One of the most common questions employers ask before hiring from the Philippines is: "What should I actually be paying?" Pay too little and you'll lose good candidates to better-paying employers. Pay what the market expects and you'll attract talent that stays.
This guide covers real 2026 salary benchmarks for the most common remote roles hired from the Philippines, along with a cost comparison that shows exactly how much you save versus hiring locally. It also includes our own data: the hourly rates 336 Filipino specialists on WorkBase PH asked for when they signed up.
Note on currency: All rates below are in USD per month for full-time (40 hrs/week) work unless stated otherwise. Part-time rates are roughly 50–60% of the full-time equivalent, not 50%, because part-time roles often command a slight premium per hour.
Quick answer: In 2026, a full-time Filipino general virtual assistant typically costs $300–$1,200 a month (USD) depending on experience. Typical full-time ranges: executive assistant $500–$1,600, customer support $400–$1,300, bookkeeper $400–$1,400, social media manager $300–$1,800, content writer $350–$1,600, graphic designer $350–$1,800, front-end web developer $600–$2,200. Part-time usually runs about 50–60% of the full-time rate.
| Role | Entry Level | Mid Level | Senior / Specialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Virtual Assistant | $300–$500 | $500–$800 | $800–$1,200 |
| Executive Assistant / EA | $500–$800 | $700–$1,100 | $1,000–$1,600 |
| Customer Support Agent | $400–$600 | $600–$900 | $900–$1,300 |
| Social Media Manager | $300–$600 | $600–$1,000 | $1,000–$1,800 |
| Content Writer / Copywriter | $350–$600 | $600–$1,000 | $1,000–$1,600 |
| Bookkeeper / Accounting VA | $400–$600 | $600–$900 | $900–$1,400 |
| Graphic Designer | $350–$600 | $600–$1,100 | $1,100–$1,800 |
| Web Developer (Frontend) | $600–$900 | $900–$1,400 | $1,400–$2,200 |
| Full-Stack Developer | $500–$900 | $900–$1,600 | $1,600–$2,800 |
| E-commerce VA (Shopify/Amazon) | $400–$700 | $700–$1,100 | $1,000–$1,600 |
| Video Editor | $400–$600 | $600–$1,000 | $1,000–$1,600 |
| Lead Generation / Appointment Setter | $400–$650 | $650–$950 | $950–$1,400 |
Hiring your first VA? Here's what to expect when you hire a Filipino virtual assistant through WorkBase PH: typical tasks, rates, and how posting a role works.
The table above shows what employers typically pay. To show the other side, we looked at what specialists themselves ask for. When a specialist signs up on WorkBase PH, they pick an expected hourly rate. Here is how 336 specialists answered between May 1 and September 27, 2026.
Key findings: 72% of Filipino specialists on WorkBase PH chose the lowest band we offer, $5–$12 an hour. About 1 in 4 (24%) asked for more than $12 an hour, and 3% asked for $26 or more. The share asking above $12 stays near 1 in 5 up to mid-level, then climbs to 29% at senior level and 57% at lead level. IT support (34%) and web development (28%) have the most specialists asking above $12.
| Experience level | Specialists | $5–$12/hr | $13–$25/hr | $26+/hr | Fixed-price only |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | 93 | 75% | 13% | 4% | 8% |
| Junior | 40 | 78% | 15% | 5% | 3% |
| Mid-level | 82 | 82% | 13% | 2% | 2% |
| Senior | 91 | 68% | 29% | 0% | 3% |
| Lead | 28 | 39% | 54% | 4% | 4% |
| All specialists | 336 | 72% | 21% | 3% | 4% |
The jump comes late. Entry, junior and mid-level specialists answer almost the same way; the real step up is at senior level, and most specialists who describe themselves as a lead ask for $13–$25 an hour. If your role needs someone who can run a function without supervision, budget for the senior column in the salary table above, not the mid-level one.
