The Cost of Hiring an Executive Assistant: A Full Breakdown

Hiring an executive assistant (EA) is often a turning point. It’s the moment when calendar chaos, inbox overload, and constant coordination start pulling time away from actual leadership work.

The challenge is that “hiring an EA” doesn’t mean one thing. You can hire locally or remotely, full-time or part-time, as an employee or a contractor. Each option comes with very different costs, trade-offs, and hidden overhead.

We break it down for you based on the latest market rates:

EA Hiring Model	Location	Typical Cost	What You’re Paying For	When This Makes Sense
1. Full-Time EA (40 hrs/week)	Local (San Francisco)	$130k–$170k+ / year (all-in)	Full-time employee salary, benefits, payroll taxes, equipment, onboarding	Senior people with constant, high-touch EA needs
	Remote / Offshore	$7k–$36k / year	Dedicated full-time EA, usually via a managed service	Cost-conscious people who can work async
2. Part-Time EA (15–25 hrs/week)	Local / U.S.-based	$30k–$50k / year or $25–$80+/hr	Ongoing support with limited hours; W2 or contractor	Those who need leverage but not full coverage
	Remote / Offshore	$10–$20/hr	Contract-based virtual EA support	Lightweight coordination and admin relief
3. Freelance / Contract EA	Local / U.S.-based	$40–$70+ / hr	Short-term or project-based executive support	Interim coverage or specialized work
	Remote / Offshore	$8–$30 / hr	On-demand global freelance talent	Maximum flexibility, variable quality
4. AI Executive Assistant	Location Agnostic	$0-$2K / year	AI that handles scheduling, coordination, follow-ups, and time-zone negotiation	Those who want EA-level leverage without the overheads of hiring a human

1. Full-Time Executive Assistant (40 hours/week)

Local Hire (San Francisco–based)

A full-time, in-person EA in San Francisco is the most traditional—and most expensive—option.

• Base salary: Roughly $80,000–$125,000 per year, with the average hovering around $105,000. This works out to about $35–$60 per hour.

• Benefits and employer costs: Expect an additional 25–40% on top of salary for payroll taxes, health insurance, retirement contributions, and other benefits. That’s another $20,000–$50,000 annually.

• Other costs:

  • Equipment and software (laptop, phone, tools): $2,000–$5,000
  • Onboarding and training time
  • Recruitment fees if using an agency (often ~20% of annual salary as a one-time cost)

Total effective cost: Often $130,000–$170,000+ per year.

This option works best for those who need deep, in-person support and have a consistently high volume of executive work.

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Remote or Offshore Full-Time EA, aka Virtual Assistants

A full-time remote or offshore EA can dramatically reduce costs.

• Base cost: Typically $600–$3,000 per month, or $7,000–$36,000 per year, depending on geography and experience. Many managed services price around $3,000/month for a dedicated EA.

• Additional costs:

  • Usually minimal—agencies bundle salary, benefits, and HR into their pricing
  • Little to no equipment expense (the assistant uses their own setup)
  • Some investment in training and documentation of your workflows

Key trade-off: While offshore EAs can be 50–80% cheaper than U.S. hires, you’ll need to manage time-zone overlap and communication carefully.

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2. Part-Time Executive Assistant (15–25 hours/week)

Local or U.S.-Based Part-Time EA

Part-time EAs offer flexibility without the full-time commitment.

• Hourly rates:

  • Junior to mid-level: $25–$50/hour
  • Highly experienced or specialized EAs: $50–$80+ per hour

• Annual cost: A half-time W2 EA might cost $30,000–$50,000 per year, depending on hours and benefits.

• Additional costs:

  • Prorated benefits and payroll taxes (if W2)
  • Equipment or office access if they work on-site
  • Recruiting fees if sourced through a staffing firm

This option works well for those who need consistent help but don’t yet require full-time coverage.

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Remote or Offshore Part-Time EA

Remote part-time assistants are one of the most cost-efficient options.

• Offshore rates: Typically $10–$20/hour, depending on country and experience

• U.S.-based remote assistants: Often $20–$40/hour, with managed services charging a premium for vetting and oversight

• Additional costs:

  • Usually none beyond the hourly or monthly retainer
  • No benefits or payroll taxes (most are contractors)
  • Possible platform or service fees if using an agency

Time-zone differences are generally manageable at this level, but clear expectations around availability are essential.

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3. Freelance or Contract Executive Assistant (Hourly or Project-Based)

Local Freelance EA (SF or U.S.-based)

Freelance EAs are commonly used for temporary coverage or specialized projects.

• Typical rates: $40–$60/hour, with urgent or high-skill engagements reaching $70+ per hour

• Additional costs:

  • No benefits or long-term commitments
  • Agency markups are usually baked into the rate
  • Some ramp-up time as the EA learns your context

This model is flexible but can become expensive if used long-term.

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Remote or Offshore Freelance EA

The widest range of pricing exists here.

• Rates:

  • General VAs: as low as $8–$15/hour
  • Experienced executive-level freelancers: $20–$30/hour

• Additional costs:

  • Platform fees (often 3–5% on payments)
  • Software licenses or tool access
  • Time spent vetting and managing quality

This option offers maximum flexibility, but outcomes depend heavily on candidate selection and onboarding.

Choosing the Right Option

The “right” EA setup depends on your stage, workload, and tolerance for management overhead:

• If you need deep, high-touch support and have budget flexibility, a local full-time EA may make sense.

• If cost efficiency matters most, remote or offshore EAs deliver significant savings.

• If your needs fluctuate, part-time or contract EAs offer flexibility without long-term commitment.

And if you’re exploring ways to get executive-level support without the full overhead of a human hire, modern AI executive assistants are becoming a compelling option worth evaluating.

Carrie gives you the leverage of an executive assistant — without the $100k commitment.

For many, the smartest move isn’t choosing one option forever. It’s getting started with AI, for immediate ROI.

👉 Try Carrie at https://getcarrie.com