The short version: Virtual assistant vacancies are plentiful right now, with pay ranging from £12 to £45 per hour depending on specialisation. The best roles never hit the big job boards. If you know where to look and what to pitch, you can be earning within four to six weeks.
Why I am writing about virtual assistant vacancies right now
I get messages every week from people who want to work from home, have a solid set of skills, and are completely stuck on where to start. And the most common thing I see is people spending three months applying on Indeed and getting absolutely nowhere.
I have hired virtual assistants myself. I have also worked with dozens of business owners who are quietly desperate to find good ones. The disconnect between "there are loads of VA jobs out there" and "I cannot find a single one" is a platform problem, not a skills problem.
So here is what I know about where these vacancies live, what they pay, and what makes someone get hired fast.
What virtual assistant work involves in 2024
The term "virtual assistant" covers an enormous range of work, which is part of why it is so hard to search for sensibly. When I post for a VA role, I am usually looking for someone who can handle inbox management, calendar scheduling, social media scheduling (not strategy, just execution), basic research tasks, and light customer service.
But other businesses want very different things. Here is a rough breakdown of the main VA categories you will see in actual vacancies:
- General VA: Admin, email, diary management, travel booking. Entry level. Pay is usually £12 to £18 per hour in the UK, $15 to $22 in the US.
- Social media VA: Scheduling posts, basic Canva graphics, reporting on metrics. Pay is £15 to £25 per hour.
- Executive VA: Supporting C-suite or founders, often with more discretion and complexity. Pay is £25 to £45 per hour. This is where experience matters a lot.
- Tech VA or OBM (Online Business Manager): Managing funnels, CRM systems like HubSpot or ActiveCampaign, WordPress updates. Pay is £28 to £50 per hour. Highest demand right now.
- Launch VA: Specialists who support course creators or coaches during product launches. Often project-based, but extremely well paid for short bursts of intense work.
Knowing which category you fit into before you start applying changes everything. "I am a virtual assistant" is not a pitch. "I am a tech VA who specialises in setting up ActiveCampaign sequences for course creators" gets you hired.
Where virtual assistant vacancies are
Here is the thing nobody tells you: the best VA vacancies are not on Reed or Indeed. They are in private Facebook groups, on LinkedIn, in newsletters, and through direct referrals. The roles that show up on the big job boards tend to be lower paid, higher volume, and flooded with applicants.
Facebook groups that regularly post VA vacancies
This sounds old-fashioned and it is exactly where the work is. Groups like "Virtual Assistant Savvies", "UK Virtual Assistants", and "VA Leads and Opportunities" post genuine paid opportunities daily. You join, you search the group for recent posts, and you apply in the comments or by DM. It is informal and it works.
The trick is to have your profile set up before you start. Your personal Facebook profile should clearly state what you do in the bio. Business owners look at profiles before they reply.
LinkedIn for mid to senior VA roles
LinkedIn is where executive VA and OBM roles live. Search "virtual assistant" with the filter set to "remote" and sort by "most recent." Set up a job alert for that search. The roles that appear here tend to pay better and come from more established companies.
More importantly, post on LinkedIn about your VA work. I have seen people pick up their first client within two weeks purely from a LinkedIn post saying "I have just set up as a VA specialising in X, here is what I offer." It feels vulnerable. It works.
Specialist VA platforms
A few platforms specifically connect VAs with clients and are worth knowing:
- Virtalent (UK-based): They hire VAs as part of their team and match them with clients. Competitive application process but steady work once you are in.
- Belay Solutions (US-focused): Well regarded, pays well, strong vetting process.
- Time Etc: UK and US, hires experienced VAs, pays around £11 per hour but provides consistent volume.
- Boldly (formerly Worldwide101): Higher end, pays $22 to $35 per hour, only takes senior-level applicants.
These are not passive income. They are real jobs with real vetting. But they give you consistent hours without the sales work of finding your own clients.
Direct pitching to small business owners
This is the method I have seen produce results fastest. Pick ten to twenty small business owners in a niche you understand, look at their public presence, identify one specific thing you could help them with, and send a personalised email or LinkedIn message.
Not "I am a VA looking for work." That gets deleted.
Something like: "I noticed your Instagram has not been updated in three weeks and your last three posts did not have any hashtags. I specialise in social media management for service businesses and I have availability from next month. Want me to send over a couple of ideas?"
That gets replies. I have seen it work repeatedly.
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What the job listings are not telling you
Most VA vacancy listings are vague on purpose. "Assist with day to day tasks" usually means "we have not thought about this yet." That is not necessarily bad. It means the person hiring is overwhelmed and will be grateful for someone who comes in with a clear structure.
When I hire a VA, what wins me over is not someone who says they can do everything. It is someone who asks good questions in the application. "Can you tell me more about the tools you currently use?" or "What does a successful first month look like for you?" These questions show professional instinct.
Also: rates. Most listings say "competitive salary" or "depending on experience" because the business owner is not sure what to pay. Know your rate before you apply and state it clearly. Apologising for your rate, or refusing to name one, both make you look uncertain. Uncertainty is the one thing a busy founder cannot afford to hire.
Building a profile that gets you shortlisted
You do not need a website to get started, but you do need something that shows your work exists. Options that work:
- A simple PDF "service menu" that lists what you offer, your rate, and two or three examples of tasks you have handled (real or from a test project you did on purpose)
- A LinkedIn profile with a clear headline like "Executive VA | Inbox and Calendar Management for Founders" rather than just "Virtual Assistant"
- A free Notion page or Google Doc acting as a simple portfolio
- One strong testimonial is worth more than five weak ones. Ask for it specifically and ask the person to mention what problem you solved
The income reality
A part-time VA working 20 hours a week at £20 per hour earns £400 a week, or roughly £1,600 a month before tax. That is a meaningful income for flexible work. At the executive or tech level, 20 hours a week can bring in £3,000 to £4,000 a month.
Full-time employed VA roles in the UK tend to sit between £22,000 and £35,000 per year. Senior executive VA roles at larger companies can reach £45,000 to £55,000.
Freelance rates are higher per hour but you carry the income uncertainty. Most people who do this seriously end up with two or three retainer clients rather than lots of one-off projects, because retainers mean predictable money.
Frequently asked questions
Do virtual assistant vacancies require formal qualifications?
No formal qualifications are required for most VA roles. Employers care about demonstrated skills, reliability, and communication. A test task done well beats a CV with the wrong experience every time.
How much do virtual assistant jobs pay in the UK?
General VA roles pay £12 to £18 per hour. Social media VAs earn £15 to £25. Executive and tech VAs command £28 to £50 per hour freelance, or £30,000 to £55,000 per year in employed roles.
What is the fastest way to find virtual assistant work?
Join UK VA Facebook groups and post your availability with a clear niche stated. Direct pitch to ten small business owners in one sector with a specific observation about their business. These two actions consistently produce faster results than applying through job boards.
Can I do virtual assistant work from anywhere?
Most VA roles are fully remote and location-flexible. Some executive VA roles require overlap with a specific time zone, particularly if you are supporting US clients from the UK. Always check the working hours requirement in the listing before applying.
Related reading: How to Start a Virtual Assistant Business in 2026 (Without the Burnout) and Work From Home as a Virtual Assistant: What You'll Earn and How to Land Clients.
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