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By Dave Zajdzinski

A 20-year real estate veteran married for 20 years with 5 kids. He has sold over 1,500 homes for $500 million in volume.

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How much should you really pay a virtual assistant? It’s one of the most frequently asked questions by business owners. The answer depends on what needs to be done and what the market will pay.

The market sets the price. Rates typically range from $3 to $8 per hour. Some pay more, but it’s rare. Personally, I cap my VAs at $7 an hour. Why? Because the talent pool is huge in that range, and the market dictates the cost.

To give you an idea, our company recently received 33,000 applications in a single month from Filipinos interested in working with U.S. business owners. With that much supply, the rates stay competitive.

Pay by task level

  • $3/hour: Basic list-building or repetitive tasks. Think pulling vacant tenant lists or compiling thousands of realtor contacts from Facebook.
  • $4/hour: Entry-level workers with some problem-solving ability, usually junior roles.
  • $5/hour: Similar to $4, but able to take on slightly more responsibility.
  • $6/hour: Stronger, senior-level talent. Keep in mind the workforce in the Philippines skews younger (late 20s vs. late 30s in the U.S.), which helps keep rates lower.
“Hiring smart means aligning pay with skill, not overpaying.”

Specialized work. Video editing and other skilled roles usually run $7 to $8 an hour. Most good editors land around $7, and plenty are available at $6 to $7. Paying $9 or more is rarely necessary.

Sales roles work differently. Sales VAs often start with a lower base salary of $3 to $4 an hour but earn more through bonuses. An inside sales agent, for example, might earn $10 to $20 per qualified appointment that shows up, adding $300 to $400 a month. Some companies even add residual bonuses, like 2% of high-ticket coaching sales, to keep performance high.

Most roles fall in the $3 to $4 range plus bonuses, while specialized skills run $6 to $8. You don’t need to overpay to find reliable talent. If you’d like help tailoring compensation, reach out at (480) 332-6468 or send an email to dave@zteamaz.com. I’m happy to help you structure pay that makes sense for your hires and your business.

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