Published May 12, 2026
Key Takeaways
- General admin VA rates run $3-15/hr offshore and $20-35/hr for US-based equivalents.
- Specialized roles -- legal, medical, executive -- command $20-50/hr in the US market.
- Offshore dedicated VAs at $3-8/hr deliver comparable output to domestic hires at a fraction of the cost.
- Stealth Agents VAs start at $0-5/hr for dedicated full-time support -- not shared, not part-time.
- Hourly rate alone is not the right metric -- dedicated vs. shared model has more impact on value than a few dollars per hour.
Hourly rates for virtual assistants have stayed relatively stable over the past few years, but the range between the cheapest and most expensive options remains enormous. A US-based executive VA might bill $50/hr. A dedicated offshore admin VA at Stealth Agents starts at $0-5/hr. Both are doing "virtual assistant" work -- but the task scope, seniority, and geography explain most of that spread.
This breakdown covers current market rates by role type and location, so you can benchmark what you're paying or planning to pay against what the market actually looks like.
General Admin VA Rates
General administrative virtual assistants handle the broadest range of tasks: email management, calendar scheduling, data entry, basic research, travel bookings, and CRM updates. This is the most common starting point for businesses new to virtual support.
Offshore (Philippines, Latin America, Eastern Europe): $3-10/hr for dedicated full-time VAs. Platforms and agencies vary -- direct freelance hires from platforms like Upwork skew toward the lower end of this range, while agency-placed VAs with vetting and support tend to run $5-10/hr.
US-based general admin: $18-28/hr, with higher rates in major metro areas. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports median wages for US administrative support occupations above $20/hr, and that figure excludes employer-side costs like benefits and payroll taxes.
India-based VA services: $4-12/hr, with wide quality variation depending on the agency and role match.
Stealth Agents VAs start at $0-5/hr for general admin -- dedicated full-time placement with no shared arrangements.
Specialized VA Rates
Specialized VAs -- those with skills in a defined domain like digital marketing, bookkeeping, legal support, or executive assistance -- command higher rates because the skill set is less interchangeable.
Digital marketing VAs (SEO support, paid ads management, social media execution): $8-18/hr offshore, $25-40/hr US-based.
Bookkeeping and accounting VAs: $8-15/hr offshore for QuickBooks/Xero-proficient assistants, $25-45/hr for US-based contractors with accounting credentials.
Legal virtual assistants (document drafting, legal research, e-filing): $15-25/hr offshore for experienced legal VAs, $35-55/hr for US-based paralegals operating as independent contractors.
Medical virtual assistants (prior authorization, medical billing, EHR management): $10-20/hr offshore, $30-50/hr US-based.
Executive virtual assistants: Covered in more depth below, but US-based executive assistants billing as contractors run $40-65/hr. Offshore executive VAs with real C-suite experience run $8-18/hr.
The Dedicated vs. Shared Rate Trap
When comparing hourly rates, the most important variable is not the number -- it is whether the VA is working exclusively for you.
Agencies that offer shared VA models often advertise lower hourly rates because they are dividing one assistant's attention across multiple clients. A $6/hr shared VA might spend only 20-30% of their working time on your account. A $8/hr dedicated VA is yours for the full working day.
The math is clear: a "cheaper" shared rate often delivers less actual work per dollar than a dedicated rate that appears higher.
Stealth Agents operates on a dedicated full-time model only. Your VA is not juggling other clients while handling your inbox.
Freelance Platforms vs. Agency Rates
Direct hires from freelance platforms (Upwork, Fiverr Pro, Onlinejobs.ph) typically price at the lower end of offshore ranges -- sometimes $3-5/hr for general admin. That rate reflects what the worker charges before any platform fees. The catch is that you absorb full hiring risk: screening, test tasks, contract management, and replacement when things go wrong.
Agency rates include that overhead. You pay slightly more per hour but get pre-vetted candidates, structured onboarding, and replacement guarantees if a VA does not work out. For businesses with ongoing, complex work, the agency model delivers better net value over any time horizon longer than 60 days.
The relevant comparison is not "agency rate vs. platform rate" -- it is "total cost of agency rate including your time saved" vs. "platform rate plus your hiring and management hours."
What Affects Rate Negotiation
A few practical factors influence where in any range you end up:
Commitment level. VAs and agencies offer better rates for full-time arrangements than for 10-20 hours per week. If you need 40 hours per week, you will pay less per hour than if you need 10.
Scope stability. Well-defined recurring tasks are cheaper than variable, high-context work that requires constant re-briefing. The more structured your work is, the faster any VA gets up to speed, and the more competitive the rate.
Contract length. Month-to-month arrangements typically cost more per hour than 6- or 12-month commitments. Some agencies price based on tenure.
Language and timezone requirements. VAs who need to work US business hours -- for live phone calls, real-time meetings, or customer-facing roles -- command slightly higher rates than those working asynchronous admin roles.
A Rate Comparison by Role
| Role Type | Offshore Dedicated | US-Based / Freelance |
|---|---|---|
| General admin | $3-8/hr | $18-28/hr |
| Digital marketing | $8-15/hr | $25-40/hr |
| Bookkeeping | $8-15/hr | $25-45/hr |
| Executive assistant | $8-18/hr | $40-65/hr |
| Legal / medical | $10-20/hr | $35-55/hr |
Stealth Agents covers general admin and many specialized roles starting at $0-5/hr -- dedicated, full-time, and placed by an agency that handles vetting and onboarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the average hourly rate for a virtual assistant in 2026?
A: For offshore dedicated VAs, the average runs $5-12/hr across skill levels. For US-based VAs, the average is $25-40/hr. The headline "average" number is often misleading because it blends full-time dedicated workers with part-time shared arrangements -- which are very different products.
Q: Why are some VA rates as low as $3/hr?
A: Geography accounts for most of it. In the Philippines, a $3-5/hr rate represents a sustainable professional wage given local cost of living. These are not entry-level workers -- many have years of professional experience. Strong agencies vet for English fluency, reliability, and skill fit before placing anyone.
Q: Should I pay more for a US-based VA?
A: Only if the role genuinely requires it -- real-time US customer calls, in-person availability, or jurisdiction-specific knowledge. For admin, marketing support, research, and most business operations work, offshore dedicated VAs deliver equivalent output at a fraction of the cost. Most businesses overpay for US-based VAs on tasks that do not require local presence.
Q: How does Stealth Agents pricing compare to the market?
A: Stealth Agents VAs start at $0-5/hr for dedicated full-time placements. That puts them below or at the low end of agency-placed offshore VA rates while offering the vetting, matching, and account management that direct freelance hires do not include.
The right virtual assistant hourly rate is the one that matches the role requirements with the available talent pool -- without paying US overhead for work that does not require US-based staff. For most businesses, dedicated offshore VAs in the $3-8/hr range deliver the strongest combination of quality, continuity, and cost.