43+ Virtual Assistant Statistics (Original 2026 Data with Graphs)

Is AI actually replacing virtual assistants? How much do VAs earn? And is the industry growing or shrinking?

These are the questions we set out to answer. We analyzed 8,754 job postings, 201 freelancer profiles, five years of government employment data, and Google search trends for 15+ terms to understand what's happening in the virtual assistant industry right now.

These virtual assistant industry statistics will help you understand the current state of the VA market — whether you're hiring, freelancing, or just trying to figure out where things are headed.

Where we got our data

The statistics below come from our own analysis of publicly available data. Here's what we used:

• 8,754 virtual assistant and administrative assistant job postings from LinkedIn (2024 dataset, ODC-By license via Kaggle)
• 201 VA freelancer profiles from Upwork's public search results
• Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) for administrative assistants (SOC 43-6014), covering 2019–2023
• U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey work-from-home data (Table B08301), 2019–2023
• Indeed Hiring Lab job posting trend index for administrative assistance
• Google Trends search interest data for 15+ virtual assistant and AI-related terms, 2019–2026

We combined job posting data with freelancer rates, government employment figures, and search trends to get a more complete picture than any single source could provide.

Our goal was to understand not just the current state of the VA market, but how AI is changing the demand for virtual assistants and what that means going forward.

Here are the top 36+ things we learned:

Virtual assistant statistics: how AI is changing the industry

The biggest trend in the VA space right now is the shift toward AI. We looked at Google Trends data to see how search behavior has changed over the past few years.

1. 'AI assistant' is now searched 2.7x more than 'virtual assistant'

In the past 12 months, Google searches for "AI assistant" averaged 2.7x higher than "virtual assistant." For most of the last decade, "virtual assistant" was the more popular term. That's no longer the case.

2. The crossover happened in March 2025

We identified the exact month "AI assistant" overtook "virtual assistant" in Google search interest: March 2025. Before that, "virtual assistant" had been the dominant search term for over a decade. The shift happened faster than you might expect.

3. 'Chatbot' searches surged 5x after ChatGPT launched

After ChatGPT's November 2022 launch, Google searches for "chatbot" jumped from an average interest of 11 to 55 — a 5x increase. This wave of awareness around conversational AI has reshaped what people expect from virtual support.

4. 'AI assistant' search interest grew 301% year-over-year

From 2024 to 2025, Google search interest for "AI assistant" surged 301% — from an average index of 14 to 56. That's not gradual growth. It's a sharp acceleration.

5. Searches for 'AI receptionist' peaked at 87x their 2019 level

Google searches for "AI receptionist" went from near-zero before 2023 to a peak search interest of 87 in September 2025. It's one of the fastest-growing search terms in the administrative services space.

6. 'AI receptionist' searches now outpace 'virtual receptionist' by 1.3x

In the past 6 months, "AI receptionist" averaged 1.3x higher search volume than "virtual receptionist." The AI-powered alternative has overtaken the traditional version in search demand.

7. 'AI answering service' didn't exist as a search term before 2023

The term "AI answering service" had zero Google search interest before May 2023. It's since grown to an average interest of 17 over the past 12 months. This points to an entirely new category of business service emerging in real time.

8. AI phone answering terms are searched 2.9x more than 'auto attendant'

Combined searches for "AI receptionist" and "AI answering service" now average 2.9x higher than the legacy term "auto attendant." Businesses appear to be moving past basic phone trees and looking for more intelligent call handling alternatives.

9. 'ChatGPT for business' went from zero to peak interest of 80 in two years

The search term "ChatGPT for business" didn't exist before December 2022. It peaked at 80 in December 2025 and averages 42 over the past 12 months. This suggests sustained business interest in using AI for work traditionally handled by virtual assistants.

10. Small businesses search for AI solutions 24x more than they search to 'hire virtual assistant'

Google searches for "AI for small business" now average 24x higher than "hire virtual assistant." When small business owners look for help, the data suggests they're considering AI tools before hiring a human VA.

11. Only 0.2% of VA job postings mention AI tools like ChatGPT

Despite all the interest in AI, just 0.2% of VA job postings mention AI tool proficiency as a requirement. This includes ChatGPT, AI copilots, and generative AI platforms. There's a clear gap between how fast people are searching for AI and how slowly employers are updating their VA job requirements.

Virtual assistant statistics: how salaries are changing

Most VA job postings don't disclose salary, which makes it hard to know what the market actually pays. We extracted salary data from the postings that did include it.

12. The median VA salary is $45,760/year

Across 8,754 VA and admin assistant job postings on LinkedIn, the median offered salary is $45,760/year. The mean is higher at $54,665, pulled up by executive assistant roles at the top end.

13. 83% of VA job postings don't disclose salary

Out of 8,754 postings we analyzed, only 1,481 (17%) included salary information. The other 83% left pay undisclosed. This makes it harder for job seekers to evaluate opportunities and negotiate fair rates.

