How Much Does an Executive Assistant Cost in 2026?
The cost of an executive assistant varies dramatically depending on location. A U.S.-based EA costs $61,390-$94,390/year in base salary before benefits, while a Philippines-based EA through F5 Hiring Solutions costs $400-$525/week all-inclusive - $20,800-$27,300/year with no additional fees.
This comparison breaks down every cost component for both options with actual numbers, so hiring managers can make an informed decision rather than a marketing-estimate decision.
The F5 Definition: Fully-loaded employment cost is the true annual cost of a hire - base salary multiplied by the ECEC fully-loaded multiplier of 1.4265 - plus any recruiting fee. F5's all-inclusive weekly rate eliminates both.
U.S. Executive Assistant Cost: Full 2026 Breakdown
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $76,590 for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 43-6011, median).
Base salary is only one component of the total cost of employment. U.S. employers carry a fully-loaded multiplier of 1.4265 on base salary - health insurance, 401(k) matching, PTO, FICA taxes, workers' compensation, and other mandated costs - per the BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, December 2025 release (USDL-26-0505), where benefits are 29.9 percent of total compensation. Add the one-time recruiting cost and the first-year number is substantially higher than the salary figure.
| Cost Component | Low Estimate | High Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary (BLS 43-6011, 25th-75th pctile) | $61,390 | $94,390 |
| Benefits (ECEC 1.4265 multiplier) | $26,183 | $40,257 |
| Recruiting, one-time (SHRM avg cost-per-hire) | $4,700 | $4,700 |
| Total First-Year Cost | $92,273 | $139,347 |
A fully remote U.S. EA costs $92,273-$139,347 in the first year. Excluding the one-time recruiting cost, $87,573-$134,647 of that repeats every year - unless the EA leaves, at which point recruiting costs restart.
Philippines Executive Assistant Cost Through F5: Full 2026 Breakdown
| Cost Component | F5 Rate |
|---|---|
| Weekly Rate | $400-$525 |
| Annual Cost (52 weeks) | $20,800-$27,300 |
| Salary and Local Benefits | Included |
| HR and Payroll Administration | Included |
| F5-Provided Equipment | Included |
| Internet Stipend | Included |
| We360 Activity Monitoring | Included |
| Replacement Guarantee | Included |
| Setup Fee | $0 |
| Recruiting Fee | $0 |
| Total First-Year Cost | $20,800-$27,300 |
The gap is not a rounding error. A company hiring through F5 saves $65,700-$129,700 in the first year compared to a U.S.-based executive assistant. Over three years, that savings compounds to $197,100-$389,100 per role - before accounting for replacement costs that the F5 model eliminates entirely.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Philippines EA vs. U.S. EA
| Metric | F5 Philippines EA | U.S.-Based EA |
|---|---|---|
| Annual rate (F5 all-in / U.S. base) | $20,800-$27,300 | $61,390-$94,390 |
| Benefits cost | Included | $26,183-$40,257 |
| Recruiting cost (one-time) | $0 | $4,700 |
| Activity monitoring | Included (We360) | Client cost or absent |
| First-year total | $20,800-$27,300 | $92,273-$139,347 |
| 3-year total | $62,400-$81,900 | $267,419-$408,641 |
| Working hours per week | 40+ | 40 |
| U.S. business hours | Yes | Yes |
| English proficiency | Native-English level | Native |
| Replacement cost | $0 | $4,700 |
| Minimum engagement | None | At-will (with severance risk) |
| Time to hire | 7-14 business days | 30-90 days |
The F5 Definition: A Managed Remote Workforce is a model where the provider is the legal employer, supplies hardware, monitors productivity, and dedicates the professional exclusively to one client.
What Drives the Cost Difference?
The cost gap between a Philippines EA and a U.S. EA stems from three structural factors - not quality differences.
Cost of Living Differential. The Philippines cost of living is approximately 60-70% lower than the U.S. A salary of $20,800-$27,300 provides a strong professional income in the Philippines while representing significant savings for U.S. employers. The EA is well-compensated relative to their local market - the savings benefit is a function of purchasing power parity, not labor exploitation.
Bundled Employment Costs. F5 eliminates the fragmented cost structure of U.S. hiring. Benefits, payroll taxes, equipment, recruiting, and HR administration are bundled into one weekly rate. U.S. employers face 8-12 separate cost categories for each hire, managed by internal HR teams that have their own overhead.
Zero Recruiting Overhead. U.S. executive assistant recruiting averages $4,700 per hire (SHRM average cost-per-hire, all hires, 2021). F5 sources, screens, and presents candidates as part of the weekly rate. If a candidate doesn't work out - for any reason - the replacement sourcing costs $0 and delivers a new shortlist within 7-14 days.
Does Lower Cost Mean Lower Quality?
The short answer: no, when the provider screens properly.
F5 draws from a pool of 85,500+ pre-vetted candidates across its sourcing database. Executive assistant candidates go through multi-stage screening that includes work history verification (3+ years required), English proficiency testing (written and verbal), platform skills assessment, a timed task simulation, and a recorded video introduction.
