If you’re a founder or operator exploring offshore staffing, the first question is usually simple: what does it actually cost?
This guide covers what you can realistically expect to pay for a full-time Filipino remote professional in 2026, broken down by role, experience level, and what you may pay separately depending on how you hire.
Quick clarification: Founders often use the word employee when talking about remote team members. In most offshore staffing arrangements, Filipino professionals are engaged as independent contractors, not employees of the client company.
This means they are paid for their services under a contractor arrangement. Benefits, paid leave, 13th-month pay, and government contributions are not automatically required the same way they are for Philippine employees, unless specifically included in the contract or staffing model.
The Short Answer
A full-time Filipino remote contractor typically costs between $800 and $2,500 per month depending on the role and seniority. Senior and specialized roles can cost more. For comparison, US wage benchmarks from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show many comparable administrative, customer support, finance, marketing, and business roles commonly sit between roughly $3,500 and $8,500 per month before payroll taxes, benefits, and overhead.
These are not freelancer rates for one-off projects. These are rates for dedicated, full-time professionals who work with your business on an ongoing basis. If you’re still deciding which roles make sense to hire first, you can explore the most common remote roles companies hire through More Staffing.
Salary Ranges by Role (2026)
| Role | Typical Monthly Contractor Rate (USD) |
|---|---|
| Virtual Assistant / Admin | $800 to $1,200 |
| Bookkeeper | $1,000 to $1,600 |
| Accountant | $1,200 to $2,000 |
| Customer Service Representative | $800 to $1,200 |
| Executive Assistant | $1,000 to $1,600 |
| Operations Coordinator | $1,000 to $1,800 |
| Supply Chain Analyst | $1,200 to $2,200 |
| Marketing Coordinator | $1,000 to $1,800 |
| Project Manager | $1,500 to $2,500 |
| Finance Analyst | $1,500 to $2,800 |
| Controller / Senior Finance Lead | $3,200 to $5,200 |
Entry-level or general support roles may start around $5 to $7/hr, while specialized roles can reach $15/hr or higher. Senior finance, controller, and leadership-level profiles may reach $20 to $30/hr depending on experience, technical depth, and scope.
Many companies begin with administrative support roles like a Filipino virtual assistant before expanding into operations, finance, customer support, marketing, or supply chain roles.
What Is Included in the Contractor Rate?
The contractor rate is the amount paid to the Filipino professional for their work. In an independent contractor arrangement, this does not automatically include statutory employee benefits such as SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG contributions, paid leave, or 13th-month pay.
Some companies choose to offer additional benefits, paid time off, performance bonuses, or retention incentives as part of a more competitive package. That is a business decision, not the same as a statutory employment obligation.
What You Pay Beyond the Contractor Rate
If you hire directly through a marketplace or job board, you typically pay the contractor rate directly. You are then responsible for sourcing, screening, onboarding, payment setup, contractor agreements, performance management, and replacement if the hire does not work out.
If you work with a staffing firm, the firm charges a service or management fee on top of the contractor rate. At More Staffing, our managed model is a flat monthly fee of $1,000 per full-time hire or $500 per part-time hire. There is also a $500 one-time engagement fee and no placement fee for the managed model.
This covers the operational layer around the hire, including recruiting support, payroll coordination, contractor compliance support, community, coaching, performance support, and an ongoing replacement guarantee for as long as the role is active.
The choice between direct hiring and a staffing partner depends on your operational bandwidth and how much management overhead you’re willing to absorb. Many founders also need to understand the difference between contractor and employee arrangements, which we break down in this guide on independent contractors vs employees.
US vs. Philippines: A Direct Cost Comparison
| Role | Typical US Monthly Wage Benchmark | Typical Philippines Monthly Contractor Rate | Estimated Monthly Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | $3,800 to $5,200 | $1,000 to $1,600 | $2,200 to $4,200 |
| Executive Assistant | $3,500 to $5,000 | $1,000 to $1,600 | $1,900 to $4,000 |
| Operations Coordinator | $4,000 to $6,000 | $1,000 to $1,800 | $2,200 to $5,000 |
| Customer Service Rep | $3,000 to $4,500 | $800 to $1,200 | $1,800 to $3,700 |
| Marketing Coordinator | $4,000 to $5,500 | $1,000 to $1,800 | $2,200 to $4,500 |
For a founder carrying two or three of these roles at US rates, switching to offshore contractors can often save several thousand dollars per month while preserving full-time support capacity. You can also review more examples of companies that have built remote teams through More Staffing in our success stories library.
