VA Hourly Rate Calculator
Find the rate Western clients actually pay — adjusts for your niche, experience, billing geography, and target take-home. No signup.
Your free account turns tracked hours into invoices at the rate above — automatically.
How much should you charge as a Virtual Assistant?
The biggest mistake new VAs make is undercharging — and the second biggest is staying at the same rate for two years because raising it feels scary. Both come from the same place: not having a number you actually believe in. This calculator gives you that number based on real market data.
What goes into a fair rate? Five things: (1) your niche — admin support pays differently from technical SEO or executive ops; (2) your years of full-time-equivalent experience; (3) where your clients are — billing US clients pays 2-3× billing local Philippines clients; (4) your target take-home, working backwards from how much you actually need to live; (5) the demand-supply gap in your specific skill — bookkeeping VAs are scarcer than general admin VAs and bill more.
The output is three numbers: a floor rate (you're underpaid below this), a recommended rate (median for your profile), and a ceiling rate (what the top 25% in your niche bill). Pick the recommended for new clients, push toward the ceiling as you build a portfolio, and never accept work below the floor.
Common questions
How is the recommended rate calculated?
We blend three signals: (a) market median for your niche and country (compiled from 2025/2026 industry surveys), (b) your years of experience, and (c) the monthly income you said you want to hit. The 'recommended' figure is the median; 'low' is the floor for breaking in, 'high' is what the top quartile in your niche bills.
Why is the Philippines rate lower than US?
Local cost of living and market reference points. A US-billed VA from Manila can charge $20-40/h on Upwork; locally, ₱400-800/h is competitive. The calculator lets you toggle which market you're billing.
Does this account for taxes and fees?
It's gross hourly. For your real take-home, subtract self-employment tax (varies by country), platform fees if you use Upwork/Fiverr (10-20%), and a buffer for unbilled admin time (we recommend 20% off-the-top).
Should I quote hourly or by project?
Hourly is simpler when starting out — clients see what they pay for. Once you've done 10+ similar projects, switch to fixed-price packages (you'll earn more per hour as you get faster). The proposal generator on this site helps you build the package version.
How often should I raise my rate?
Every 6-12 months for existing clients (small bumps, 5-15%), or whenever you take on a new client (you can be more aggressive there). VAs who never raise rates underprice themselves by 30-50% within 2 years.