Offshore hiring costs by country / India
Philippines vs India for offshore hiring
We place talent in the Philippines only. Rekruuto hires are full-time, vetted to the top 2% of applicants, and work your hours, for $1,800 a month for most roles, and from $2,500 a month for software developers and AI Implementation Specialists, with a 14-day start and a 1-week trial. For comparison, PayScale's median reported base pay for virtual or administrative assistant roles (listed as Administrative Assistant) in India is ₹32,296 a month, about $371, from 229 salary profiles (updated Jun 8, 2026). This page sets India's published pay benchmarks, time zones, English proficiency, and employer costs next to the Philippines.
How do the Philippines and India compare?
| Philippines | India | |
|---|---|---|
| English proficiency (EF EPI 2025) | Rank 28 of 123, score 569 (high)[13] | Rank 74 of 123, score 484 (low)[13] |
| Time zone | UTC+8, no daylight saving time | UTC+5:30, no daylight saving time |
| U.S. Eastern 9-to-5, in local time (U.S. summer) | 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. | 6:30 p.m. – 2:30 a.m. |
| 2026 minimum wage, per month | $286, Metro Manila (NCR), non-agriculture[4][9] | Not shown |
| Full-time Rekruuto hire | Yes: $1,800 a month for most roles, working your hours | Not offered. We place talent in the Philippines only. |
What do employers in India pay?
These are India's published local market pay benchmarks for 11 roles, each with its source and date. The U.S. column is the BLS median with employer costs, and the last column is what you pay us for a full-time hire in the Philippines.
| Role | India, local | India, USD | Source | U.S. fully loaded | Rekruuto (Philippines) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive assistant Listed as Executive Assistant | ₹34,209 ₹22,530 – ₹53,981 | $392 $258 – $619 | PayScale, median reported base pay, 659 salary profiles, Jul 5, 2026 | $9,510 | $1,800 |
| Virtual or administrative assistant Listed as Administrative Assistant | ₹32,296 ₹21,982 – ₹46,988 | $371 $252 – $539 | PayScale, median reported base pay, 229 salary profiles, Jun 8, 2026 | $5,903 | $1,800 |
| Customer support representative Listed as Customer Service Representative (CSR) | ₹28,523 ₹21,259 – ₹38,458 | $327 $244 – $441 | PayScale, median reported base pay, 542 salary profiles, Jun 25, 2026 | $5,559 | $1,800 |
| Marketing assistant Listed as Marketing Assistant | ₹37,800 ₹20,070 – ₹59,346 | $434 $230 – $681 | PayScale, median reported base pay, 46 salary profiles, Jun 27, 2025 | $9,714 | $1,800 |
| Graphic designer Listed as Graphic Designer | ₹30,397 ₹20,535 – ₹45,505 | $349 $236 – $522 | PayScale, median reported base pay, 867 salary profiles, Jul 2, 2026 | $7,713 | $1,800 |
| Video editor Listed as Film / Video Editor | ₹36,542 ₹24,471 – ₹49,352 | $419 $281 – $566 | PayScale, median reported base pay, 274 salary profiles, Jul 11, 2026 | $9,239 | $1,800 |
| Shopify or web developer Listed as Web Developer | ₹35,136 ₹24,476 – ₹61,980 | $403 $281 – $711 | PayScale, median reported base pay, 541 salary profiles, Jul 12, 2026 | $11,350 | $2,500 |
| Project coordinator Listed as Project Coordinator, (Unknown Type / General) | ₹45,381 ₹30,711 – ₹63,195 | $521 $352 – $725 | PayScale, median reported base pay, 190 salary profiles, Apr 28, 2026 | $12,620 | $1,800 |
| Sales coordinator or SDR Listed as Sales Development Representative (SDR) | ₹60,840 ₹41,842 – ₹85,868 | $698 $480 – $985 | PayScale, median reported base pay, 71 salary profiles, May 28, 2026 | $8,049 | $1,800 |
| Legal assistant Listed as Legal Assistant | ₹33,719 ₹24,314 – ₹65,393 | $387 $279 – $750 | PayScale, median reported base pay, 87 salary profiles, Jul 2, 2026 | $7,704 | $1,800 |
| AI Implementation Specialist Listed as Systems Analyst. No AI implementation title is published; this is the closest. | ₹58,050 ₹37,315 – ₹100,220 | $666 $428 – $1,150 | PayScale, median reported base pay, 121 salary profiles, Jun 29, 2026 | $12,967 | $2,500 |
A local benchmark is what an employer in India pays for a local role. A Rekruuto hire is a full-time professional in the Philippines, vetted to the top 2% of applicants, working your hours, with recruiting and pay handled by us for one monthly price and a 1-week trial.
