CEO Executive AssistantThe honest answer is: it depends on the model, quality level, and hours of support. But consulting executives deserve more than that. This guide provides specific numbers across every major EA model, with the full cost picture including taxes, benefits, recruiting, and overhead that many cost comparisons omit.
The Cost Variables That Matter Most
Before any numbers, the factors that determine consulting EA cost:
Geography of the EA: US-based EAs cost significantly more than near-shore (Latin America) or offshore (Philippines, South Asia) equivalents. The quality differential is real and matters for client-facing consulting work.
Service model: In-house direct hire, managed virtual platform, staffing agency placement, and on-demand services each have different cost structures.
Hours of support: Part-time support costs proportionally less than full-time, but the per-hour effective rate varies by arrangement.
Quality and experience level: Entry-level EAs cost less than senior EAs with professional services backgrounds. The quality differential directly affects the value delivered.
Dedicated vs. shared: Dedicated EAs cost more than shared pool services. The value differential for consulting work favors dedicated arrangements strongly.
In-House Direct Hire: Full Cost Breakdown
Hiring an executive assistant as a direct employee is the most transparent and the most expensive model when all costs are included.
Full-Time In-House EA (US-Based)
Salary range: $65,000 to $110,000 annually, depending on location, experience, and consulting specialization. New York, San Francisco, and Chicago command the upper end.
Benefits: Add 20 to 35 percent for health insurance, dental, vision, retirement contributions, and PTO accrual. On a $85,000 salary, this adds $17,000 to $30,000.
Payroll taxes: Employer FICA, unemployment insurance, and state payroll taxes add approximately 7 to 12 percent of salary. On $85,000, this is approximately $6,000 to $10,000.
Recruiting costs: In-house recruitment averages $3,000 to $8,000 in staff time and job board costs. Using an EA staffing agency adds a placement fee of 18 to 25 percent of first-year salary, or $15,000 to $27,500 on a senior hire.
Equipment and workspace: Laptop, phone, software licenses, and desk space. For an in-office hire, this adds $3,000 to $8,000 in the first year.
Total first-year cost (all-in): $95,000 to $165,000 for a senior, experienced US-based in-house EA.
Ongoing annual cost (after first year): $90,000 to $155,000 with benefits and taxes.
This is the honest number that many “salary guide” articles omit. The salary is only part of the cost.
Part-Time In-House EA (US-Based, 20 Hours/Week)
For consulting CEOs who do not need full-time support:
Salary (part-time, proportional): $35,000 to $55,000 annually
Benefits (prorated or proportional): $5,000 to $12,000
Payroll taxes: $3,000 to $5,500
Recruiting (amortized over 2 years): $2,500 to $7,500 first-year equivalent
Total first-year cost: $45,000 to $80,000
Effective hourly rate: $43 to $77
Managed Virtual EA Platform Costs
Virtual EA platforms manage the hiring, training, and oversight of the EA. The consulting firm pays a subscription or monthly fee and receives EA service without the employment infrastructure costs.
US-Based Premium Virtual Platforms
These platforms assign EAs based in the United States with professional backgrounds and strong business communication skills.
Part-time (10 to 20 hours/week): $1,500 to $3,000 per month ($18,000 to $36,000 annually)
Standard (20 to 30 hours/week): $2,500 to $4,500 per month ($30,000 to $54,000 annually)
Full-time equivalent (40 hours/week): $4,500 to $7,500 per month ($54,000 to $90,000 annually)
Effective hourly rate: $28 to $47, significantly below the all-in cost of in-house hiring at equivalent quality.
Near-Shore Managed Platforms (Latin America)
EAs based in Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, or similar markets, with strong English proficiency and business communication skills. Time zone overlap with US business hours is typically strong.
Part-time (10 to 20 hours/week): $700 to $1,800 per month ($8,400 to $21,600 annually)
Standard (20 to 30 hours/week): $1,200 to $2,500 per month ($14,400 to $30,000 annually)
Full-time equivalent (40 hours/week): $2,000 to $4,000 per month ($24,000 to $48,000 annually)
Effective hourly rate: $12 to $25
The quality-to-cost ratio is strong for consulting firms with primarily internal or process-oriented administrative needs. For high-stakes client-facing communication, the quality differential from US-based services is a genuine consideration.
