A Personal Assistant (PA) manages the practical running of one person’s working day, including their diary, travel, inbox and correspondence. An Executive Assistant (EA) does this too, and also works as a business partner to a senior leader, managing priorities, projects and stakeholders on their behalf. The simplest way to put it is that a PA manages the day, while an EA helps to manage the business.
A Private PA is different again. They support an individual or family in their personal life, and are employed privately instead of by a business.
In practice the two titles are often used interchangeably, which is where the confusion starts. Some PAs carry more responsibility than their title suggests, and some EA roles are diary management under a more senior name. The title matters less than the scope of the role, the seniority of the person being supported and the level of judgement expected.
This guide explains each role, where a Private PA fits in, what each is paid in the UK and how to decide which one your business needs.
PA vs EA vs Private PA at a glance
| Personal Assistant | Executive Assistant | Private PA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Keeps one person’s working day organised | Protects a senior leader’s time and moves their priorities forward | Runs the personal and household life of an individual or family |
| Who they support | A manager, director or small team | A CEO, founder, board member or senior executive | A private individual, family or family office |
| Typical tasks | Diary, travel, inbox, expenses, meeting preparation | All PA tasks, plus projects, board papers, stakeholder management and acting as gatekeeper | Personal diary, properties, household staff, travel, personal finances and family commitments |
| Decision making | Follows agreed priorities and escalates | Uses own judgement and often acts on the executive’s behalf | High trust and wide discretion over personal matters |
| Business exposure | Limited to what the task requires | Broad, often including confidential and strategic matters | Usually little, unless the role is a hybrid |
| Working pattern | Mostly standard office hours | Longer or flexible hours around the executive | Often flexible, with travel and out of hours contact |
| Typical London salary | £40,000 to £55,000 | £50,000 to £70,000 | £55,000 to £110,000 |
What does a Personal Assistant do?
A Personal Assistant provides direct administrative support to one person or a small team, so that the people they support can spend their time on the work only they can do. The role is built around organisation, accuracy and reliability.
A typical PA will:
- Manage a diary, including scheduling, rescheduling and resolving clashes
- Book travel and build itineraries
- Monitor and organise an inbox, drafting routine replies
- Prepare for meetings, including agendas, papers and minutes
- Process expenses and handle general administration
- Act as a first point of contact for colleagues and visitors
A strong PA is anticipatory. They notice the meeting that will overrun, the train that leaves too little time and the document that is still missing. What usually distinguishes the role from an EA is that a PA works within priorities that someone else has set.
What does an Executive Assistant do?
An Executive Assistant supports a senior leader as a trusted partner, combining the organisational work of a PA with a clear understanding of the business and the authority to act on the executive’s behalf. An EA decides what deserves the executive’s attention, as well as when it happens.
Alongside the core PA responsibilities, an EA will typically:
- Prioritise the executive’s time against business goals, saying no where needed
- Act as gatekeeper and first point of contact for senior stakeholders, investors and the board
- Prepare board papers, briefings and presentations
- Run projects, events and offsites from start to finish
- Follow up on actions and hold others to deadlines
- Handle confidential matters, including people and commercial issues
The best EAs understand how the business makes money and what the executive is trying to achieve this quarter. That commercial awareness is the real dividing line. Many go on to become EA Managers, Heads of Business Support or a Chief of Staff.
What is a Private PA?
A Private PA supports an individual or family in their personal life instead of a business. Where a PA or EA is employed by a company to support a role, a Private PA is usually employed by a private individual, a family or a family office to keep their personal affairs running smoothly.
The work can include managing personal diaries, overseeing properties and household staff, arranging private travel, handling personal correspondence and bills, and organising family commitments. Discretion is the defining quality of the role. A Private PA often has sight of finances, health matters and family life, so trust carries as much weight as skill.
What does a Private PA do day to day?
A Private PA manages whatever keeps their principal’s personal life running. No two roles are the same, but the work usually includes:
- Managing personal and family diaries, including school, medical and social commitments
- Overseeing one or more properties, including maintenance, renovations and suppliers
- Recruiting and coordinating household staff such as housekeepers, nannies and drivers
- Arranging private travel, from flights and villas to visas and itineraries
- Handling personal paperwork, bills, insurance and correspondence
- Organising private events, gifts and occasions
How is a Private PA different from a PA?
A PA is employed by a business to support someone in their job, while a Private PA is employed by an individual or family to support their life outside it. That changes almost everything about the role. A Private PA rarely has a team around them, works to the rhythm of a household instead of an office, and is often contactable outside standard hours. The relationship is also closer and longer term, as the role depends on knowing how the principal likes things done.
Who hires a Private PA?
Private PAs are most often hired by founders, entrepreneurs, senior executives, high net worth individuals and family offices. The usual trigger is that personal administration has grown beyond what the principal, their partner or their business EA can reasonably absorb.
