. Fully loaded cost multipliers apply SHRM and BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation benchmarks to BLS SOC 43-6011 wage data. Virtual and offshore ranges reflect published provider pricing cross-referenced against ZipRecruiter and IAAP compensation data.
Ranges are reported rather than single point estimates wherever source studies disagree or where cost varies materially by seniority, metro, and engagement model. Offshore monthly rates reflect full-time dedicated arrangements; part-time and task-based pricing runs lower.
Related research:
- Cost of Hiring an Executive Assistant 2026
- Executive Assistant Salary by State
- Executive Assistant ROI Statistics 2026
- Cost of Hiring a Virtual Assistant 2026
- Virtual Assistant
- Top Virtual Assistant Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an executive assistant cost in 2026?
The US mean wage for an executive assistant is $74,720, but the fully loaded cost including benefits, taxes, equipment, and office space runs $95,000 to $130,000 a year for an in-house hire. A virtual EA costs $24,000 to $48,000, and an offshore EA runs $14,400 to $30,000 for full-time dedicated support.
Why does an executive assistant cost more than their salary?
Employer payroll taxes, health insurance, paid time off, retirement match, equipment, office space, and recruiting add 29-43% on top of base salary. That pushes a $75,000 posted salary to roughly $107,000-$124,000 in real annual cost before any turnover replacement expense.
Is a virtual executive assistant cheaper than an in-house EA?
Yes. A virtual executive assistant costs roughly 40-60 cents on the dollar versus a fully loaded in-house hire because it removes office space, equipment, and employer benefits load. Offshore virtual EAs in the Philippines or Latin America cost 15-30% of an in-house hire for comparable core administrative work.
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