Real Cost Example
Here is a simple example for a full-time customer service representative hired through More Staffing’s managed model.
| Cost Item | Estimated Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Filipino Customer Service Representative contractor rate | $1,000 |
| More Staffing managed model fee | $1,000 |
| Total monthly cost | $2,000 |
| Comparable US monthly wage benchmark | $3,000 to $4,500 |
| Estimated monthly savings | $1,000 to $2,500 |
Does Lower Cost Mean Lower Quality?
No, for the right roles and the right profiles.
The Philippines has a strong English-speaking workforce and decades of experience providing back-office support to US, UK, Canadian, and Australian companies. Filipino professionals routinely work in US-aligned tools including QuickBooks, Xero, HubSpot, Shopify, Slack, Asana, Klaviyo, Gorgias, and other business systems.
The roles that work best offshore are process-driven, documentation-friendly, and do not require physical presence. Bookkeeping, customer service, executive assistant work, ops coordination, marketing coordination, and supply chain support are all well-established in the Philippine remote workforce.
Real companies are already seeing this in practice. For example, one California-based company built a 13-person remote team and saved over $570K by hiring remote talent through More Staffing. You can read the full story here: how a California-based company saved over $570K with remote talent.
The roles that work less well offshore are those requiring in-person presence, highly localized knowledge, or real-time strategic judgment where time zone gaps create friction.
How Quickly Can You Hire?
With a staffing partner, you can typically receive vetted candidates within five to ten business days and have a hire onboarded within three to four weeks. Direct hiring through platforms typically takes longer because candidate screening falls on you.
If you want a clearer view of the types of roles founders commonly hire first, start with our hire talent page.
Is This the Same as Outsourcing?
No. Offshore staffing and outsourcing are different models.
Outsourcing means assigning work to a third-party agency that manages delivery. You get output, not a dedicated person. The agency decides who does the work, how it gets done, and when it gets delivered.
Offshore staffing means engaging a dedicated remote professional who works with your business, follows your processes, integrates into your team, and is managed by you from a lower-cost country.
The key difference is ownership and integration. With offshore staffing, the person works as part of your operating rhythm. With outsourcing, the work sits inside the agency’s delivery system. If you’re evaluating this model for the first time, this guide covers five things to know before outsourcing talent from the Philippines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Filipino virtual assistant cost per month?
A full-time Filipino virtual assistant typically costs $800 to $1,200 per month in contractor pay. With More Staffing’s managed model fee included, total monthly cost is typically $1,800 to $2,200. You can learn more about hiring a Filipino virtual assistant here.
How much does a Filipino bookkeeper cost?
A full-time Filipino bookkeeper typically costs $1,000 to $1,600 per month in contractor pay. Total cost through More Staffing’s managed model is typically $2,000 to $2,600 per month.
Do I pay Philippine taxes as a US company?
If the person is engaged as an independent contractor, they are not your Philippine employee. Contractor tax and government contribution obligations are generally handled by the contractor, unless a specific arrangement says otherwise. For more context, review our guide on independent contractor vs employee classification.
What is the difference between a staffing firm and a BPO?
A BPO, or Business Process Outsourcing firm, manages processes on your behalf. A staffing firm provides dedicated remote professionals who work as part of your team. More Staffing is a staffing firm, not a BPO.
Can I hire part-time?
Yes. Part-time arrangements are available. Under More Staffing’s managed model, the monthly fee is $500 for part-time hires and $1,000 for full-time hires.
Sources and methodology: US wage benchmarks are rounded from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 wage data for related occupations, including bookkeeping clerks, customer service representatives, administrative assistants, executive assistants, accountants, marketing specialists, project managers, and financial analysts. Philippines contractor ranges are based on More Staffing observed compensation benchmarks across Filipino remote professionals. Savings are directional estimates before taxes, benefits, tools, onboarding time, and internal management cost. Contractor classification details may vary by engagement structure, contract terms, and local legal guidance.
Free Consultation
Hire the A-Players of the Philippines
Build a dedicated remote team with vetted Filipino professionals and support around recruiting, payroll coordination, contractor compliance, coaching, and replacements.
No commitment. 20-minute call.