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Virtual Assistant Income in 2024: How Much Can You Really Earn?

  • Writer: DM Monticello
    DM Monticello
  • Jun 5
  • 7 min read


The virtual assistant industry has exploded in recent years. Whether you’re freelancing, working for a company, or running your own VA agency, the big question remains: how much can you actually earn as a virtual assistant in 2024?

The answer depends on your skills, location, niche, and how you structure your services. This guide breaks down virtual assistant income by region, service type, and experience level—plus tips to grow your earnings faster.


What Determines a Virtual Assistant’s Income?

Location and Cost of Living

Your geographic location—or where your clients are—has a major impact on income. VAs working in high-cost-of-living countries like the U.S., U.K., or Canada typically charge more than those based in countries like the Philippines or India.

For example:

  • U.S.-based VA: $25–$60/hour

  • Philippines-based VA: $5–$15/hour

But remember, lower rates don't mean lower quality—many offshore VAs are highly skilled and work U.S. hours.

Explore regional comparisons in How Much Do Virtual Assistants Make


Experience and Years in the Role

Just like any profession, more experience = more income. A beginner VA might start at $7–$12/hour, while a seasoned VA with niche skills can charge $40+/hour. Senior executive VAs or team leads can earn over $80,000/year.


Niche vs. Generalist Work

General admin VAs typically earn less than specialists. If you offer niche services like:

  • Bookkeeping

  • CRM setup

  • Paid ad management

  • Sales operations You can charge higher rates because you solve high-value problems.

VAs with specialized skills often develop Tiered or Premium Packages to increase their income.


Number of Clients or Hours Worked

Income also depends on your availability:

  • Full-time VAs: Work 30–40+ hours/week and earn more consistently

  • Part-time VAs: Often juggle multiple clients and flexible schedules

  • Project-based VAs: May charge premium rates for one-off tasks

Many full-time freelancers earn $3,000–$6,000/month once fully booked.


Average Virtual Assistant Income by Region

United States and Canada

  • Hourly Rate: $25–$60

  • Monthly Income: $3,000–$6,500

  • Annual Range: $45,000–$80,000+

Executive virtual assistants or niche roles can hit six figures.


Philippines and Southeast Asia

  • Hourly Rate: $5–$15

  • Monthly Income: $600–$2,000

  • Annual Range: $7,200–$24,000

Many U.S. companies hire Philippine VAs for long-term support, offering stable income and flexible work.

Read Hiring Virtual Assistants in the Philippines to understand why this region is so popular.


Latin America and Eastern Europe

  • Hourly Rate: $8–$20

  • Monthly Income: $1,000–$3,000

  • Annual Range: $12,000–$36,000+

These regions are growing due to time zone overlap with U.S. clients and strong bilingual capabilities.

India and South Asia

  • Hourly Rate: $6–$18

  • Monthly Income: $750–$2,500

  • Annual Range: $9,000–$30,000+

Particularly strong for tech, finance, and administrative support.


VA Income by Service Type

General Admin Support

  • Income Range: $8–$25/hour

  • Tasks: Scheduling, email management, data entry

  • Often paid on retainer or hourly basis

  • Entry-level VAs typically start here

Explore core services in What Do Virtual Assistants Do?


Executive Assistance

  • Income Range: $20–$60/hour

  • Tasks: High-level calendar control, team coordination, meeting prep

  • Full-time income often exceeds $70,000/year in the U.S.

Executive VAs are in high demand for CEOs and founders. See Why Hire a Virtual Assistant


Bookkeeping and Finance

  • Income Range: $25–$75/hour

  • Tasks: Invoicing, QuickBooks, accounts reconciliation

  • Many VAs in this category are certified or trained in U.S. GAAP standards

Finance-trained VAs often work across industries like eCommerce and SaaS.


Marketing, Social Media, and Tech

  • Income Range: $20–$50/hour

  • Tasks: Content scheduling, email marketing, basic design, CRM

  • Income varies based on specialization (e.g., Facebook Ads vs. social media posts)

Learn how VAs can drive revenue in Boost Your Sales with Virtual Assistants


Full-Time vs. Part-Time VA Income

Many virtual assistants choose how much they work—and that directly affects their income potential.


Hourly to Monthly Income Conversion

To estimate monthly earnings:

  • 20 hours/week at $15/hour = $1,200/month

  • 40 hours/week at $25/hour = $4,000/month

  • 40 hours/week at $50/hour = $8,000/month

The math is simple: the more hours you can consistently fill at a solid rate, the higher your monthly and annual income.


Common Retainer Packages and Their Earnings

VAs often offer set monthly packages:

  • Basic Retainer: 20 hours/month at $20/hr = $400

  • Mid-Level: 40 hours/month at $30/hr = $1,200

  • Premium: 80 hours/month at $40/hr = $3,200+

Retainers give stability to both the VA and the client. Learn more in Demystifying Virtual Assistant Pay Rates


Project-Based VA Income Opportunities

Some VAs specialize in one-time projects and charge flat fees. For example:

  • CRM setup: $500–$2,000

  • Lead generation campaign: $750–$3,000

  • Webinar support and promotion: $1,500+

These projects can boost monthly income significantly when combined with hourly work.


How to Increase Your Virtual Assistant Income

Your income isn’t fixed—it grows with strategy, skill, and smart positioning.


