One of the most common questions I hear from people considering the switch to virtual assistance is whether it’s possible to replace a full-time London PA salary by working remotely as a VA.
The short answer is yes, it is possible, but it depends on your goals, your hours, and how seriously you treat your business. The latest data from the UK VA Survey 2024 gives us a clearer picture of what that looks like in practice.
The Numbers: What Virtual Assistants Are Really Earning
According to the 2024 survey, 39.1% of virtual assistants earn less than £10,000 per year. On the surface, that may seem discouraging, but it doesn’t tell the full story. Of those lower earners, 58.2% only work part-time, often by choice. This has a significant impact on the average figures across the industry.
At the other end of the scale, earnings have risen sharply in recent years. For the first time ever, the 2024 survey recorded VAs earning over £100,000 per year, with at least 11 respondents reporting incomes above £70,000. This demonstrates that, for those treating their business seriously and operating full-time, high income levels are absolutely achievable.
Lifestyle Over London Commutes
Personally, I earn roughly the same as I did when I was employed as a PA, but my take-home income stretches further. Without the costs of commuting, travelcards, professional wardrobes, and lunches out, my overall quality of life is significantly higher. The flexibility to work from home also allows for better work-life balance — something many VAs value above all else.
When you factor in these savings, you may not need to match your previous salary pound-for-pound to enjoy the same or even greater financial comfort.
The Childcare Myth
There’s still a common misconception that becoming a VA is a convenient way for parents to make some extra money from home without needing childcare. The reality is quite different.
The 2024 survey found that only 38% of VAs have children under 12, and of those, just 8.3% do not have any childcare in place. That means only around 3% of UK VAs are working without childcare support. Running a successful VA business takes focus, structure, and dedicated time — it’s not something that can be done in between household chores or school runs without proper support.
What It Takes to Replace a Salary
From speaking to hundreds of virtual assistants over the years, the number one factor that separates those who replace a full-time income from those who don’t is simple: professionalism. You need to treat your VA business as a real job — in fact, as a business.
That means:
• Putting in consistent, full-time hours if you want full-time results
• Presenting yourself professionally, including using a proper business email address
• Setting boundaries around domestic responsibilities when working from home
• Marketing your services strategically, not sporadically
• Charging appropriately for your skills and experience — the average UK VA hourly rate in 2024 is £32.35, though specialists can command £50 per hour or more
In Summary
Replacing a full-time PA salary as a VA is absolutely possible, but it requires commitment, consistency, and a professional approach. The flexibility, independence, and work-life balance that come with running your own VA business can be life-changing — but they come from treating it like the serious business it is.
If you are thinking about becoming a virtual assistant, look closely not just at the earning potential, but at the lifestyle benefits too. For many, that combination is what truly makes it worthwhile.
Further reading:
The figures in this article were taken from the 2024 UK Virtual Assistant Survey, which you can purchase here:
https://societyofvirtualassistants.co.uk/product/uk-virtual-assistant-survey-results-2025/