How Much Does a Virtual Assistant Cost?
VA rates on Orca range from $10 to $50/hrdepending on skills, experience, and the type of work. The profile rate is the VA's rate. Paying the engagement adds the fee shown at checkout.
VA Rate Breakdown by Experience Level
All rates are typical hourly ranges on Orca — agreed directly between you and your VA.
Data entry, basic admin, social scheduling, simple research. Ideal for high-volume repetitive tasks.
- Data entry & spreadsheets
- Basic email sorting
- Social media scheduling
- Simple research tasks
- Copy-paste / reformatting
Best for
High-volume, rules-based tasks with clear SOPs
Most common range on Orca. VAs with 3–7 years experience in inbox management, customer support, executive assistance, and operations.
- Inbox & calendar management
- Customer support (Zendesk, Freshdesk)
- CRM data management
- Executive assistance
- Content coordination
Best for
Founders who want reliable, outcome-focused support
7+ years experience or niche specialisation — bookkeeping, project management, bilingual support, industry-specific expertise.
- Bookkeeping & financial admin
- Project management
- Bilingual/multilingual support
- Industry-specific VA (legal, medical)
- Senior executive assistant
Best for
Businesses with complex processes or regulated environments
Estimated Monthly Cost
Calculate budget based on a standard 4-week month.
| Engagement | Hours / Week | At $15/hr | At $22/hr | At $35/hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time light | 10 hrs | $600/mo | $880/mo | $1,400/mo |
| Part-time | 20 hrs | $1,200/mo | $1,760/mo | $2,800/mo |
| Full-time | 40 hrs | $2,400/mo | $3,520/mo | $5,600/mo |
Rates agreed directly between client and VA — no Orca commission added.
Software to run the team — separate from VA rates
$1 to start, then $19.99/mo after 30 days. $49.99/mo with 2+ teammates. On each pay run the payer covers Bank: ACH 0.8% (cap $5) + $2/person + $0.25/payout + 0.3% payout + 0.3% cross-border + 1% · Card: 2.9% + $0.30 + $2/person + $0.25/payout + 0.3% payout + 0.3% cross-border + 1% on billed hours. That fee is not taken from the VA's rate. Marketplace $30 trials are a separate path.
VA Pricing — Common Questions
How much does a virtual assistant cost per month?
A part-time VA (20 hrs/week) at the mid-range Orca rate of ~$22/hr would cost around $1,760/month. A full-time VA (40 hrs/week) at that rate would be ~$3,520/month — significantly less than a local full-time hire with benefits, office space, and overhead.
Are VA rates negotiable on Orca?
VAs set their own rates on Orca, and those rates reflect their experience and value. You can message any VA to discuss scope and hours, but Orca is not a bidding platform — so VAs don't lower their rate to win you. You pick a VA whose rate fits your budget.
What do I pay on top of the VA rate?
Pay the engagement on Orca. You pay the agreed amount plus the platform fee shown at checkout. The VA receives the full agreed amount on their Orca balance.
Is a $10/hr VA actually good?
Yes, for the right tasks. Entry-level VAs excel at structured, repetitive work — data entry, spreadsheet formatting, basic scheduling. The cost-to-output ratio is excellent for this type of work. For judgment-heavy tasks (drafting, decisions, client-facing comms), you'll get more value from a mid-range or specialist VA.
How does Orca pricing compare to Upwork or a VA agency?
On Upwork, you typically pay a similar VA rate but Upwork takes 10–20% from the VA, which often inflates rates over time. VA agencies typically charge $25–$75/hr for the same work with a 30–50% management markup. Pay the engagement on Orca. You pay the agreed amount plus the platform fee shown at checkout. The VA receives the full agreed amount on their Orca balance.
Browse VAs with Transparent Rates
Every profile shows real rates, availability, and skills. Find your ideal assistant and message them directly.