| Skill group | Specialists | Ask more than $12/hr |
|---|---|---|
| IT support | 32 | 34% |
| Web & WordPress development | 54 | 28% |
| Writing & content | 91 | 24% |
| Sales & lead generation | 82 | 22% |
| Real estate admin | 64 | 22% |
| Virtual / admin assistant | 270 | 21% |
| Executive assistant | 110 | 21% |
| Customer support | 175 | 20% |
| Social media & marketing | 137 | 20% |
| E-commerce / Shopify | 110 | 20% |
| Graphic design | 54 | 20% |
| Video editing | 40 | 20% |
| Data entry | 208 | 19% |
| Bookkeeping & accounting | 56 | 16% |
Technical skills carry the clearest premium. Most other groups sit close to the overall 1 in 5, because most specialists list several skills; a VA who also does social media and data entry counts in all three groups. Bookkeeping comes out lowest, likely because many general VAs list it as a side skill. Dedicated bookkeepers with QuickBooks or Xero experience are still usually paid the higher rates in the salary table above.
Part-time specialists ask more per hour. 26% of part-time specialists asked for more than $12 an hour, compared with 21% of full-time specialists. This supports the part-time pricing advice further down this guide.
How we measured this: 336 specialist profiles on WorkBase PH that picked an expected hourly rate at signup, May 1 – September 27, 2026. These are the rates specialists asked for, not what they were paid. In this data, the lowest option on our signup form was $5–$12 an hour, so specialists who would accept less than $5 are also counted in that band. Since September 30, 2026, the form also offers “Under $5”, and we refresh these tables every quarter (next update: January 2027). Skill groups come from the skills each specialist selected; one specialist can count in several groups. Groups with fewer than 20 specialists (including director and executive levels) are not shown. Percentages are rounded, so rows may not add up to exactly 100%. You may cite this data with a link to this page.
Here's what the same roles cost when hired locally in the US, Australia, or UK versus hiring a skilled Filipino professional remotely:
| Role | Philippines (mid-level) | US Equivalent | AU Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Assistant / EA | $700/mo | $3,500–$5,000/mo | $3,200–$4,500/mo |
| Customer Support | $600/mo | $3,000–$4,000/mo | $2,800–$3,800/mo |
| Social Media Manager | $750/mo | $4,000–$6,000/mo | $3,500–$5,500/mo |
| Bookkeeper | $850/mo | $4,500–$6,500/mo | $4,000–$6,000/mo |
| Frontend Developer | $1,100/mo | $7,000–$10,000/mo | $6,500–$9,000/mo |
Example savings: A US-based business hiring a Filipino executive assistant at $800/month instead of a local hire at $4,500/month saves $44,400 per year — on one role alone.
That saving funds a marketing campaign, a second team member, or years of hiring on WorkBase PH — job posts are a flat $29 each, no subscription.
Know what you'll pay? Post the role for $29.
Post a job on WorkBase PH for a flat $29, with no subscription and no fees for the people you hire. Filipino specialists are matched to your role, and their profiles can include a video or audio intro.
Post a Job — $29 → Or let our team hire for you →When you hire a Filipino remote worker as an independent contractor (the most common arrangement), your cost is generally the agreed salary — nothing more. Unlike local hires, you are typically not responsible for:
Filipino workers are responsible for their own tax filings with the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) as independent contractors. You should use a simple service contract to formalise the engagement.
The 13th month bonus is a deeply embedded norm in Philippine work culture. It's legally required for regular employees under Philippine law, and while it doesn't legally apply to independent contractors working for foreign employers, most Filipino remote workers expect it as a sign of respect and loyalty.
It's simply one extra month's salary paid in December (or split across mid-year and December). For a $700/month worker, that's an additional $700/year — a small cost that dramatically increases retention and loyalty.
Most Filipino remote workers prefer to be paid in USD because it protects them from peso fluctuations and is easier to receive via Wise, Payoneer, or PayPal. USD rates are also the market standard on international hiring platforms.
You can agree on either, but quoting in USD simplifies negotiation and avoids awkward conversations when the exchange rate shifts.
Don't try to pay the absolute minimum. The Filipino remote worker market is competitive, and the best candidates have options. A mid-level VA earning $500/month receives dozens of job offers. If you're offering $350 for someone with 3+ years of experience, you'll attract junior candidates or lose your hire quickly.
Pay the mid-range for the role, add a 13th-month bonus, pay on time every time, and you'll have a loyal, productive team member who isn't quietly interviewing elsewhere.