14. VA salaries range from $36K to $85K

The 10th percentile of VA roles offers $36,109/year, while the 90th percentile pays $84,864 — a 135% gap. Experience level, specialization, and location all play a role in where a given role falls.

15. Only 30% of VA roles pay above $60,000

Just 30% of postings offer annual salaries of $60,000 or more. The majority of the market (70%) pays under $60K.

16. Senior VAs earn 55% more than entry-level

Mid-level VA roles (3–5 years experience) have a median salary of $64,480 compared to $41,600 for junior (1–2 years) positions — a 55% premium for experience.

17. California VAs earn 45% more than the national median

The highest-paying state for VA roles is California, with a median salary of $66,560/year — 45% above the national median of $45,760. The lowest among states with sufficient data is Arkansas at $33,800.

Virtual assistant remote work statistics

You might assume most VA jobs are remote, given the "virtual" in the name. The data paints a different picture.

18. Only 2% of VA job postings are listed as fully remote

Just 2% of VA-related job postings on LinkedIn are classified as fully remote. The majority (91%) are listed as onsite, with 7% hybrid.

19. 10% mention remote work somewhere in the listing

When we expanded beyond LinkedIn's official "Remote" label and scanned job titles and descriptions for remote-related keywords, the number jumps to 10%. Many employers seem open to remote work but don't formally classify it that way.

Virtual assistant statistics: skills and requirements

We scanned all 8,754 job postings to find out what tools and skills employers ask for most often.

20. Microsoft Office is the #1 required tool (67% of postings)

Microsoft Office appears in 67% of all VA job postings. Google Workspace trails at 5%, followed by Adobe (5%), Zoom (4%), and CRM platforms (3%).

21. Microsoft Office vs. Google Workspace: 67% to 5%

The gap between Microsoft Office and Google Workspace in VA job requirements is significant — 67% to 5%. If you're building out your VA toolkit, Microsoft proficiency is the baseline expectation.

22. Calendar management is the #1 most requested skill (72%)

The most frequently requested skill is calendar management, appearing in 72% of postings. The rest of the top 5: travel arrangements (33%), presentation skills (32%), research (25%), and customer service (22%).

Based on our analysis of 8,754 data points.

Look at what employers actually want: calendar management, Microsoft Office proficiency, travel arrangements, and presentations. These are tasks that require interacting with multiple third-party systems — and that's exactly why there's still a strong market for human virtual assistants. Upfirst can connect to third-party calendars and serve as an appointment setting service.

But this isn't the case for all AI tools. AI agents are gaining more autonomy to interact with external systems. Over time, the gap will close— but in the meantime, virtual assistants who can navigate these tools remain essential.

23. 2% of VA roles require no prior experience

About 2% of VA job postings are entry-level or explicitly state no experience is required. It's a small percentage, but it means there is a path in for newcomers.

Virtual assistant statistics: demand and competition

24. 76% of virtual assistant positions are full-time

76% of VA positions are full-time, 19% are contract, and 6% are part-time. The gig-work perception doesn't match reality — most employers treat VAs as regular team members.

25. For every 'virtual assistant' posting, there are 583 admin/exec assistant postings

Out of 8,754 assistant-type postings, only 15 use "virtual assistant" in the title. The other 8,739 use titles like "administrative assistant" or "executive assistant," even when the role is functionally similar. If you're job hunting and only searching for "virtual assistant," you're seeing a fraction of the actual market.

Freelance virtual assistant market statistics

We analyzed 201 VA freelancer profiles on Upwork to understand how the freelance side of the market works.

26. The average virtual assistant charges $14/hour

Across 201 profiles, the average hourly rate is $20.50 (median: $14.50). Rates range from $5/hr to $89/hr, reflecting the global nature of the platform.

27. 50% of virtual asisstants charge under $15/hour

The market breaks down into three tiers:

• Budget (under $15/hr): 50% of freelancers
• Mid-range ($15–$30/hr): 18%
• Premium (over $30/hr): 32%

Half the market competes primarily on price. The premium tier tends to differentiate on specialization and location.

28. The Philippines leads the virtual assistant workforce (22%)

The top countries for virtual assistant freelancers: Philippines (22%), United States (19%), Pakistan (19%), Nigeria (17%), India (4%).

29. US-based VAs charge 245% more than overseas VAs

The median rate for US-based VAs on virtual assistants is $38/hr compared to $11/hr for overseas VAs — a 245% premium. This gap is a big part of why so many businesses look overseas for VA help.

The cost gap between US-based and overseas VAs is significant, but price isn't the only factor businesses weigh. Third-party virtual assistants — whether domestic or overseas — often lack deep context about your specific business. They may not know your products, your customers, or your internal processes, and it takes time and training to get them up to speed. This is one of the reasons businesses are increasingly exploring AI-based solutions, which can be trained on your business data and provide consistent, context-aware support from day one.

