The short answer: it depends on the model. A WorkMate Pro offshore virtual assistant starts from $12.50 AUD per hour as an all-inclusive rate covering employment, payroll, equipment, workspace and HR management. Other models price differently, and a local hire costs more than the wage. This guide shows what drives each cost so you can compare quotes properly.
This page covers virtual assistant pricing only. For other roles, see our offshore staff cost guide for Australia.
How virtual assistants are priced
- Freelancer rates. You pay an hourly rate set by the individual, usually with no employment costs, but also no guaranteed availability. See freelance vs full-time virtual assistants for the trade-offs.
- Pooled or package pricing. You buy a block of hours or tasks from a VA company. Easy to start, but check the cost per hour if you need regular, consistent support.
- Dedicated full-time offshore staff. One person works only for you, billed at an ongoing all-inclusive rate. WorkMate Pro’s starts from $12.50 AUD per hour.
- A local employee. Wages plus on-costs, covered below.
What a local employee really costs
The wage is only part of the cost of hiring locally. Add:
- Superannuation. The superannuation guarantee is 12 percent of ordinary time earnings from 1 July 2025.
- Paid leave. Full-time employees accrue four weeks of annual leave and ten days of paid personal/carer’s leave each year under the National Employment Standards.
- Payroll tax and insurance. Payroll tax rules and thresholds differ by state and territory, and workers’ compensation insurance applies.
- Equipment, software and workspace. A computer, licences, a desk and the overheads that go with them.
- Recruitment and management time. Advertising or agency fees, interviewing, onboarding and your own time managing the role.
A simple worked example (illustration only)
These figures are round numbers to show the arithmetic, not a market rate. Suppose a role has a $60,000 salary. Superannuation at 12 percent adds $7,200, taking the cost to $67,200 before leave loading, payroll tax, equipment, software, recruitment or management time. Divide by the hours actually worked to get the real cost per productive hour. That figure, not the wage, is what to compare against any other quote.
What an offshore rate includes
With WorkMate Pro, the all-inclusive rate covers employment, payroll, equipment, workspace and HR management. Your virtual assistant works full-time hours aligned to your Australian business day. The exact rate for your role depends on the experience level you need, so we confirm a quote on your strategy call.
What is often missing from a quoted rate
- Equipment and internet for the assistant.
- Software licences the assistant needs.
- Onboarding or setup fees.
- Cover when the assistant is away or leaves.
- Your own management time, which exists with any model.
Ask each provider to confirm in writing what is included and what is not.
How to compare quotes: cost per productive hour
- Add every cost that applies, including the extras listed above.
- Divide by the hours of work you can actually rely on over a year.
- Compare the result across models, not the headline hourly rate.
- Weigh cost against continuity: a cheaper rate for a different person each week can cost more in re-explaining your processes.
Get a quote
Book a free 30-minute strategy call and we will confirm a rate for the role you need, with recruitment, payroll and office costs included. See our virtual assistant services for the tasks a dedicated VA can take on.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a virtual assistant cost per hour in Australia?
It depends on the model. Freelancers, pooled VA companies, dedicated offshore staff and local employees all price differently. WorkMate Pro’s dedicated offshore virtual assistants start from $12.50 AUD per hour, all-inclusive. Compare any quote on cost per productive hour, not the headline rate.
Is a cheaper virtual assistant a false economy?
Sometimes. A low rate that excludes equipment, backup cover or onboarding, or that delivers a different person each time, can cost more in practice. Check what is included and how consistent the service is.
Does the offshore rate include payroll and equipment?
Yes. The WorkMate Pro rate covers employment, payroll, equipment, workspace and HR management.
How much does a local virtual assistant or administrator cost?
Add the wage, 12 percent superannuation, paid leave, payroll tax and insurance, equipment and software, and recruitment and management time. The worked example above shows how to build that into a cost per productive hour.
