Rates, 2026
What should a virtual assistant charge in a major city?
About $300 a day for a virtual assistant who is working and booked in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin. $225 in the first years, $375 when senior.
Other markets: New York or LA · remote · a smaller market
First years
$225
a day · $30 an hour
Working, booked
$300
a day · $40 an hour
Senior, sought after
$375
a day · $45 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$300 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$40 per hour
- Monthly retainera set number of hours a week, paid up front$2,200 per month
Sold by the hour, a monthly retainer. The day is the unit; half days run 60%.
What to charge for each thing
Ranges for a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- 10 hours a week, retained$1,025 to $2,050 per month
- 20 hours a week, retained$2,050 to $3,825 per month
- Inbox and calendar only$500 to $1,275 per month
How the number is made
Virtual or executive assistants at this level in this market day at about $300 ($240 to $480 in New York and LA). Put in the year you actually want on the perfect price page and the number moves with it.
A retainer is the month, not the hours: a set number of hours a week, paid up front. It is priced about 20% under the same work bought one at a time, in exchange for the certainty; three months minimum, or it is not a retainer.
Questions
- What is a fair day rate for a virtual assistant in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin?
- About $300 a day for someone working and booked, $225 in the first years, $375 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- What does a monthly retainer look like for a virtual assistant?
- Around $2,200 a month: a set number of hours a week, paid up front. About 20% under the same work bought one piece at a time, in exchange for certainty; three months minimum.
- Are these rates a rule?
- No. They are US 2026 ranges for the role, placed by level and moved for the market. What a client actually paid you beats all of it. The tool has a box for that, and it wins.
Your number, in five seconds.
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