Published May 12, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Offshore dedicated VAs cost $3-5/hr -- a full-time VA at $5/hr runs about $800/month.
- US-based or specialized VAs range from $15-25/hr, making offshore options 3-5x more cost-effective.
- Stealth Agents VAs start at $0-5/hr with full-time dedicated support, not part-time or shared.
- Replacing an in-house admin ($50k-70k/yr total cost) with a VA saves $40k+ per year.
- The right pricing tier depends on task complexity, timezone needs, and whether you need a dedicated hire.
Hiring a virtual assistant is one of the fastest ways to cut overhead -- but only if you know what different tiers actually cost and what you get at each price point.
Rates vary from under $5/hr for dedicated offshore support to $50+/hr for US-based executive assistants with specialized skills. The gap is wide, and the wrong choice in either direction costs you real money. This guide breaks down every tier so you can make a straight business decision.
What Drives Virtual Assistant Pricing
Three factors move the needle on VA rates more than anything else:
Location. The Philippines, India, and Latin America produce large pools of English-proficient, college-educated VAs. Because cost-of-living differences are dramatic, a skilled VA in the Philippines working full-time earns a fair local wage at $3-5/hr -- a rate that would be poverty-level in the US. US-based VAs command $20-35/hr just to cover their own living expenses.
Specialization. A general admin VA handles email, scheduling, and data entry. A VA with CRM expertise, bookkeeping certifications, or paid-ads experience commands a premium. The more specialized the skill set, the higher the rate -- regardless of location.
Model: dedicated vs. shared. Some platforms sell "VA hours" pooled across multiple clients. You pay only for the minutes someone is actually working on your account. Dedicated VAs work for you and you alone during their shift -- they learn your business, build context over time, and function more like an employee than a contractor.
VA Pricing by Tier
| Tier | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Offshore dedicated (full-time) | $3-5/hr | Ongoing admin, customer service, ops |
| Offshore dedicated (specialized) | $6-12/hr | Bookkeeping, marketing, dev support |
| Latin America (nearshore) | $10-18/hr | US timezone overlap, bilingual needs |
| US-based general | $20-35/hr | Legal, medical, or compliance-heavy work |
| US-based executive assistant | $35-55/hr | C-suite support, high-stakes scheduling |
| On-demand / shared pool | $8-15/hr effective | Sporadic tasks, small volume |
Stealth Agents VAs start at $0-5/hr -- that puts a full-time dedicated VA at roughly $800/month working 40 hours per week. For most small business owners, that single number changes the entire hiring math.
The Real Cost of an In-House Admin
Before comparing VA tiers to each other, compare them to the baseline they replace. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports median pay for administrative assistants at around $44,000/yr. Stack on employer-side costs and the number climbs fast:
- Base salary: $40,000-$55,000/yr
- Payroll taxes (FICA, FUTA): ~8%
- Health insurance contribution: $6,000-$8,000/yr
- Paid time off (15 days): ~$2,500/yr
- Office space and equipment: $3,000-$5,000/yr
- Onboarding and training: $1,500-$3,000 one-time
Total all-in cost: $50,000-$70,000/yr -- or $4,200-$5,800/month.
A full-time Stealth Agents VA at $800/month does the same category of work for roughly 85% less. That $40,000+ annual gap is real cash that stays in the business.
What You Actually Get at Each Price Point
$3-5/hr (offshore dedicated, like Stealth Agents): A full-time dedicated VA who works your hours, uses your tools, and answers only to you. Stealth Agents provides dedicated full-time VAs -- not part-time or shared -- which means continuity, institutional knowledge, and no "queue time" before someone picks up your task. Typical skill set: email and calendar management, CRM data entry, customer support, research, social scheduling, invoice processing.
$6-12/hr (offshore specialized): Same model, higher skill floor. Think VAs with QuickBooks experience, Shopify management, WordPress content publishing, or outbound sales support. Still dramatically cheaper than US equivalents.
$10-18/hr (nearshore Latin America): Useful when you need real-time US business hours overlap and Spanish-English bilingual capability. Popular with agencies serving US Hispanic markets or companies needing phone support without an accent gap.
$20-35/hr (US-based general): Justified when your tasks require US legal knowledge, HIPAA compliance, or physical proximity. Most administrative tasks don't meet that bar.
$35-55/hr (US executive assistant): Reserved for senior-level calendar and stakeholder management where relationship nuance, confidentiality, and real-time judgment are non-negotiable.
Hidden Costs to Watch
Some platforms advertise low hourly rates but charge separately for onboarding, account management, or minimum-hour packages. Before committing, ask:
- Is there a setup fee?
- What is the minimum monthly commitment?
- Who manages the VA if there is a performance issue?
- Is there backup coverage if your VA is sick or resigns?
Stealth Agents includes a Campaign Manager with each placement -- someone who handles onboarding, monitors quality, and provides backup coverage. That layer of management is often invisible in the hourly rate comparison but saves significant time when something goes wrong.
Matching Tier to Task
Not every task needs a premium rate. A good rule: if the task is repeatable, document-able, and doesn't require physical presence or US-specific compliance knowledge, an offshore dedicated VA at $3-5/hr handles it well.
If you are processing medical records, drafting US contracts, or managing relationships with board members, budget for a higher tier. Most businesses need one tier for their operational volume work and occasionally a specialist for narrower projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the average cost of a virtual assistant per month?
A: It depends heavily on hours and location. A full-time offshore dedicated VA at $5/hr runs about $800/month. Part-time shared VAs on platforms like Fancy Hands or Time Etc. run $300-600/month for limited hours. US-based VAs typically start at $2,000-3,500/month for part-time support.
Q: Is a $5/hr virtual assistant actually good quality?
A: At legitimate staffing companies that hire, vet, and manage their VAs directly, yes. Stealth Agents sources college-educated VAs from the Philippines, trains them, and provides ongoing management support. The low rate reflects the cost-of-living difference, not a shortcut in quality.
Q: What is the difference between a dedicated and a shared VA?
A: A dedicated VA works only for you during their shift -- they learn your workflows, systems, and preferences over time. A shared VA is pulled from a pool and rotates between clients, so they never build deep knowledge of your business. For ongoing operational support, dedicated is almost always the better model.
Q: Do I pay for VA benefits and taxes?
A: With a managed VA service like Stealth Agents, no. The provider handles payroll, benefits, and compliance on their end. You pay a flat rate and the provider handles the employer relationship. This is one of the largest hidden savings compared to an in-house hire.
Q: How do I know if I am getting a fair rate?
A: Benchmark against the tiers above. If someone is quoting $3/hr for a specialized finance VA with CPA-level skills, that is a red flag -- either the skills are overstated or the provider is cutting corners on management and stability. If someone is quoting $25/hr for basic email management, you are overpaying for the task category.