Upskilling and Certifications

VAs who invest in learning:

  • Project management (e.g., Trello, Asana, ClickUp)

  • Accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, Xero)

  • Marketing tools (e.g., HubSpot, Mailchimp)

  • AI and automation tools (Zapier, ChatGPT)

Earn more because they offer higher-value services.

Explore tools that boost VA productivity in How to Use a Virtual Assistant to Maximize Your Productivity


Offering Tiered or Premium Packages

Instead of billing hourly, create service tiers:

  • Basic: Admin support

  • Standard: Admin + reporting

  • Premium: Admin + marketing + executive support

Package pricing communicates professionalism and increases average income per client.


Expanding to Agency or Team Management

Some top-earning VAs eventually:

  • Hire junior VAs to scale delivery

  • Manage small teams

  • Create VA agencies with $10K–$30K+ monthly revenue

Learn how to scale with How to Build a Team


Building Long-Term Client Relationships

Retention matters. The longer a client stays, the more value you can offer:

  • Learn their systems

  • Anticipate needs

  • Position yourself as irreplaceable

Satisfied long-term clients often refer new ones, increasing income without extra marketing.


Realistic Income Benchmarks for 2024

Here’s what VAs can expect to earn at each stage of their career:


Entry-Level

  • $6–$15/hour offshore

  • $20–$30/hour onshore (U.S., UK, CA)

  • Monthly: $800–$2,500 depending on hours

Great for starting out, especially in general admin roles.


Mid-Level

  • $15–$35/hour

  • Monthly: $2,500–$5,000

  • Common roles: executive VA, marketing assistant, customer support lead

These VAs typically work full-time across 2–3 clients or one full-time contract.


Senior or Specialist-Level

  • $35–$75/hour

  • Monthly: $6,000–$10,000

  • Roles: project manager, automation expert, chief of staff

Specialist VAs become trusted strategic partners, not just task doers.


igh-Income Outliers

Some VAs earn $100K+/year, especially those who:

  • Manage teams

  • Offer high-ticket services

  • Serve fast-growing startups or high-net-worth clients

These pros often blend skills in operations, automation, and business strategy.


Real Testimonials: What Virtual Assistants Actually Earn

To give you a real-world look at VA earnings, here are anonymized snapshots from actual OpsArmy virtual assistants:

  • U.S.-based Executive VA: “I charge $45/hour and work 35 hours/week for a tech founder and a coaching business. That’s around $6,300/month. I went full-time VA in 2022 and doubled my income.”

  • Philippines-based General Admin VA: “I started at $6/hour and now earn $12/hour doing project coordination and research. I support two U.S.-based teams and average $2,000/month.”

  • Latin America Social Media VA: “My base is $15/hour, and I work about 25 hours/week. Clients love my bilingual skills and Canva experience. I make around $1,500/month.”

These examples highlight how location, skills, and specialization drive income. For more client-side hiring outcomes, visit Should I Hire a Virtual Assistant?


How Virtual Assistants Can Market Themselves for Higher Pay

Even if you’re skilled, clients won’t know your value unless you show them. Here are smart strategies to increase visibility and justify higher rates:


1. Create a Clear Service Offering

Use a one-page PDF or landing page to outline:

  • Services offered

  • Hourly/retainer packages

  • Tools you’re fluent in

  • Testimonials

This shows professionalism and makes it easier for clients to say “yes.”


2. Build a LinkedIn and Upwork Presence

Clients often vet talent through search. Make sure your:

  • LinkedIn bio speaks to business problems you solve

  • Portfolio includes client results (metrics, screenshots, endorsements)

Need help writing a compelling bio? Explore A Guide for Success in Virtual Assistant Jobs


3. Ask for Referrals and Reviews

Happy clients are your best marketing channel. Ask for:

  • Google reviews

  • LinkedIn recommendations

  • Referrals to peers or partners in their network

Great service + social proof = premium pricing.


The Future of Virtual Assistant Income: What’s Next?

As more businesses embrace remote-first operations, the demand—and earning potential—for skilled virtual assistants is growing fast. AI tools, automation platforms, and global communication apps are empowering VAs to offer more value in less time.

In 2024 and beyond, VAs who can integrate tools like Notion, Zapier, Slack, and CRM systems will earn higher rates and become indispensable to the teams they support. Even generalist roles are expanding with responsibilities that once belonged to full-time office staff.

To stay competitive, VAs must continuously upskill and specialize. If you’re ready to grow your virtual assistant income, OpsArmy offers remote opportunities, training, and access to clients who value your talent.

Check out Tips for Effective Team Management for insights on scaling your VA support services.


Final Thoughts: Earning More as a VA in 2024

Whether you’re just starting out or scaling into high-ticket services, your virtual assistant income is in your control. Start by mastering in-demand skills, price based on outcomes (not hours), and partner with platforms like OpsArmy that value long-term success.

If you're a business owner looking for qualified virtual assistants who are committed to growth, Hire a Virtual Assistant with OpsArmy today.

And if you're a VA ready to level up, explore global client opportunities and career support at https://www.operationsarmy.com


How OpsArmy Supports High-Earning VAs

At OpsArmy, we believe great virtual assistants deserve great pay.

Here’s how we help:

  • Role-specific matching: You’re paired with clients who need your unique skills

  • Career growth support: We help you grow from admin to strategic roles

  • Global client base: Work with startups, solopreneurs, and execs from the U.S., Canada, and more

  • Long-term contracts: We prioritize stability, retention, and success

OpsArmy helps you earn what you’re worth—and gives you the tools to keep growing.


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