You know you need help. The question is what it costs.
The answer depends on how you hire. A full-time, in-house executive assistant costs far more than the salary on the job posting. Part-time, freelance and managed options all come with different price tags and different tradeoffs.
Here’s what each one really costs, and how to decide.
The median salary for an executive assistant in the U.S. is $76,590 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data (2025). The middle of the market runs from about $50,560 at the 10th percentile to $109,850 at the 90th.
That’s salary only. Your real cost is higher.
For office and administrative roles in private industry, wages make up 68.7% of total compensation. Benefits make up the other 31.3%, according to the BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation release for June 2026.
Apply that to the median salary, and a full-time executive assistant costs about $111,500 a year in salary and benefits.
| Full-time in-house EA | Part-time in-house EA | Freelance or hourly VA | Managed U.S.-based EA (BELAY) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Annual salary plus benefits | Hourly wage, plus benefits if eligible | Hourly rate or bundles of hours | Flat monthly rate, scoped to your hours and role |
| Typical cost | About $76,590 salary, about $111,500 with benefits (median) | Prorated salary and payroll taxes | Varies widely by freelancer | Based on the hours and support you need |
| Recruiting and hiring | Your time, job ads, possibly a recruiter | Your time, job ads | Your time vetting candidates | Done for you; most clients matched in about a week |
| Payroll taxes and benefits | You pay | You pay | Freelancer covers | Included |
| If it’s the wrong fit | Start the search over | Start the search over | Start the search over | Rematched at no additional cost |
| Commitment | Employment | Employment | Per project or hour | No long-term contract |
The salary is the visible cost. These are the ones that don’t show up on the job posting:
There’s one more option: no assistant at all. It isn’t free.
Every hour you spend on scheduling, inbox triage and travel booking is an hour you don’t spend on sales, strategy or your team. Put a dollar value on your hour, and multiply it by the admin hours you put in each week. That number is what doing it yourself really costs.
The Real ROI of Hiring an Executive Assistant walks through the math. Or run your own numbers with the Executive Assistant ROI Calculator.
An executive assistant protects a leader’s time and keeps the business moving. Here’s what’s typically in scope, and what isn’t:
| What executive assistants do | What executive assistants don’t do |
|---|---|
| Manage your calendar and scheduling | Make strategic business decisions |
| Triage your inbox and communications | Approve financial decisions on your behalf |
| Prepare for meetings and handle follow-ups | Review or sign legal contracts |
| Coordinate projects across your team | Set company policy |
| Plan travel and events | Speak for you publicly without direction |
| Manage expenses and records | Replace a bookkeeper or accountant |
Not sure whether you need an executive assistant or a virtual assistant? Read Executive Assistant vs. Virtual Assistant: What’s the Difference?
Full-time in-house makes sense when you need someone on-site every day and have the budget for salary, benefits and hiring.
Part-time in-house works when you need less than 40 hours a week and still want an employee.
Freelance works for short-term or project-based help, if you’re willing to vet, manage and replace freelancers yourself.
A managed EA service works when you want an experienced assistant without recruiting, payroll or the risk of a bad hire. Many leaders start with 10 to 20 hours a week and adjust from there.
Every BELAY Executive Assistant is a U.S.-based professional. BELAY handles the vetting and matching for you, and most clients are matched in about a week.
The median U.S. executive assistant salary is $76,590. With benefits, the total cost of a full-time employee is about $111,500 a year.
A part-time employee costs a prorated share of salary, plus payroll taxes and any benefits they’re eligible for. A managed service lets you pay for the hours you need without adding an employee.
Usually. With a managed virtual EA, you don’t pay for benefits, equipment, recruiting or turnover. You pay for the support you use.
Yes. Every BELAY Executive Assistant is a U.S.-based professional.
BELAY uses flat monthly pricing based on the hours and support you need. The fastest way to get a number for your situation is a short fit call.
Get matched with a U.S.-based Executive Assistant in about a week.