How Much Does an Executive Assistant Cost in 2026?
July 17, 2026
Quick answer: A full-time US in-house executive assistant costs about $58,000 per year fully loaded, per our published cost comparison. Agency placements add a one-time recruiting fee on top of salary, US freelance EAs bill premium hourly rates, and a vetted nearshore executive assistant from Latin America starts at $7 per hour — roughly $16,640 per year full-time — with zero placement fees.
Executive assistant cost is really four different numbers, because the hiring route moves the price far more than the job description does. This guide breaks down all four routes for 2026 — in-house, agency-placed, freelance, and nearshore — with a comparison table and the factors that push rates up or down. If you first want the role itself defined, start with our executive assistant page.
The offer-letter salary is only the visible part. Add benefits, payroll taxes, paid time off, software seats, and equipment, and the real budget line grows fast. In our published comparison of US and LATAM hiring costs, a typical US executive assistant lands around $58,000 per year fully loaded. That is the number to plan around, because it is what the role actually removes from your operating budget — not what appears in the job post. The role-by-role benchmarks are in our US vs LATAM salary guide.
Two other domestic routes sit between in-house and nearshore:
Through a zero-fee nearshore staffing model, vetted executive assistants from Latin America start at $7 per hour. Across 500 verified Virtustant placements, the median all-in rate across roles is $8.50 per hour; at $8 per hour, a full-time schedule works out to about $16,640 per year. The hourly rate is the entire cost — recruiting, payroll, and compliance are included, and there are no placement fees. Current terms are on the pricing page.
Because Latin America sits within a few hours of US time zones, a nearshore EA manages your calendar and inbox live during your workday — overlap that offshore hires cannot offer without night shifts.
| Route | Typical cost | Fees on top | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| US in-house | ~$58,000/yr fully loaded | Recruiting costs plus full employer overhead | Teams that need an in-office presence |
| US agency-placed | Salary + placement fee (commonly 15-25% of year-one salary) | One-time fee per hire | Companies set on a local hire but short on time |
| US freelance | Commonly $25-$50+/hr | Marketplace fees vary | Short projects and light part-time support |
| Nearshore, zero-fee (Virtustant) | From $7/hr — about $16,640/yr full-time | None — zero placement fees | Full-time, US-hours executive support at roughly 70% less |
A lower rate does not mean a lower bar when the vetting is strict. Virtustant accepts the top 1% of applicants, delivers a first shortlist of vetted candidates within 48 hours, and averages about 3 days from brief to hire — with a lifetime replacement guarantee on every placement. That model has produced 2,000+ hires for 1,000+ US companies, a 4.9/5 rating on G2, and 160+ Trustpilot reviews. For the step-by-step process, read our guide to hiring a remote executive assistant.
US freelance EAs commonly bill $25-$50+ per hour. Nearshore executive assistants from Latin America start at $7 per hour through a zero-fee model, with an $8.50 per hour median across 500 verified Virtustant placements.
About $58,000 fully loaded for a US in-house hire, per our published comparison. A full-time nearshore EA at $8 per hour runs about $16,640 per year, with no placement fees added.
Cost of living in Latin America is lower and US-dollar roles are highly sought after, so strong candidates compete for them. With top-1% acceptance screening, the rate difference reflects economics, not a quality discount.
Traditional agencies commonly charge 15-25% of first-year salary as a placement fee. In a zero-fee model the hourly rate is the entire cost: recruiting, payroll, and compliance are included, and replacement is covered for life.
Ready to see real candidates instead of estimates? Visit the executive assistant role page to review scope and rates — shortlist in 48 hours, zero placement fees.
