The True Cost of In-House
Base salary: $55K–$85K
Benefits: 20–30% of salary
Office / equipment: $5K–$15K/year
Recruiting: $10K–$20K one-time
Time-to-hire: 45–60 days
Year-one total: $95K–$140K
The Remote EA Cost
Pre-vetted remote executive assistant through RealHires:
Monthly: $2,500–$4,500
Year-one total: $30K–$54K
Benefits and taxes included
3-day shortlist, 90-day guarantee
40–60% less for the same output.
Where In-House Still Wins
Hand-delivering documents or physical presence
Board-level M&A where nothing leaves the building
Managing physical events or home vendors
Productivity: Remote Is Not a Compromise
Executives report faster response times, higher output, better documentation, and continuity (thanks to our 90-day guarantee).
When to Choose Each
In-house: work is physically local
Remote: work is digital-first (calendar, email, video, docs)
For most modern executives, the answer is remote. See pricing.
Written by
Aaron Klein
Founder & CEO, RealHires
Perspectives on building remote teams and finding the people who move your business forward.
