The short version: Virtual assistant jobs range from £10 an hour for basic admin to £60+ an hour for specialist work like social media strategy or launches. The fastest way in is to pick one niche, build a simple portfolio page, and pitch directly rather than waiting on job boards.
Why I'm writing about VA work right now
I've hired a lot of virtual assistants over the years. Some were brilliant. Some disappeared after two weeks. And some were so good they eventually launched their own agencies.
I've also talked to hundreds of people inside my community who are trying to make money online, and VA work keeps coming up as the thing they want to try but don't fully understand. They think it means typing up letters for retired solicitors. It doesn't. It's changed completely.
So let me give you the real picture, not the recycled stuff you'll find on every other careers site.
What a virtual assistant job looks like in 2024
The term "virtual assistant" covers an enormous range of work. That's both the problem and the opportunity. Here's what's in demand right now:
- General admin VA: calendar management, inbox handling, travel booking, data entry. Entry level. Pays £10 to £18 per hour in the UK, $15 to $25 in the US.
- Social media VA: scheduling posts, writing captions, repurposing content, basic Canva graphics. Pays £18 to £30 per hour depending on platform expertise.
- Launch VA: helping course creators and coaches run product launches. Setting up Kajabi or ThriveCart, managing affiliate links, writing email sequences. Pays £35 to £60+ per hour. Very much in demand.
- Systems and tech VA: setting up automation in tools like Zapier, ActiveCampaign, or ClickUp. Very well paid. Regularly £40 to £70 per hour for experienced people.
- Pinterest VA: yes this is still a thing. Creating and scheduling pins, keyword research, building boards. Niche but consistent demand from bloggers and e-commerce brands.
- Podcast VA: editing audio in Descript or Audacity, writing show notes, uploading to Buzzsprout or Captivate, creating audiograms. Solid recurring work.
- Executive VA: supporting C-suite or founders. Requires discretion and strong communication. Often retainer-based, £2,000 to £4,000 per month for full-time support.
The ones earning the most are not the ones doing the most tasks. They're the ones who solve a specific, expensive problem for a specific type of client.
Where people are hiring virtual assistants
There are three main routes to VA work and they are not equal.
Job boards and platforms
Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour are real but competitive. You'll spend a long time building reviews and the race to the bottom on rates is brutal at the start. Upwork is better for longer-term retainer relationships once you have a track record. Fiverr works well for productised services like "I'll write your podcast show notes for £50 per episode."
Virtual Vocations, FlexJobs, and We Work Remotely post legitimate VA roles but they often go quickly and you're competing with hundreds of applicants. These are worth checking but not worth relying on.
Belay and Time Etc are VA agencies that hire contractors. Belay is US-focused and pays around $15 to $20 per hour to start. Time Etc is UK-based and pays a similar rate. Not the highest pay but a good way to get structured experience.
Direct outreach
This is where I'd spend most of my energy if I were starting today. Identify 20 small business owners, coaches, or content creators who are clearly overwhelmed. Look at their Instagram or LinkedIn. Do they post inconsistently? Are their links broken? Is their email list clearly not being used?
Send a short, specific email. Not "I'm a VA looking for work." More like: "I noticed your last three podcast episodes don't have show notes linked in the description. I write show notes for coaches and course creators. Here's an example. Would it help if I did your next one as a trial?"
Specific problems. Specific proof. Short emails. That's it.
Facebook groups and communities
Groups like "UK Virtual Assistants," "VA Savvies," and various niche Facebook groups for online business owners post work regularly. Turn on notifications. Be fast. Reply with something specific rather than just "I'm interested."
LinkedIn is underused for this. A good VA-specific LinkedIn profile with clear niche language will attract inbound enquiries over time.
What to charge and how to structure it
Hourly feels safe but it punishes you for getting faster. Retainers are better. Packages are better still.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
A clean example: a podcast VA package at £300 per month for four episodes. That covers editing, show notes, uploading, and creating two social clips. Takes roughly 8 to 10 hours. That's £30 to £37 per hour without any awkward time-tracking conversations.
If you're brand new, start with a trial project at a slightly reduced rate in exchange for a written testimonial. Not free. Never free. But £50 to £100 for a small trial project is fair and sets professional expectations.
When you price, factor in the time you spend on communication, admin, and revisions. It's always more than you think.
The portfolio problem and how to fix it
Most new VAs say "I don't have any experience so I can't build a portfolio." This thinking keeps people stuck for months.
Here's what you can do instead:
- Create mock samples. Write three sets of fake podcast show notes for a fictional business. Build a sample content calendar in Notion or Airtable. Screenshot a Canva design you made.
- Volunteer for a charity or a friend's business for one specific project and document the result.
- Use your own work. If you manage your own social media, treat it as case study material.
Build a one-page website on Squarespace or Carrd. Include your niche, what you do, who you do it for, two or three samples, and a contact form. That's a portfolio. You do not need a 10-page site.
The mistakes that keep new VAs broke
I see these constantly when people share their VA businesses in my community:
- Saying yes to everything instead of specialising. "I do social media, admin, customer service, email marketing, bookkeeping..." Nobody knows who you're for.
- Not raising rates after six months. If a client has been with you for a year and you haven't raised your rate, you've effectively given yourself a pay cut.
- Working without a contract. Get a simple contract in place. Not Optional. Even a one-page agreement covering scope, payment terms, and notice period protects both sides.
- Treating every client like they're about to fire you. Confidence reads as competence. Timid VAs get underused and underpaid.
- Ignoring AI tools. If you're not using ChatGPT to draft first versions of show notes or social captions, you're slower than you need to be. Speed is profit when you're on retainer.
Realistic earnings expectations
A new general VA working part time, say 15 hours a week, can earn £600 to £900 per month within three months of starting if they're actively pitching.
A specialist VA, particularly in launches, systems, or executive support, can hit £3,000 to £5,000 per month working 25 to 30 hours a week within a year.
The ceiling is high if you build an agency model and start subcontracting. I know former VAs running teams of five earning £15,000 to £20,000 per month. But that's a business, not a job, and it takes two to three years of deliberate building to get there.
Start with one client. Do excellent work. Get a testimonial. Repeat.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need qualifications to become a virtual assistant?
No formal qualifications are required. Clients hire based on skills, reliability, and proof of work. A basic portfolio, clear communication, and a specific niche matter far more than any certificate. That said, tool-specific training (like a ClickUp or Dubsado certification) can help you charge more in a technical niche.
How long does it take to get the first VA client?
Most people who actively pitch find their first client within two to six weeks. The key word is actively. Posting "I'm open to work" on LinkedIn once a month is not pitching. Sending 20 targeted, specific cold emails per week is pitching.
Is VA work suitable for complete beginners with no business background?
Yes. Many successful VAs came from teaching, administration, retail, or customer service roles. The transferable skills are strong. Organisation, communication, and reliability are what clients care about most at the entry level.
What tools should a virtual assistant know how to use?
The most commonly requested tools are Google Workspace, Asana or ClickUp for project management, Canva for graphics, Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign for email, and Zoom or Calendly for scheduling. Social media specialists should know Buffer, Later, or Metricool. Tech VAs need Zapier and ideally one CRM such as HubSpot or Dubsado.