Some roles are a hybrid, often called a Business and Private PA, where one person supports a principal across both their company and their personal life. These are common among founders and entrepreneurs.
How much do PAs and EAs earn in the UK?
In London, a Personal Assistant typically earns £40,000 to £55,000 and an Executive Assistant earns £50,000 to £70,000. A Private PA earns £55,000 to £110,000, the widest range of the three.
Executive Assistants are generally paid more than Personal Assistants, reflecting the seniority of the people they support and the wider scope of the role. Private PA salaries vary the most, as they depend on the principal, the hours and the amount of travel involved.
| Role | London | Manchester | Rest of UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Assistant | £40,000 to £55,000 | £35,000 to £45,000 | £32,000 to £45,000 |
| Executive Assistant | £50,000 to £70,000 | £40,000 to £55,000 | £40,000 to £50,000 |
| Private PA | £55,000 to £110,000 | £45,000 to £80,000 | £40,000 to £75,000 |
Figures are permanent salary ranges taken from the Lily Shippen 2026 Salary Survey of business support professionals across the UK (Salary Survey). These are typical ranges, not upper limits. Each of these roles can command a higher salary than shown, depending on the scope of the role, the seniority of the person supported and the sector.
What affects PA, EA and Private PA pay?
Four things account for most of the difference between two people with the same title:
- Who they support. Supporting a CEO or board pays more than supporting a department head.
- Location. London salaries sit above the regions for all three roles, by around £5,000 to £15,000 for PAs and EAs.
- Scope. Project work, team management and board exposure all raise the level of the role.
- Availability. For Private PAs in particular, travel and out of hours contact are reflected in the package.
Our 2026 survey also found that in Manchester, senior and strategic EA roles have shown some upward movement in pay, while more traditional EA and PA positions have seen very little change year on year. Scope is becoming a bigger driver of salary than title.
Which one does your business need?
The right hire depends on what you want taken off your plate. If the problem is time, a PA will usually solve it. If the problem is focus, priorities and follow through at a senior level, you are looking for an EA.
You probably need a Personal Assistant if:
- Your diary, travel and inbox are taking hours of your week
- You want reliable administrative support for one person or a small team
- Priorities are clear and you need someone to keep things moving
You probably need an Executive Assistant if:
- You are a CEO, founder or senior leader with competing demands on your time
- You want someone who can make decisions and represent you in your absence
- You need projects, board preparation and stakeholders managed as well as the diary
You probably need a Private PA if:
- The support you need is mostly personal, covering home, family, properties or private travel
- Discretion and long term trust matter more than business experience
A useful signal is when a business EA is spending a growing share of their week on personal matters. At that point a dedicated Private PA, or a clearly defined hybrid role, protects both sides of the work.
One common mistake is to advertise a PA role at a PA salary while expecting EA level judgement. The result is usually a hire who is overstretched or a strong candidate who leaves within the year. Being honest about the scope at the start is the surest way to hire well.
Frequently asked questions
Is an EA more senior than a PA?
Yes, in most organisations. An Executive Assistant typically supports more senior leaders, carries more responsibility and is paid more than a Personal Assistant. Titles do vary between employers, so the scope of the role is a better guide than the title alone.
How much more does an EA earn than a PA?
In London, an Executive Assistant typically earns £10,000 to £15,000 more than a Personal Assistant, at £50,000 to £70,000 compared with £40,000 to £55,000. In Manchester the difference is closer to £5,000 to £10,000.
Can a PA become an EA?
Yes. It is the most common route into the role. PAs usually progress by supporting more senior people, taking on projects and building a stronger understanding of how the business works.
What is the difference between a PA and a Private PA?
A PA supports someone in their job and is employed by a business. A Private PA supports someone in their personal life and is usually employed by an individual, a family or a family office.
What does a Private PA do?
A Private PA manages the personal affairs of an individual or family. This typically covers personal diaries, properties, household staff, private travel and personal paperwork.
Is a Private PA the same as a House Manager?
No. A House Manager runs a single property and the staff within it. A Private PA manages the principal’s wider personal affairs, which can include overseeing House Managers across several properties.
Do I need a PA or an EA?
If you need administrative tasks handled reliably, a PA is the right hire. If you need someone to manage priorities, make decisions on your behalf and work closely with senior stakeholders, you need an EA.
What is the difference between an EA and a Chief of Staff?
An EA manages the executive’s time, priorities and communications. A Chief of Staff works across the leadership team on strategy, planning and delivery. The two roles often work side by side.
Hiring a PA, EA or Private PA
Lily Shippen is a specialist recruitment agency for Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants, Private PAs and Chiefs of Staff across London, Manchester and the wider UK. If you are unsure which role you need, we are happy to talk it through and help you shape the brief before you hire. Get in touch with our team to start the conversation.
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