Personal Assistant Salaries
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Personal Assistant (PA)?
Personal Assistant salaries can range depending on location, responsibilities and the level of experience that you are looking for. In London, Personal Assistant salaries range from 35,000 GBP per annum to 45,000 GBP per annum, on average, for permanent roles, with contract rates of 17-22 per hour. Whereas, in Manchester, permanent PA roles typically attract salaries of 28,000 GBP - 32,000 GBP per annum, with contract rates coming in at 14-16 per hour. This is a similar story across the UK, with permanent PA jobs in the regions averaging 27,000 GBP - 32,000 GBP, or 14-16 per hour for temporary contracts. It's important to note that a Personal Assistant's salary is typically lower than an Executive Assistant's salary, but the roles vary across organisations and industries.
Our previous annual salary survey explored Personal Assistant salaries and benchmarking in more detail, as well as investigating the impact that COVID-19 has had on the sector and what the future of the profession holds. Key takeaways from the report are outlined below.
Interestingly, PA salaries did vary considerably throughout the survey, suggesting that job holders are taking on more responsibility and performing duties more aligned to the Executive Assistant role, without the corresponding title, albeit this, of course, differs across industries.
54.3% of those surveyed said that an annual discretionary bonus would make them stay in their current role for longer, with 32.4% saying it may well influence their decision.
Outside of the capital, technology and private equity businesses continued to lead the way with attractive salaries for junior positions. Conversely, as in previous years, we witnessed many larger companies, most notably law firms, struggling to attract top talent across the regions due to budgetary constraints. Once again, companies had to pay more for top talent due to a lack of talent in local regions, particularly in areas which do not benefit from good public transport links, resulting in more competitive salaries in areas like Leeds compared with Manchester. Looking forward, companies in those regions which have adapted to the current climate by embracing technology and a more agile way of working now have the opportunity to attract better talent from areas outside of the usual commuter belts.
Demand for more hybrid support roles continued to increase across all areas of the country, such as PA/Office Manager positions and as well as opportunities for more senior, strategic PAs. Traditional one-to-one roles are continuing to become even rarer, with most of our respondents supporting two or three people. Within industries such as financial services, assistants can expect to support a number of principals, ranging in terms of seniority.
In recent years, more and more PA roles are coming through from legal firms, compared with the more traditional Legal Secretary roles, suggesting that the trend for more forward-thinking business support staff in this sector is likely to continue. Major firms are now pooling their administrative resource and utilising technological advancements, like BigHand, presenting an opportunity for PAs to add value across the business rather than strictly within the administrative function.
Regular pay reviews are also imperative in retaining top talent. When you consider that 38.7% have not received a salary increase in the last two years, it is unsurprisingly that an increase in salary and/or benefits is a key motive for professionals looking to leave their current companies.
Benefits
Whilst salary undoubtedly remains a priority for PAs, more than a base salary in isolation is needed to attract and retain top talent. Instead, offering a fuller, more-rounded benefits package is essential for companies to maintain a competitive edge.
Flexible benefits solutions are also becoming increasingly popular, allowing employees to choose which perks to take advantage of or receive the cash equivalent.
When it comes to holiday allowances, the majority of those surveyed are granted 25 days’ annual leave; more than a quarter of employers offer 26 days or more, with 36 days being the highest holiday allowance on offer. More than half of employees have the option to buy and sell holidays as part of their benefits package – an attractive perk for many job-seekers, particularly those for whom work-life balance is a priority.
Future predictions for the Personal Assistant industry
Recruitment trends suggest that Personal Assistants and EAs within the financial services industry will continue to support multiple principals, attracting higher salaries than their counterparts in other industries. However, our research has revealed that EAs supporting one principle in a more comprehensive, 360-degree strategic support role are awarded a higher salary. This correlation would suggest that demand for the Executive Business Partner role will continue to grow as the role of the more experienced EA continues to evolve. You can read more about the role of an Executive Assistant here.