Rates, 2026
What should a virtual assistant charge in a smaller market?
About $250 a day for a virtual assistant who is working and booked in a smaller US market. $200 in the first years, $300 when senior.
Other markets: New York or LA · a major city · remote
First years
$200
a day · $25 an hour
Working, booked
$250
a day · $30 an hour
Senior, sought after
$300
a day · $40 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$250 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$30 per hour
- Monthly retainera set number of hours a week, paid up front$1,825 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 smaller US market: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- 10 hours a week, retained$850 to $1,675 per month
- 20 hours a week, retained$1,675 to $3,150 per month
- Inbox and calendar only$425 to $1,050 per month
How the number is made
Virtual or executive assistants at this level in this market day at about $250 ($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 smaller US market?
- About $250 a day for someone working and booked, $200 in the first years, $300 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 $1,825 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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