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The differences between virtual assistants and freelancers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a virtual assistant, becoming a freelancer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a freelancer has an average salary of $59,367, which is higher than the $39,915 average annual salary of a virtual assistant.
The top three skills for a virtual assistant include data entry, customer service and email management. The most important skills for a freelancer are customer service, web content, and video production.
| Virtual Assistant | Freelancer | |
| Yearly salary | $39,915 | $59,367 |
| Hourly rate | $19.19 | $28.54 |
| Growth rate | -8% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 49,508 | 2,088 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 50 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
Virtual Assistants are remote workers who work with clients that need assistance. They usually do administrative or clerical activities such as managing soft copies of a document, writing e-mail correspondences, managing calendars, scheduling appointments, and other activities. They manage the e-mail of their clients and respond to inquiries and other messages. They also manage phone calls by answering calls, taking messages, and dialing for their clients. Virtual Assistants may also be asked to handle travel-related tasks of their clients, such as creating itineraries, booking flights, and booking hotels.
A freelancer is a self-employed individual that provides services for multiple clients at one time and usually earns money on a per-job basis. Often known as independent contractors, freelancers usually set their schedules while running their own business and have a flexible lifestyle. They have the liberty to choose their clients that may be less confined to specific markets or sectors. Freelancers usually find work within the creative industries such as graphic design, copywriting, or photography.
Virtual assistants and freelancers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Virtual Assistant | Freelancer | |
| Average salary | $39,915 | $59,367 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $54,000 | Between $40,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | - |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | - |
| Best paying company | IBM | - |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a virtual assistant and a freelancer in terms of educational background:
| Virtual Assistant | Freelancer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between virtual assistants' and freelancers' demographics:
| Virtual Assistant | Freelancer | |
| Average age | 50 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 12.4% Female, 87.6% | Male, 47.7% Female, 52.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 13% |