Three ways to pay for an executive assistant
Small companies usually choose between three set-ups. They differ less in the work itself than in who employs the person and where the margin sits.
- An employee in your own country: you pay salary, benefits and employer contributions, and you run payroll.
- A remote assistant you hire directly: usually an independent contractor abroad, paid monthly through a service such as Deel, Wise or Payoneer.
- A managed service or monthly agency: the provider employs or contracts the assistant and bills you one monthly price that includes its margin.
An in-house hire in the US: the line items
The national median wage for executive assistants is $76,590[1] a year, about $6,382[1] a month, before benefits. In US private industry, benefits, which include paid leave, insurance, retirement plans and legally required contributions such as Social Security, make up 30%[2] of total compensation. Pay varies widely by state and city; the executive assistant cost page has the figures by state.
- Recruiting: job ads, an agency fee or your own hours.
- Equipment and software: a laptop, a phone, licences.
- Office space, if the role is on site.
- Payroll and HR administration, in-house or through a provider.
An in-house assistant is often the right answer when someone must be physically present: running the office, receiving guests, handling post or errands.
A remote assistant hired directly: the line items
Our own executive assistant vacancies for remote candidates in Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Kazakhstan pay $800–1,100[3] a month for full-time work. The person usually works as an independent contractor under a direct agreement with you.
- Pay: the agreed monthly amount, in US dollars, on a fixed date.
- Payment service: Deel's contractor plan is $49[4] a month per person; Wise charges from 0.23%[5] per transfer.
- Paid time off and public holidays: not owed in the way they are to employees, but you will probably want to agree them; write them into the agreement.
- Hiring: your own screening time, or a one-time placement fee. Silkstaff sends three matching profiles within 7[6] days and charges $2,500–3,000[7] on the start day.
- Optional support: Silkstaff's ongoing support costs $250[7] a month if you want help with payouts and check-ins, and you can stop it any month.
Equipment is usually the contractor's own. Whether a contractor agreement suits your situation is a legal question for your country; this is general information, not legal or tax advice.
A managed service or monthly agency: the line items
Here you see one number: the monthly price. It covers the assistant's pay, the provider's margin and whatever services come with it, such as payroll, replacements, backup cover or an account manager.
To compare it fairly, ask what the person receives, what the minimum term is, whether hours above the plan cost extra, and whether you may hire the person directly later and at what cost. Our comparison with a managed assistant service uses one provider's published prices as a worked example.
Year one against year two
One-time costs and monthly costs behave differently over time. That is why the route that is cheapest in the first months is not always the cheapest over two years.
Cost sheet: executive assistant
US employee. Year one: wage + benefits + recruiting + equipment. Year two: wage + benefits, plus any raise.
Remote, hired directly. Year one: pay × 12 + payment service × 12 + hiring cost. Year two: pay × 12 + payment service × 12.
Managed service. Year one: monthly price × 12 + any set-up fee. Year two: monthly price × 12.
Your time, on every route: heavier in the first months, then a weekly one-to-one.
Fill it with real quotes. If you plan to keep the assistant for years, a one-time hiring cost spreads out; if you need someone for a few months, a monthly service without a long commitment may cost less overall. The cost of hiring calculator does the US side of the sum.
What makes one executive assistant worth more than another
- Has supported a founder or an executive, not only a team.
- Writes in your name without corrections after the first weeks.
- Handles confidential matters with care: board papers, salaries, personal admin.
- Runs several calendars across time zones without errors.
- Takes ownership of projects such as events, office moves or vendor reviews.
These are worth the top of a pay band. For a narrower task list, a junior assistant or a part-time arrangement may be the better buy; our guide to virtual assistant costs covers that end of the range.
Questions
Why does a remote executive assistant cost less than a US hire?
Pay follows the labour market where the person lives, and a contractor abroad carries no US benefits or payroll costs. The work itself can be the same, which is why screening matters more than the price.
Is the placement fee charged again in year two?
No. Silkstaff's fee of $2,500–3,000[7] is charged once, on the start day. Silkstaff replaces the person free of charge if they leave or do not work out within 180[7] days of the start date: one replacement per placement, once the placement fee has been paid and as long as the role, hours and pay stay as agreed. The fee itself is not refunded.
Should I budget for a raise?
Yes. Agree a pay review date at the start, for example after the first year, and keep it. A good assistant who knows your business is expensive to replace; our guide to retaining remote staff covers reviews and raises.
General information for small employers, not legal or tax advice: check contracts, tax and data rules for your country with a qualified adviser. Figures carry their sources below; our own prices are on the pricing page. Spotted a mistake? Write to hello@silkstaff.com.