The Philippines produces over 700,000 college graduates annually, many with business administration, communications, and management degrees. The country's BPO sector - the second-largest in the world by revenue - has trained a generation of professionals in American business norms, executive support tools, and communication standards.
F5 maintains a 95% client retention rate across 250+ companies served since 2017. That number reflects the quality of matches, not the appeal of low cost alone. Companies that stay with F5 for 2-4 years do so because the EAs perform at a level that justifies continued engagement - not because switching is complicated.
For a detailed view of the hiring and matching process, see why companies choose F5 for remote staffing and how the F5 hiring process works.
When a U.S.-Based EA Makes More Sense
A Philippines-based EA is not the right fit for every role. U.S. hire considerations include:
In-Person Requirements. Roles requiring physical attendance at meetings, events, or office reception. Some EA roles include greeting visitors, managing on-site logistics, or handling physical mail and packages - tasks that cannot be performed remotely.
Regulatory Restrictions. Roles requiring access to highly restricted government, defense, or compliance-regulated data with domestic citizenship requirements. A minority of EA roles at regulated institutions carry these requirements.
High-Volume Regulatory Phone Work. Roles that are 80%+ phone-based with strict U.S. regulatory requirements for call handling - certain financial services or healthcare contexts where licensed or domestic-only staff requirements apply.
For the 70-80% of EA tasks that are digital - calendar management, travel booking, correspondence, document management, stakeholder coordination, and project tracking - a Philippines-based EA through F5 delivers equivalent output at 65-76% lower cost.
3-Year Cost Projection: Philippines vs. U.S. EA
| Year | F5 Philippines EA | U.S. EA (without replacement) | Cumulative Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $27,300 (high end) | $115,810 (midpoint) | $88,510 |
| Year 2 | $27,300 | $111,110 (fully loaded) | $172,320 |
| Year 3 | $27,300 | $111,110 | $256,130 |
| 3-Year Total | $81,900 | $338,030 | $256,130 |
Midpoint values used. F5 annual rate held flat (rates are typically stable year-over-year). U.S. EA includes a 2-3% annual salary increase and consistent benefits loading. U.S. Year 1 includes recruiting fees of $10,000.
If the U.S. EA leaves and requires replacement - which happens with 15-20% of EA hires within 24 months - add $4,700 to the U.S. total. F5 replacement cost: $0.
How to Get Started
To hire remote executive assistants through F5, submit role requirements online or contact the F5 team. The process covers three client steps: define the role scope, review 3-5 shortlisted candidates within 7-14 business days, and interview top picks.
F5 handles employment setup, equipment provisioning, payroll, and ongoing HR. The client manages daily priorities and task assignments. No long-term contracts, no setup fees, no recruiting charges.
For a step-by-step guide to the hiring process, see how to hire a remote executive assistant from the Philippines. For C-suite hiring specifically, the CEO executive assistant remote guide covers the additional requirements for CEO-level EA roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Philippines executive assistant cost per year?
$20,800-$27,300/year through F5 Hiring Solutions, all-inclusive. This covers salary, HR, payroll, equipment, internet, We360 monitoring, and management. No additional fees or hidden charges beyond the weekly rate of $400-$525.
What is the average U.S. executive assistant salary in 2026?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the base band at $61,390-$94,390 around a median of $76,590 (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 43-6011). Applying the ECEC fully-loaded multiplier of 1.4265, total annual cost reaches $87,573-$134,647.
What is included in the F5 weekly rate for an executive assistant?
The $400-$525/week rate includes full-time salary, HR administration, payroll processing, F5-provided equipment, internet stipend, We360 productivity monitoring, attendance tracking, and a zero-cost replacement guarantee. No setup fees, no contracts, no minimum engagement period.
Are there hidden costs when hiring a Philippines-based EA through F5?
No. The weekly rate is fully loaded - salary, HR, payroll, equipment, internet, and We360 monitoring are all bundled. The weekly rate is the total cost.
How does the quality of a Philippines EA compare to a U.S. EA?
F5 screens for 3+ years of executive support experience, professional English, and platform proficiency. The Philippines has native-English-level communication. Most clients report equivalent task output to U.S. hires at 65-76% lower cost, backed by F5's 95% retention rate.
Can a Philippines EA work U.S. business hours?
Yes. F5 executive assistants work standard U.S. business hours - Eastern, Central, or Pacific. The Philippines BPO industry has normalized U.S.-shift schedules, and F5 monitors attendance and active hours daily via We360.
What is the cost of recruiting a U.S. executive assistant?
U.S. EA recruiting averages $4,700 per hire (SHRM average cost-per-hire (~$4,700, all hires, 2021, Talent Access Report)). F5 charges zero recruiting fees. Sourcing, screening, and candidate delivery are included in the weekly rate.
Is there a long-term contract required with F5?
No. F5 operates on weekly billing with no long-term commitments. The 95% retention rate across 250+ companies reflects satisfaction, not lock-in.
Schedule a 30-minute call with F5 to get a precise cost comparison for your specific role, or hire remote executive assistants through F5 to start the process.