Part-time rates are not simply half of a full-time monthly rate. Filipino workers typically charge a slightly higher hourly rate for part-time arrangements because of the uncertainty and the flexibility being provided. Here's how to think about it:
| Arrangement | Hours/Week | How to Price It |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ~40 hrs | Monthly rate as listed in the salary table |
| Part-time (standard) | 20 hrs | 55–60% of the full-time equivalent, not 50% |
| Part-time (minimal) | 10 hrs | Hourly rate × 10 × 4.33 — expect a premium per hour |
| Project-based | Varies | Negotiate per deliverable or per milestone |
Example: A mid-level social media manager at $750/month full-time would reasonably expect $420–$460/month for 20 hours/week — not $375. The additional premium reflects that they're reserving bandwidth for you while potentially juggling other clients to make up their income.
| Method | Typical Fee | Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise (TransferWise) | 0.4–1.5% | 1–2 business days | Best overall — lowest fees, real exchange rate |
| Payoneer | ~2% | 1–3 business days | Workers who receive from multiple clients |
| PayPal | 3–5% | Instant | Convenient but expensive — avoid for large amounts |
| Direct bank transfer | $10–$35 flat | 3–5 business days | Makes sense only for larger monthly amounts ($1,000+) |
| Remitly / Western Union | Variable | Fast (minutes) | Emergency payments or workers without digital wallets |
Wise is the recommended default for most employers. The exchange rate is transparent, fees are low, and Filipino workers can receive directly to a local bank account in pesos. Most Filipino workers are familiar with it and prefer it over PayPal.
Filipino workers rarely ask for raises — even when they deserve one. It's cultural. They're unlikely to negotiate assertively, which can lead to them quietly accepting a lower rate while job searching on the side.
The best employers build in proactive salary reviews:
The retention math: Replacing a skilled Filipino VA typically costs 1–3 months of salary in lost productivity, rehiring time, and onboarding. A proactive $100/month raise to retain them costs $1,200/year — far less than the cost of turnover.
The salary table above uses entry, mid, and senior tiers. Here's what those mean in practice for the most common roles:
In WorkBase PH's September 2026 data from 336 Filipino specialists, 72% chose an expected rate of $5–$12 an hour, 21% chose $13–$25, and 3% chose $26 or more (4% prefer fixed-price work). Rates rise with seniority: 57% of lead-level specialists ask for more than $12 an hour, compared with about 1 in 5 at entry to mid-level. IT support and web development specialists ask for higher rates most often. See the full breakdown.
For full-time and long-term part-time arrangements, a monthly salary is strongly preferred by Filipino workers. It provides financial predictability. Hourly rates work for project-based or very minimal commitments (under 10 hours/week), but for anyone you want to retain long-term, a fixed monthly rate signals commitment on your end.
No. When hiring as an independent contractor, the Filipino worker is responsible for their own tax filings with the BIR. You are not required to withhold or remit taxes on their behalf. Document the arrangement with a simple service contract to be clear on the independent contractor status.
Philippine minimum wage laws apply to locally-registered employers. As a foreign employer hiring a Filipino contractor remotely, you are not legally bound by Philippine minimum wage rules. That said, paying below market rates is both ethically questionable and practically counterproductive — you'll attract only the weakest candidates and churn through hires quickly.
You can try, but for roles at the mid and senior level, undercutting the market by more than 10–15% will cost you candidates. The best Filipino workers have multiple offers. They'll take the employer who pays fairly and treats them well — not necessarily the highest, but not below the floor either.
Most employers use a 30–90 day probationary period where either party can end the arrangement with shorter notice (7–14 days). After probation, standard contract notice periods apply. Some employers also offer a slightly reduced rate during probation, with an automatic increase after 30–60 days of good performance — this is well-received and sets a positive trajectory.
Get matched to Filipino specialists — with profiles that can include a video or audio intro — at the right rate for your budget. Full access from day one — no subscription.
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Related: Hire Filipino Specialists by Role → · Cost of a Filipino VA vs. a US Employee · How to Hire a Filipino Virtual Assistant (Step-by-Step) · How Much Does a Filipino Bookkeeper Cost? · Hire a Filipino Web Developer: 2026 Rates · How to Pay a Filipino VA · How to Manage a Remote Team in the Philippines