How many working hours overlap with the U.S.?
India is on UTC+5:30, no daylight saving time. The table shows where a U.S. 9-to-5 falls there, and how many hours it shares with a local 9-to-5 day.[14]
| U.S. time zone | India, U.S. summer | India, U.S. winter | Rekruuto hire in the Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 6:30 p.m. – 2:30 a.m. (0 h overlap) | 7:30 p.m. – 3:30 a.m. (0 h overlap) | Works your hours: 8 h overlap |
| Pacific (PT) | 9:30 p.m. – 5:30 a.m. (0 h overlap) | 10:30 p.m. – 6:30 a.m. (0 h overlap) | Works your hours: 8 h overlap |
Our hires in the Philippines work U.S. hours as their regular schedule. A U.S. Eastern 9-to-5 is 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. in Manila during U.S. summer, and that is the shift they work.
How does English proficiency compare?
The EF English Proficiency Index 2025 ranks 123 countries and regions. The Philippines ranks 28 with a score of 569, in the high proficiency band. India ranks 74 with a score of 484, in the low band.[13] English is an official language of the Philippines for communication and instruction.[33]
What employer costs apply in India?
An employer hiring directly in India adds statutory costs on top of pay, including:
- Provident fund: the employer pays 12% of wages, mandatory on wages up to Rs 25,000 a month from September 17, 2026.[26]
- State insurance (ESI): employer 3.25% and employee 0.75% of wages for covered employees.[27]
- Gratuity after five years of service, or after one year for fixed-term employees under the Code on Social Security.[25]
With Rekruuto there is no foreign payroll to run: you pay one monthly price, and we handle paying your hire in the Philippines.
Why we hire in the Philippines
We place talent in the Philippines only. It is a deliberate choice, and it is why our hires work the way they do:
- English that holds up on client calls. The Philippines ranks 28 of 123 in the EF English Proficiency Index 2025, in the high proficiency band, and English is an official language of the country for communication and instruction.[13][33]
- Your hours, by design. Every Rekruuto hire works full time in your time zone. U.S. hours are how our hires work, not an exception you negotiate.
- Top 2% vetting. We accept only the top 2% of applicants, so you meet a shortlist, not a pile of résumés.
- One flat monthly price. $1,800 a month for most roles, and from $2,500 a month for software developers and AI Implementation Specialists. We handle paying your hire, so there is no foreign payroll or employer filing for you to run.
- Fast start, low risk. Hiring and onboarding take 14 days. The first week is a trial: if you are not satisfied, we find a replacement or refund your money.
- Trusted by 100+ customers. We recruit, vet, and support talent in one country: the Philippines.
What does a Rekruuto hire cost?
$1,800 a month for most roles, and from $2,500 a month for software developers and AI Implementation Specialists. One flat price, full time, in your time zone. Hiring and onboarding take 14 days, and the first week is a trial: if you are not satisfied, we find a replacement or refund your money. Run your own numbers in the offshore salary calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does Rekruuto hire in India?
No. We place talent in the Philippines only. The India figures on this page are public pay benchmarks, shown so you can compare markets before you hire.
How much does a virtual or administrative assistant earn in India?
PayScale's median reported base pay for virtual or administrative assistant roles (listed as Administrative Assistant) in India is ₹32,296 a month, about $371, from 229 salary profiles (updated Jun 8, 2026).
