Executive Assistant Salary Comparison: US/EU/Australia vs Kenya
The actual numbers. What an EA costs in the US, UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, and Kenya. Fully-loaded costs including benefits, taxes, and overhead.
The actual numbers
Most cost comparison articles give you vague ranges. This one gives you the real math.
We compared fully-loaded EA costs across six markets. "Fully-loaded" means salary plus benefits, payroll taxes, paid time off, office space, equipment, and HR overhead. Not just salary.
Monthly cost comparison
| Country | Monthly Cost (Fully-Loaded) | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $7,200 | $86,400 |
| Australia | A$6,600 ($4,400 USD) | $52,800 |
| Canada | C$6,200 ($4,500 USD) | $54,000 |
| United Kingdom | £5,800 ($7,400 USD) | $88,800 |
| Germany | €5,400 ($5,800 USD) | $69,600 |
| Kenya (PrimeStart) | $2,400 | $28,800 |
What "fully-loaded" actually includes
A US-based EA earning $75,000 per year doesn't actually cost $75,000. Here's the real breakdown:
| Line Item | Annual Cost | % of Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $75,000 | 100% |
| Payroll taxes (FICA, FUTA, SUTA) | $7,500 | 10% |
| Health insurance | $8,400 | 11% |
| 401(k) match (3%) | $2,250 | 3% |
| Paid time off (15 days) | $4,375 | 6% |
| Office space and equipment | $3,600 | 5% |
| HR and management overhead | $3,750 | 5% |
| Total fully-loaded | $104,875 | 140% |
That's $8,740 per month. Not $6,250.
A Kenyan EA through PrimeStart Consultant costs $2,400 per month. That includes everything. No benefits, no payroll tax, no seat, no HR overhead on your side. One invoice. That's it.
Run the numbers yourself with our ROI calculator.
The savings math
| Comparison | US Monthly | Kenya Monthly | Monthly Savings | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US vs Kenya | $8,740 | $2,400 | $6,340 | $76,080 |
| UK vs Kenya | $7,400 | $2,400 | $5,000 | $60,000 |
| Germany vs Kenya | $5,800 | $2,400 | $3,400 | $40,800 |
| Canada vs Kenya | $4,500 | $2,400 | $2,100 | $25,200 |
| Australia vs Kenya | $4,400 | $2,400 | $2,000 | $24,000 |
Even compared to Australia (the cheapest Western market), you save $24,000 per year. Compared to the US, you save over $76,000 per year.
Why Kenya is cheaper (without being "cheap")
The cost difference isn't about quality. It's about cost of living and labor market dynamics.
A junior EA in Nairobi earns KSh 80,000 to 120,000 per month (about $620 to $930 USD). That's a solid middle-class salary in Kenya. The same role in the US pays $4,000 to $6,000 per month. That's a solid middle-class salary in the US.
The talent isn't cheaper. The cost of living is lower. A developer in San Francisco earns $150k. The same developer in Nairobi earns $30k. Same skills, different economy.
Kenya's education system produces 50,000+ university graduates annually in business, communications, and ICT. Nairobi hosts regional HQs for Google, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, and the UN. The talent pool is deep, educated, and English-native.
Read more about why Kenya works.
What you're actually paying for
The $2,400/month isn't just a salary. It includes:
- Dedicated EA (not shared, not a pool rotation)
- 5-stage vetting (1 in 8 accepted)
- NDA before first brief
- Dedicated success manager
- 5-business-day replacement SLA
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Payroll, taxes, benefits, HR administration
- Tool infrastructure and security
You're not just hiring a person. You're hiring a managed service.
See what's included in each tier.
The ROI math
If you bill at $200/hour (conservative for most executives), and a full-time EA gives you back 20 hours per week of strategic time:
- 20 hours x $200/hour x 48 weeks = $192,000/year in reclaimed time
- EA cost: $28,800/year
- Net ROI: $163,200/year
- Payback period: less than 2 months
This is why our cost comparison widget shows 55 to 76 percent savings. The percentage varies by country and seniority, but the math always works.
The bottom line
You can pay $86,000+ per year for a domestic EA. Or you can pay $28,800 per year for a vetted, dedicated Kenyan EA with the same English fluency, the same tool stack, and a replacement guarantee.
The choice isn't really about cost. It's about whether you want to spend 2 months recruiting and $100k+ per year, or 48 hours and $28,800 per year.
Run your own numbers or send us a brief.
Want to see the actual shortlist? We deliver 3 vetted candidates within 48 hours. Send us a brief.
Fredrick Gichuki is the founder of PrimeStart Consultant, a Nairobi-based executive support and market research firm.
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