Remote work isn’t a new concept but the number of professionals now working from home or another location outside the traditional office have increased over the last year due to the pandemic. Many managers and employers are expecting this arrangement to become commonplace.

Working remotely is no longer a trend but a norm, at least in jobs and industries where in-person interactions are unnecessary. Lots of jobs are suitable for remote operations. Also, businesses that have struggled to hire in their areas are able to recruit to a wider extent and pay the more affordable remote worker rate.

Entering the remote work world

One of the best ways to break into the world of online work is by becoming a virtual assistant. Companies tap VAs for scheduling, chat support, administrative work, email management, client service, and more. Hence, you know that there’s a demand for remote assistants.

The typical virtual assistant salary

According to Indeed, the virtual assistant hourly rate in the US is around USD 20. The hourly rate is around AUD 20 in Australia and GBP 12 in the United Kingdom. ZipRecruiter states that the average hourly rate worldwide is around USD 32 per hour.

In the Philippines, the average base salary is roughly PHP 77 by the hour. That amounts to PHP 25,000 per month and PHP 355,000 per year. Payscale reports that the rate may go up to PHP 405 depending on the skills and experience of the worker, among other factors.

Impact of expertise on salary negotiation

It makes sense that a skilled worker receives higher pay than someone who hasn’t mastered a specific skill-set.

For example, if you possess writing and administration skills, you may demand a higher rate than a general VA. This is because you are capable of:

• updating product listings on the website
• creating promotions and banners
• writing compelling product descriptions
• embedding high-quality images on the site

The same may be said of other specialisations, such as real estate, IT, SEO, and bookkeeping. This is why it’s essential for every VA to continue learning and striving for excellence.

Impact of experience on salary negotiation

There is a significant difference between a beginner and an expert. One being that an expert is able to meet higher expectations and thus demand greater pay. It makes sense for your virtual assistant hourly rate to be higher when you have more professional experience.

Entry-level VAs

Due to their lack of expertise and experience, they are in the lowest payment bracket. They typically possess routine skills like:

• Using basic tools they learned in school, such as Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and Gmail
• Collecting data from the internet but lacking knowledge on assessing the data
• Speaking and writing in English with elementary level of grammar and sentence structures
• Transcribing audio content into articles and other web pages

Mid-level VAs

They have a few years of relevant online experience or may have undergone training for remote work. They demonstrate positive habits and handle their virtual job well. They have acquired skills like:

• Performing in-depth research and spotting patterns in the data gathered
• Possessing a thorough understanding of formatting and layouts
• Creating text without need of assistance from native speakers
• Utilising common tools such as Google Drive and Microsoft Office Suite
• Specialising in social media marketing, design, customer service, and more

Expert-level VAs

They demand the highest virtual assistant salary as they regularly undergo extensive training to keep updated on the ever-changing remote work industry. They develop their skills for the purpose of increasing their earning capacity. Their typical skills include:

• Adopting good work routines and knowing how to communicate clearly
• Demonstrating fluency and accuracy in spoken and written English
• Understanding complex instructions and performing a wider range of tasks
• Having a specialisation in at least one area such as advertising or web development

Increase your rate through salary negotiation

You want to keep increasing your rates as you gain more experience. However, there are some guidelines on how to do this properly so you won’t lose any clients.

Check that you’re worth the raise

For your employer to increase your pay, convince them that you’re an indispensable asset by delivering quality output every time. It helps if customers give testimonials of your work too. If you’re unsure about quality, ask for feedback from your client.

Realise that you’re expected to ask

You may have noticed that your bills continue to increase over time, along with the prices of goods. Employers understand that you need to increase your rate at some point. They won’t be amused by your request but they are aware of the need.

Specialise in one or more areas

As we’ve mentioned previously, by becoming a specialist, you turn into an expert who may demand a higher rate than other workers. It’s possible to switch specialisations later on but it’s better to build a solid foundation of one area rather than keep switching.

Never say sorry for asking

If you believe you are worth the raise, you don’t have to feel embarrassed, scared, or stressed for increasing your rate. Be confident about the quality of your work so clients are more likely to be convinced about granting your request. Remember that being a VA is also a form of self-employment so do what’s best for your business.

Know salary negotiation nuances

Over the course of negotiating your remote work rate, you might notice the client making an expression showing that they think your demand is too low. In that case, you have to raise your rates to make them think that your services are of good quality.

Landing a virtual assistant job

As you’ve now seen the tips for salary negotiation, it’s natural that you begin to wonder how you might land a good VA job to maximise your earning potential. The easiest way is to get our help here at Remote Workmate.

We are specialists in offshore staffing so we’re always on the lookout for virtual assistants who are searching for roles to fill. If you get too nervous to handle the salary negotiation yourself, we may do it for you with your best interests in mind.