How does English proficiency compare between the Philippines and India?
In the EF English Proficiency Index 2025, the Philippines ranks 28 of 123 with a score of 569 (high proficiency). India ranks 74 with a score of 484 (low proficiency). English is also an official language of the Philippines.
How many working hours does India share with the U.S.?
During U.S. daylight saving time, a 9-to-5 Eastern day runs 6:30 p.m. – 2:30 a.m. in India, so no hours of a local 9-to-5 day overlap. Rekruuto hires in the Philippines work your hours, so your whole workday overlaps.
What does a full-time Rekruuto hire cost?
$1,800 a month for most roles, and from $2,500 a month for software developers and AI Implementation Specialists. Hiring and onboarding take 14 days, and the first week is a trial: if you are not satisfied, we find a replacement or refund your money.
What employer costs apply in India?
Provident fund: the employer pays 12% of wages, mandatory on wages up to Rs 25,000 a month from September 17, 2026. State insurance (ESI): employer 3.25% and employee 0.75% of wages for covered employees. Gratuity after five years of service, or after one year for fixed-term employees under the Code on Social Security. With Rekruuto you pay one monthly price and we handle paying your hire in the Philippines.
Related pages
- Cost to hire a virtual assistant: Philippines vs India
- Cost to hire a customer service rep: Philippines vs India
- Cost to hire a web developer: Philippines vs India
- Cost to hire a graphic designer: Philippines vs India
- Offshore hiring costs by country
- Philippines vs Mexico for offshore hiring
- Philippines vs Colombia for offshore hiring
- Philippines vs Brazil for offshore hiring
- Philippines vs Pakistan for offshore hiring
- Philippines vs Vietnam for offshore hiring
- Philippines vs South Africa for offshore hiring
- Every role we place in the Philippines
- Offshore Hiring Costs 2026 report
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), national estimates, May 2025. Annual median wage, all U.S. employers. Pulled from the BLS public data API (series OEUN…13).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, June 2026 (USDL-26-1494), Table 5, June 2026, released September 9, 2026. Full-time private industry workers, all and by occupational group. All full-time: $54.00 total compensation and $36.97 wages and salaries per hour worked.
- Philippine Statistics Authority, 2024 Occupational Wages Survey, August 2024, released November 2025. Average monthly wage rate (basic pay plus allowances) of full-time, time-rated workers in establishments with 10 or more workers.
- National Wages and Productivity Commission (Philippines), NCR daily minimum wage rates, Wage Order No. NCR-28, Effective September 26, 2026. Non-agriculture rate. Wage Order NCR-27 is in litigation; its second tranche is not in force.
- World Bank, Official exchange rate, local currency per US$, period average (PA.NUS.FCRF), 2024 and 2025 annual averages.
- PayScale, PayScale Research Center, salary by job and country, Pages updated 2025-2026; each figure links to its page and date. Median self-reported base pay, with the 25th and 75th percentiles. Annual figures divided by 12. Used only where 30 or more salary profiles were reported.
- EF Education First, EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) 2025, 2025 edition, 123 countries and regions. Proficiency bands: very high 600+, high 550-599, moderate 500-549, low 450-499, very low under 450.
- IANA, Time Zone Database, Release 2026c. Local times computed for January 15, 2026 (U.S. standard time) and July 15, 2026 (U.S. daylight saving time).
- Press Information Bureau, Government of India, The four Labour Codes take effect, November 21, 2025.
- Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Cabinet approves raising the EPF wage ceiling to Rs 25,000, September 16, 2026; notified with effect from September 17, 2026.
- Employees' State Insurance Corporation (India), ESIC contribution rates, Rates in force since July 1, 2019.
- National Commission for Culture and the Arts (Philippines), Language policies in the Philippines (1987 Constitution, Article XIV, Section 7), Accessed October 2026. Filipino and English are the official languages of the Philippines for communication and instruction.
Hire in the Philippines with Rekruuto
Tell us the role. We will show you the shortlist process, the 14-day timeline, and how the 1-week trial works.