How much does a virtual assistant really make?
No official figure exists for virtual assistants. The nearest US benchmark is a median of $22.86 an hour for administrative assistants in employed jobs.
A virtual assistant does office work from home for clients: email, calendars, bookings and admin. Pay depends on the client, the country and your skills. The closest official number is for employed US assistants, so treat it as a benchmark, not a promise. As a freelancer you also pay platform fees and your own taxes.
What do you need for virtual assistant work?
- Reliable computer and internetClients expect you to be reachable.
- Office skillsEmail, calendars, documents and spreadsheets.
- A way to find clientsDirect contact, or a platform such as Upwork or Fiverr.
What virtual assistant work really pays
| Item | Amount | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| US median, employed assistants | $22.86 an hour | 2025 figure, or $47,540 a year, for employed staff |
| Freelance VA rates | No official figure | Set by you and your client |
| Upwork fee | 0% to 15% | If you find clients there |
| Fiverr fee | 20% | If you find clients there |
| US self-employment tax | 15.3% | On US self-employed earnings, as the IRS sets out |
The US Department of Labor projects a decline for this job family from 2025 to 2035, so do not expect demand to carry you.
What it adds up to
| Hours a week | A week at $22.86 an hour |
|---|---|
| 10 hours a week | $228.60 |
| 20 hours a week | $457.20 |
| 40 hours a week | $914.40 |
The US median for employed administrative assistants, before tax. Freelance rates have no official figure. Our sums on the US figure above: an example, not a promise.
When does virtual assistant work pay you?
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Paid out at | Set by your client or platform |
| First money | Set by your client or platform |
What is the catch with virtual assistant work?
- The FTC says honest employers will never ask you to pay to get a job.
- If an offer involves depositing a cheque and sending part of the money on, the FTC says that is a scam.
- The FTC says reshipping goods is never a real job.
- These are US figures. They say nothing about what a client in another country will pay.
How to start with virtual assistant work
- List three things you can do wellInbox, calendar, research: specific beats general.
- Set a rate that covers fees and taxWork backwards from what you need.
- Find a first clientA small business you can reach directly saves the platform fee.
- Never pay to be hiredWalk away from any offer that asks for money first.
Read next
Sources
- O*NET (US Department of Labor): Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Elevate Pay: Upwork's freelancer service fee in 2026, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Velo Branding: Fiverr fees 2026, checked 5 Nov 2026
- IRS: self-employment tax, checked 5 Nov 2026
- FTC: job scams, checked 5 Nov 2026