4 answers
Michelle
Student
2
Questions
Updated
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How high do Virtual Assistant earn, and how does one even start on the career path ?
How high do Virtual Assistant earn, and how does one even start on the career path?
I've heard a lot about it and it has piqued my interest
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4 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Michelle !
I will start by saying it's impossible to predict your salary as your employer is the one who offers a particular salary and there may be occasion to have a few projects that you'd be working on simultaneously. For this reason, no one can tell you about your pay for the future, It's something you'll find out from the employer at an interview or if they offer you a job/project.
A Virtual Assistant is a remote professional who provides administrative, technical, creative, or specialized support to clients from a home office or remote location, typically as an independent contractor. Since this is the case, you would first have to take a path for a degree or credential that would qualify you as an expert in a specific field of work. Let's look at what industries hire virtual assistants so you can get an idea of what expertise you may need to prepare for.
Places that hire Virtual Assistants are Digital marketing, Real estate, Healthcare and Medical Services, Bookkeeping and Finance, Customer Support, Computer Support, Executive and Administrative Support, Social Media Management, Content Creation, and IT and technical support. You will have to think about specializing in one or more of these and it may mean technical training, professional certification or having a college degree to increase your chances of obtaining this type of work. You can consider data entry work or being a Linked In Assistant, but read some employment notices to get an idea of what employers are requiring for these jobs.
So, before thinking about virtual assistant work, you'll have to explore careers and see where your niche is. Once you are sure about a specific career, then you can obtain the information on how to obtain that career. You will probably need experience at first on site at an in person job. I would highly advise having some in person jobs to boost your qualifications.
Wising you all the best as you move forward !
I will start by saying it's impossible to predict your salary as your employer is the one who offers a particular salary and there may be occasion to have a few projects that you'd be working on simultaneously. For this reason, no one can tell you about your pay for the future, It's something you'll find out from the employer at an interview or if they offer you a job/project.
A Virtual Assistant is a remote professional who provides administrative, technical, creative, or specialized support to clients from a home office or remote location, typically as an independent contractor. Since this is the case, you would first have to take a path for a degree or credential that would qualify you as an expert in a specific field of work. Let's look at what industries hire virtual assistants so you can get an idea of what expertise you may need to prepare for.
Places that hire Virtual Assistants are Digital marketing, Real estate, Healthcare and Medical Services, Bookkeeping and Finance, Customer Support, Computer Support, Executive and Administrative Support, Social Media Management, Content Creation, and IT and technical support. You will have to think about specializing in one or more of these and it may mean technical training, professional certification or having a college degree to increase your chances of obtaining this type of work. You can consider data entry work or being a Linked In Assistant, but read some employment notices to get an idea of what employers are requiring for these jobs.
So, before thinking about virtual assistant work, you'll have to explore careers and see where your niche is. Once you are sure about a specific career, then you can obtain the information on how to obtain that career. You will probably need experience at first on site at an in person job. I would highly advise having some in person jobs to boost your qualifications.
Wising you all the best as you move forward !
Thank you so much, Michelle!
Michelle
Iuliana Galardi
Customer support
2
Answers
Tampa, Florida
Updated
Iuliana’s Answer
Michelle was spot on. Here are a few more ideas to consider:
What VAs actually earn:
Beginners usually start around $10–$18/hour doing basic admin work like email and scheduling. Once you add a concrete skill (CRM management, bookkeeping, social media, project coordination), rates jump to $25–$45/hour. Highly trusted VAs supporting founders or executives often charge $60–$80/hour, usually on monthly retainers.
Choose one clear skill and commit to it for two weeks:
Don’t try to do everything. Pick one service you can explain in a sentence—something like calendar and inbox management for founders or cleaning and maintaining a HubSpot CRM. Spend two weeks learning it through tutorials and practicing in free tools. Write down exactly what you can now handle—this becomes your service offering.
Create simple proof instead of a traditional resume:
Put together a one-page document that lists your services, tools you use, availability, and a short intro. Add one or two concrete examples (mock inbox cleanup, reporting template, task tracker). This is what clients care about far more than a resume/CV.
Apply where people already hire and pay VAs:
Set up focused profiles on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr only after you’ve defined your niche. Send a few tailored proposals every day that clearly reference the client’s problem. In parallel, reach out directly to founders on LinkedIn with short, specific messages that show how you can help—avoid generic “I’m a VA” pitches.
