Comprehensive Guide to
Virtual Assistant Salaries in the Philippines
How Much Does the Average Virtual Assistant Earn?
A Virtual Assistant’s salary ranges from $350 to $2200 a month depending on their skills. A programmer will obviously require a higher salary as compared to a data entry specialist, which is almost the same case with office-based jobs. Even if you take into account the 13th month pay, it’s not a lot.
Below is a gist of VA salaries. If you’re just getting started, you can check our blog post to help determine pay rates and our Virtual Assistant Salary Guide. Make sure to also check the guide if you already have a VA and you’re thinking about giving them a raise.
Average Monthly Salary

Office Workers
Virtual Assistant
- Accountant – $530
- Accounting Clerk – $312
- Management Accountant – $1,395
- Customer Support Agents – $416
- Nurses – $312
- BPO Entry Level – $350
- AutoCAD Operators – $508
- Teacher – $610
- Civil Engineer – $625
- Project Manager – $1,400
- Accountant – $710 ($350-$1740)
- Graphic Designer *- $640 ($350-$1540)
- Virtual Assistant – $510 ($350-$1190)
- Customer Support – $590 ($350-$1320)
- SEO Expert – $600 ($350-$1790)
- Copywriter – $830 ($350-$2210)
- Web Designer * – $650 ($350 -$1510)
- Webmaster *- $570 ($350-$1410)
- Video Editor *- $650 ($350-$1610)
Cost of Living for Major Cities
Average VA Salaries Across the World
When you compare average salaries in the Philippines with other countries, you begin to see why the Philippines is the fastest growing outsourcing market. When you combine the talent level in the Philippines with the average salaries, the Philippines becomes downright compelling.
And we’re talking about full-time workers here, which gives value to your business in the long run. Another hidden cost that VAs from the rest of the world that you may not have considered is the cost you’re paying the platform in commissions and operating costs.
How much does the average Filipino have to spend?
To make it easier for you to formulate a rating of your own for your future VA’s, or if a raise is long overdue, we also have a chart on the cost of living in the Philippines. This includes the utilities that they need to fully function in the virtual assistant world.
recurring

Transportation
$17 – $165
Minimum is 1 round trip jeepney ride. It usually takes a jeepney and MRT for most people.

Rent
$62 – $371

Utilities
$72 – $238
Water, electricity and internet

Food
$103 – $309
Groceries for 1 person
TOTAL MONTHLY
$254 – $1,083
recurring

Transportation
$0

Rent
$62 – $371

Utilities
$72 – $238
Water, electricity and internet

Food
$103 – $309
Groceries for 1 person
ONE TIME COSTS

Computer
$371 – $2,270
Computers and laptops, are replaced every 3 years

Laptop
$722 – $2,374
Laptops are more expensive in the Philippines due to customs duties
TOTAL MONTHLY
$237 – $981
Again, the chart only includes the basic utilities. Please keep in mind that there are other costs one requires in order to live, like clothes, mobile devices, and anything that allows them to go about their actual lives.
How old and experienced are these virtual assistants?
What are the optional benefits that employers can pay for?
If you’re like me, you want to give a few extras for your loyal employees. There are some benefits such as health insurance (PhilHealth in the Philippines) or SSS (like Social Security in the USA). If you want to provide this benefit to your workers here’s how much it cost:
Salary Range | PhilHealth | SSS |
---|---|---|
$200 – $249 | $5.78 | $27.54 |
$250 – $299 | $7.22 | $32.83 |
$300 – $349 | $8.67 | $33.89 |
$350 – $399 | $9.63 | $33.89 |
$400 – $449 | $11.07 | $33.89 |
$450 – $499 | $12.03 | $33.89 |
$500 – $549 | $13.48 | $33.89 |
$550 – $599 | $14.92 | $33.89 |
$600 – $649 | $15.89 | $33.89 |
$650 – $699 | $16.85 | $33.89 |
$700 – $749 | $16.85 | $33.89 |
$750 – $800 | $16.85 | $33.89 |
Source: http://www.philhealth.gov.ph/partners/employers/contri_tbl.html
As you can see, with Filipino workers, you don’t have to break the bank to give these highly skilled workers a living wage. If you just look at their salary in terms of numbers, yeah they do look insignificant compared to ours. And that’s just one of the benefits you can give your Filipino workers. If you want more details, we have a blog post where we discuss how you can compute for VA benefits.
So the next time someone accuses you of exploiting workers because you outsource, show them these numbers. Ask them what exploitation looks like and show them pictures of your VA being able to send their kids to private school and get iPhones for themselves. If this is exploitation, then giving them a “fair” wage would be winning the lottery.
You can also read more about paying your virtual assistant.
*Data as of March 2021