You're reconciling invoices at 9pm because the day went almost entirely to one client. You're weighing up a local part-timer at $30 an hour, before KiwiSaver and leave.
Someone suggests a virtual assistant. Then you go looking at rates and find figures from $8 to $150 an hour, which tells you nothing.
So how much does a virtual assistant cost? Here's what to expect from VA rates, and what the whole thing actually costs.
Quick Summary
A virtual assistant costs between $12 and $80 an hour in New Zealand, and the spread comes down to who's paying the wage. NZ-based freelance virtual assistants and local agencies charge $35 to $80 an hour, because their rates carry NZ wages, ACC and KiwiSaver.
Outshore places an offshore VA from $12 an hour plus GST. One monthly fee covers the person's wage and our management of them, so nothing arrives later as a surprise.
The cost of an employee is always more than their rate suggests. Average ordinary time hourly earnings sat at $44.62 in the June 2026 quarter (Stats NZ, 2026), and KiwiSaver, ACC and four weeks of paid leave load on top of that.
For most owners the question isn't the hourly rate. It's the total cost of getting 20 hours a week back.
What Virtual Assistants Charge In NZ In 2026
Four bands cover the virtual assistant rates NZ businesses see, from $8 an hour to $150. Local sole traders and boutique agencies sit at the top, carrying NZ wages and overheads.
Offshore placement rates sit lower because they're set by the Philippine economy. That doesn't make the work cheap or less valuable.
| Type of virtual assistant | Typical cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| NZ freelance VA, sole trader | $30 to $60/hr | Ad hoc admin, one person, no cover when they're away |
| NZ agency or premium VA | $65 to $150/hr | Specialist skills and team backup, at higher rates |
| Offshore VA, hired direct | $8 to $14/hr | You do the screening, contracting and managing |
| Offshore VA, managed service | From $12/hr + GST | Screening, contracting, management and replacement |
Data gathered and compiled from published sources from other NZ VA providers, checked August 2026.
Outshore's entry rate is $12 an hour plus GST. Role-level rates run $12 to $19. General admin sits at the bottom, a real estate or social media VA at the top. You can see the roles we place and what each costs before you talk to anyone.
What is Included in the Hourly Rate
With a managed service, the hourly rate is the whole cost. No recruitment fee, no separate management fee, and no invoice arriving later for something you assumed the rate covered. One bill covers the person's wage and our work.
Here's what that single bill buys, in order:
- 30+ candidates screened per role, with skills and language testing, not a shortlist pulled off a job board.
- Three interviews, not twelve. You meet the top 3 and nobody else, because sorting the other 27 is our job.
- Placement in 14 to 15 working days, roughly three working weeks from brief to start date.
- A look at the software and tools you already run, so we match you to a VA or executive assistant who knows them, whether that's Slack, Google Workspace or something else.
- A free replacement if the fit is wrong.
We test day-to-day communication skills too. A VA who writes well to your customers beats one who's only fast at data entry. You can read how we screen and shortlist candidates if you want the detail.
A direct offshore hire at $8 an hour looks cheaper on the invoice. It isn't, once you count the evenings reading applications, the contract you write yourself, and the month lost when the first hire stops replying.
The Real Cost Of Hiring An NZ Employee Instead
An NZ admin employee costs materially more per hour than their wage. Average ordinary time hourly earnings reached $44.62 in the June 2026 quarter (Stats NZ, 2026). Employment costs then load on top of whatever figure you agree.
| Extra cost | What it adds |
|---|---|
| KiwiSaver employer contribution | 3.5% of gross pay from 1 April 2026, rising to 4% in 2028 |
| Annual holidays | Four weeks of paid leave after 12 months |
| ACC work levy | Set by your industry classification |
| Recruitment, laptop, software seats | One-off to set up, then ongoing per head |
If the role needs someone physically on site, or deep NZ regulatory knowledge, hire locally. Our full comparison is in the VAs versus in-house staff article.
Why Filipino Rates Look Lower Compared to NZ, But Still Fair
Filipino VA rates are lower because the Philippine economy sets the wage. It doesn't mean the standard is lower. The country ranks 28th of 123 on the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index, with professionals in admin and clerical roles scoring around 600 against a global average of 488.
The VAs we pair with NZ businesses earn above average in the Philippines for the same work cluster. That's why the model holds up. Our VA partners are paid properly, they get better at the job, and you're not rehiring every eight months.
The Philippines also runs 4 to 5 hours behind New Zealand. A teammate working your morning isn't pulling a night shift to do it, and that's another reason people stay.
What You'll Pay Per Month, In Real Numbers
Take a part-time VA at 20 hours a week. That's roughly $1,040 a month plus GST at the entry rate. Here's the full picture, on a monthly basis.
| Hours per week | At $12/hr + GST | At $19/hr + GST |
|---|---|---|
| 10 hours | $520/month | $823/month |
| 20 hours | $1,040/month | $1,647/month |
| 40 hours, full time | $2,080/month | $3,293/month |
Three things sit around those numbers:
- GST, which you claim back if you're registered.
- Your own time in week one. Budget 5 to 10 hours to hand over context and record a few Looms.
- Software seats you already pay for per user, like an extra Xero licence.
We won't lock you into a contract before you're ready, and there's no deposit until you decide. You can see what our virtual assistant services include in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual assistant?
Between $8 and $150 an hour, depending on where the person lives and who manages them. A managed offshore placement through Outshore starts at $12 an hour plus GST, with the wage and the management in a single monthly bill.
How much does a virtual assistant cost in NZ?
The VA hourly rate NZ sole traders charge runs from $35 to $80. Other agencies charge up to $150. An NZ-managed offshore service places VAs from $12 an hour plus GST, which is the sweet spot for small to medium-sized NZ businesses.
How much should I pay for a virtual assistant?
Pay for the scope, not the lowest hourly rate. Data entry and inbox triage sit at the bottom of the range. Bookkeeping, customer service and client contact sit higher. Anything needing technical knowledge does too, because experience level is what you're buying.
Is having a virtual assistant worth the cost?
It depends on what your own hour is worth. Twenty hours a week runs about $1,040 a month. If admin is the thing stopping you quoting, selling or delivering, it pays for itself quickly. If your bottleneck is somewhere else, it won't, and we'd rather tell you that.
Where To Go From Here
Work out the hours first, then the rate. Ten hours a week of the right tasks beats 40 of the wrong ones.
Get straight answers about whether offshore fits your business. A free strategy call with Matthew: no sales pitch, no pressure, just a straight conversation about whether this is right for you.
References
- Education First. (2025). EF English Proficiency Index: Philippines. ef.com
- Employment New Zealand. (2026). Annual holidays. employment.govt.nz
- Inland Revenue. (2026). KiwiSaver changes. ird.govt.nz
- Stats NZ. (2026). Labour market statistics: June 2026 quarter. stats.govt.nz