Shift to monthly retainers as fast as possible:
After landing your first client, offer a fixed monthly package (for example $800–$1,500/month for set weekly hours). Retainers give predictable income and effectively raise your hourly rate. After about a month, ask for a testimonial and use it immediately to justify higher pricing.
What VAs actually earn:
Beginners usually start around $10–$18/hour doing basic admin work like email and scheduling. Once you add a concrete skill (CRM management, bookkeeping, social media, project coordination), rates jump to $25–$45/hour. Highly trusted VAs supporting founders or executives often charge $60–$80/hour, usually on monthly retainers.
Choose one clear skill and commit to it for two weeks:
Don’t try to do everything. Pick one service you can explain in a sentence—something like calendar and inbox management for founders or cleaning and maintaining a HubSpot CRM. Spend two weeks learning it through tutorials and practicing in free tools. Write down exactly what you can now handle—this becomes your service offering.
Create simple proof instead of a traditional resume:
Put together a one-page document that lists your services, tools you use, availability, and a short intro. Add one or two concrete examples (mock inbox cleanup, reporting template, task tracker). This is what clients care about far more than a resume/CV.
Apply where people already hire and pay VAs:
Set up focused profiles on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr only after you’ve defined your niche. Send a few tailored proposals every day that clearly reference the client’s problem. In parallel, reach out directly to founders on LinkedIn with short, specific messages that show how you can help—avoid generic “I’m a VA” pitches.
Shift to monthly retainers as fast as possible:
After landing your first client, offer a fixed monthly package (for example $800–$1,500/month for set weekly hours). Retainers give predictable income and effectively raise your hourly rate. After about a month, ask for a testimonial and use it immediately to justify higher pricing.
Thank you for sharing your perspective.
Michelle
Rebecca Stout
Executive Assistant to leadership partners within auditing, tax, and assurance.
2
Answers
Maypearl, Texas
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Hi Michelle,
Developing a mix of strong general administrative skills plus one or two specializations will help you stand out and open doors to better‑paying VA roles. No matter which industry you choose, soft skills matter just as much as technical tools. Be honest with yourself about your strongest and weakest areas, and intentionally work on the skills you want to improve. You can start practicing and strengthening these in your everyday life.
Communication (written & verbal) - Attention to detail. Staying calm when things change or instructions are unclear. Being open to feedback and adjusting your approach. Attention to detail. Anticipating needs instead of waiting for every instruction
Reliability & time management- This is so important for a virtual employee, learning work life balance. Meeting deadlines consistently. Estimating how long tasks will take. Tracking ongoing tasks and priorities.
Discretion & professionalism
Suggesting improvements (e.g., “I noticed we could save time by…”) - Using task/project tools effectively. Solution-focused
Good luck in your endeavours!
Developing a mix of strong general administrative skills plus one or two specializations will help you stand out and open doors to better‑paying VA roles. No matter which industry you choose, soft skills matter just as much as technical tools. Be honest with yourself about your strongest and weakest areas, and intentionally work on the skills you want to improve. You can start practicing and strengthening these in your everyday life.
Communication (written & verbal) - Attention to detail. Staying calm when things change or instructions are unclear. Being open to feedback and adjusting your approach. Attention to detail. Anticipating needs instead of waiting for every instruction
Reliability & time management- This is so important for a virtual employee, learning work life balance. Meeting deadlines consistently. Estimating how long tasks will take. Tracking ongoing tasks and priorities.
Discretion & professionalism
Suggesting improvements (e.g., “I noticed we could save time by…”) - Using task/project tools effectively. Solution-focused
Good luck in your endeavours!
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Michelle
Muhammad Ismail
Problem Solver
1
Answer
New York, New York
Updated
Muhammad’s Answer
To Start a Virtual Assistant Career:
Pick a service: admin work, email management, customer support, social media, data tasks
Learn basic tools: Google Workspace, Slack, Trello, Canva
Create a simple profile/portfolio
Apply for remote work or join an agency
🌍 Where RemoteSole.com Fits In
RemoteSole.com connects businesses with trained virtual assistants
Great for beginners who don’t want to hunt clients alone
Offers reliable remote work and long-term opportunities
Pick a service: admin work, email management, customer support, social media, data tasks
Learn basic tools: Google Workspace, Slack, Trello, Canva
Create a simple profile/portfolio
Apply for remote work or join an agency
🌍 Where RemoteSole.com Fits In
RemoteSole.com connects businesses with trained virtual assistants
Great for beginners who don’t want to hunt clients alone
Offers reliable remote work and long-term opportunities