30. Administrative support is the top VA specialization (86%)

Among virtual assistants, 86% list administrative support as a skill. Other common categories: customer service (42%), project management (42%), social media (38%), and research (35%).

31. 86% of virtual assistants maintain a 90%+ job success score

The average job success score is 95%, with 86% of VAs at 90% or above. Competition on the platform is high — a score below 90% can be a real disadvantage.

Virtual assistant industry statistics: workforce data

To put the VA market in context, we pulled five years of Bureau of Labor Statistics data on administrative assistants — the closest government-tracked occupation.

32. There are 1.8 million admin assistants in the US

As of May 2023, the BLS reports 1,785,430 people employed as secretaries and administrative assistants (excluding legal, medical, and executive roles).

33. The average admin assistant earns $45,490/year

The BLS mean annual wage for admin assistants is $45,490 — close to the $45,760 median we found in LinkedIn job postings. Two different datasets, nearly the same number.

34. Admin assistant wages grew 16% from 2019 to 2023

Mean annual wages increased from $39,180 in 2019 to $45,490 in 2023 — a 16.1% increase over four years. After adjusting for inflation (~18% over the same period), real wages were roughly flat.

A 16% wage increase over several years may not sound dramatic, but for small businesses operating on tight margins, it adds up. Rising labor costs are one of the key reasons small businesses — from law offices to accounting firms — are actively looking for less expensive alternatives. Solutions like financial answering services and after-hours answering allow these businesses to maintain responsiveness at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.

35. But employment dropped 12% over the same period

Administrative assistant employment went from 2,038,340 in 2019 to 1,785,430 in 2023 — a 12.4% decline. That's about 253,000 fewer jobs. Wages went up slightly, but headcount went down.

36. Top earners make 2.1x what entry-level admin assistants make

BLS data shows admin assistants at the 90th percentile earning $62,340/year, while those at the 10th percentile earn $30,280 — a 2.1x difference that has remained consistent over the years.

Virtual assistant growth statistics and trends

37. 13.8% of US workers now work from home, up from 5.7% in 2019

Census data shows the work-from-home rate jumped from 5.7% in 2019 to 13.8% in 2023 — a 2.4x increase. This expands the pool of both potential VA clients and workers.

38. DC leads remote work at 27.3%

The areas with the highest remote work rates: District of Columbia (27.3%), Colorado (19.9%), Oregon (17.7%), Arizona (17.5%), Washington (17.3%). The lowest is Puerto Rico at 5.1%.

39. Remote work dipped slightly in 2023

The work-from-home rate fell from 15.2% in 2022 to 13.8% in 2023 — a 1.3 percentage point drop. It looks like the post-pandemic remote work surge is stabilizing rather than continuing to grow.

40. Admin assistant job postings are 4% below pre-pandemic levels

According to Indeed Hiring Lab data, administrative assistant postings sit at 96% of their February 2020 baseline as of January 2026. The market hasn't fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

41. Admin hiring peaked at 185% of pre-pandemic levels in April 2022

Demand for admin assistants hit 185% of pre-pandemic levels in April 2022 as businesses rebuilt post-COVID. It has been declining since.

42. Job postings dropped 48% during COVID lockdowns

During the March–June 2020 lockdowns, admin assistant postings fell to just 52% of their pre-pandemic level — a 48% decline. The recovery was fast, but the market ultimately settled below where it started.

43. Google searches for 'virtual assistant' are down 13% over the past 2 years

Search interest in "virtual assistant" has decreased 13% compared to the prior two-year period. People are still searching for the term, but less frequently — and increasingly for AI alternatives instead.

44. 'Virtual assistant' search interest peaked in June 2021

Google searches for "virtual assistant" hit their all-time high in June 2021, during the remote work boom. Current search volume is about 20% of that peak.

What these statistics mean for your business

The overall picture is that AI is changing the VA industry quickly, but it's not a simple replacement story.

If you're a business owner: For routine, repeatable tasks like phone answering and scheduling, AI tools are becoming a viable alternative — and platforms like Upfirst are already making it easier for businesses to get high-quality AI-powered virtual assistants for phone and communication tasks. For work that requires judgment and relationship-building, human VAs are still the better choice. The salary data shows a wide range ($36K–$85K), so there are options at most price points.

If you're a virtual assistant: Only 0.2% of job postings mention AI tools — that's a gap you can get ahead of. Calendar management (72% of postings), travel coordination (33%), and project management are the skills employers hire for most. On platforms like Upwork, the US vs. overseas rate gap (245%) means competing on price alone doesn't work — specialization is how you charge higher rates.

For the industry overall: Employment is down 12%, but wages are up 16%. The jobs that remain are getting more complex. New categories like "AI receptionist" and "AI answering service" are creating demand that didn't exist a few years ago.

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