Offshore Managed Platforms (Philippines, South Asia)
Part-time: $400 to $900 per month
Full-time equivalent: $800 to $2,000 per month
Effective hourly rate: $5 to $12
The cost efficiency is real. The communication quality differential for professional consulting work is also real. Most consulting firms whose EA work involves direct client interaction find offshore services challenging to use for client-facing tasks.
Staffing Agency Costs
EA staffing agencies find and place executive assistants as direct employees of the consulting firm. The agency charges a placement fee; the consulting firm assumes all ongoing employment costs.
Placement fee: 18 to 25 percent of first-year base salary
For a $85,000 EA: Placement fee of $15,300 to $21,250
For a $100,000 senior EA: Placement fee of $18,000 to $25,000
After the placement fee, ongoing costs revert to the in-house model: salary, benefits, and taxes. Staffing agency EAs become your direct employees after placement.
Temp-to-perm arrangements through staffing agencies add an additional cost structure during the trial period: the agency marks up the EA’s compensation by 30 to 50 percent while the EA is technically employed by the agency. This cost is eliminated when the consulting firm converts the EA to direct employment (often with an additional conversion fee).
On-Demand EA Services
On-demand services charge by the task or by the hour, with no monthly commitment. These are appropriate for consulting executives with genuinely sporadic or variable support needs.
Hourly rate (professional quality): $35 to $75
Task-based pricing: $25 to $150 per task depending on complexity
Annual cost at 10 hours/month: $4,200 to $9,000
On-demand services cost more per hour than dedicated arrangements but carry no minimum commitment. For consulting executives needing fewer than 10 hours per month of support, on-demand can be cost-efficient. Above that volume, dedicated arrangements almost always deliver better value.
The True Cost Comparison at 20 Hours Per Week
Normalizing to 20 hours per week of professional-quality support:
| Service Model | Annual Cost | Effective Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| US in-house direct hire | $51,000 to $80,000 | $49 to $77 |
| Staffing agency placement (year 1) | $66,000 to $107,000 | $63 to $103 |
| US-based virtual platform | $30,000 to $54,000 | $29 to $52 |
| Near-shore managed platform | $14,400 to $30,000 | $14 to $29 |
| Offshore managed platform | $9,600 to $16,800 | $9 to $16 |
The virtual platform models consistently deliver lower total cost than direct employment at equivalent hours, with the cost difference most pronounced for full-time arrangements.
For a detailed side-by-side pricing comparison across all models, see our guide on executive assistant pricing comparison for consulting and professional services industry.
For the ROI framework that validates whether these costs are justified for your specific firm, see our article on executive assistant ROI for consulting CEOs.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants was $67,980 in 2023, representing the base salary only, without benefits, taxes, and overhead that bring total employment cost to $90,000 to $120,000 annually.
What Drives Cost Up (and Down)
Costs increase when:
- The EA must have direct client interaction
- The EA requires prior consulting firm experience
- You need extended or 24/7 coverage
- You are in a high-cost-of-living market for in-house hires
- The role includes specialized capabilities (financial management, presentation design, research)
Costs decrease when:
- Tasks are primarily internal and process-based
- Asynchronous communication is acceptable
- A near-shore or offshore model is viable
- Part-time support is sufficient
The Cost of Not Having an EA
The cost of EA support must be evaluated against the cost of not having it. For a consulting CEO billing at $300 per hour, 15 hours per week of administrative work represents $234,000 per year in foregone billable time. An EA at $50,000 to $80,000 annually produces an annual net return of $154,000 to $184,000 in recaptured billable capacity alone, before the value of improved client relationship management and business development is counted.
The question for most consulting executives is not whether they can afford an EA. It is how much the absence of one is already costing them.
Conclusion
Consulting executive assistant costs range from $400 per month for offshore on-demand services to $15,000+ per month for white-glove premium engagement. For most consulting CEOs, the right range is $2,000 to $5,500 per month through a managed virtual platform, or $85,000 to $125,000 all-in for a direct in-house hire.
Get the true cost picture, including all employment costs for in-house models and all platform fees for virtual models, before comparing options. Then evaluate cost in the context of the value delivered, not as an absolute figure.
Related Reading
For further context, explore How Much Does an Automotive Executive Assistant Cost and How Much Does a Construction Executive Assistant Cost.