Offshore hiring costs by country / United States

Philippines vs the United States 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, the BLS median for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants is $76,590 a year (May 2025), about $9,510 a month with employer costs. The United States figures on this page are employment costs, not a place we hire.

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Updated . Sources at the bottom of the page. The United States is a cost comparison, not a hire country.

Illustration comparing hiring in the Philippines and United States: both national flags on side-by-side cards

How do the Philippines and the United States compare?

This page compares a Philippines placement with the cost of employing someone in the United States. It does not offer a U.S. hire. Pay benchmarks for India, Mexico, and the other offshore markets are on their own pages. Those countries are comparisons too.

EF EPI 2025[13], IANA time zones[14], minimum wages, World Bank exchange rates[9].
PhilippinesUnited States
English proficiency (EF EPI 2025)Rank 28 of 123, score 569 (high)[13]Not listed in the 123-country index[13]
Time zoneUTC+8, no daylight saving timeEastern UTC−5/−4 and Pacific UTC−8/−7, both observing daylight saving time[14]
U.S. Eastern 9-to-5, in local time (U.S. summer)9 p.m. – 5 a.m.9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern, which is 6 a.m. – 2 p.m. Pacific
2026 minimum wage, per month$286, Metro Manila (NCR), non-agriculture[4][9]About $1,257, federal minimum on the cost report's full-time basis[8]
Full-time Rekruuto hireYes. $1,800 a month for most roles, and from $2,500 a month for software developers and AI Implementation Specialists.Not offered. We place talent in the Philippines only.

What does a U.S. employer pay?

The annual column is the BLS national median for May 2025. The monthly column adds employer costs from the BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation release for June 2026, using the ratio for that role's occupational group, then divides by 12. The last column is what you pay Rekruuto for a full-time hire in the Philippines. Software developers and the AI Implementation Specialist are from $2,500. Most other roles are $1,800.

U.S. employment cost next to a Rekruuto hire in the Philippines. BLS[1][2]. Rekruuto: our published price.
RoleU.S. median, a yearU.S. fully loaded, a monthRekruuto (Philippines)
Executive assistant
Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants		$76,590$9,510$1,800
Virtual or administrative assistant
Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive		$47,540$5,903$1,800
Bookkeeper
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks		$50,670$6,292$1,800
Customer support representative
Customer service representatives		$44,770$5,559$1,800
Marketing assistant
Market research analysts and marketing specialists		$78,760$9,714$1,800
Graphic designer
Graphic designers		$62,960$7,713$1,800
Video editor
Film and video editors		$75,420$9,239$1,800
Shopify or web developer
Web developers		$92,650$11,350from $2,500
Software developer (full-stack, back-end, mobile)
Software developers		$135,980$16,658from $2,500
QA or test automation engineer
Software quality assurance analysts and testers		$104,300$12,777from $2,500
Project coordinator
Project management specialists		$102,320$12,620$1,800
Sales coordinator or SDR
Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel		$69,990$8,049$1,800
Legal assistant
Paralegals and legal assistants		$62,890$7,704$1,800
Healthcare admin assistant
Medical secretaries and administrative assistants		$45,930$5,703$1,800
AI Implementation Specialist
Computer systems analysts		$105,850$12,967from $2,500

Executive assistant: the BLS median for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants is $76,590 a year (May 2025, SOC 43-6011). With employer costs, that is about $9,510 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire in the Philippines for this seat is $1,800 a month, working your hours, with recruiting and pay included.

Virtual or administrative assistant: the BLS median for secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive is $47,540 a year (May 2025, SOC 43-6014). With employer costs, that is about $5,903 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire in the Philippines for this seat is $1,800 a month, working your hours, with recruiting and pay included.

Bookkeeper: the BLS median for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is $50,670 a year (May 2025, SOC 43-3031). With employer costs, that is about $6,292 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire in the Philippines for this seat is $1,800 a month, working your hours, with recruiting and pay included.

Customer support representative: the BLS median for customer service representatives is $44,770 a year (May 2025, SOC 43-4051). With employer costs, that is about $5,559 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire in the Philippines for this seat is $1,800 a month, working your hours, with recruiting and pay included.

Marketing assistant: the BLS median for market research analysts and marketing specialists is $78,760 a year (May 2025, SOC 13-1161). With employer costs, that is about $9,714 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire in the Philippines for this seat is $1,800 a month, working your hours, with recruiting and pay included.

Graphic designer: the BLS median for graphic designers is $62,960 a year (May 2025, SOC 27-1024). With employer costs, that is about $7,713 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire in the Philippines for this seat is $1,800 a month, working your hours, with recruiting and pay included.

Video editor: the BLS median for film and video editors is $75,420 a year (May 2025, SOC 27-4032). With employer costs, that is about $9,239 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire in the Philippines for this seat is $1,800 a month, working your hours, with recruiting and pay included.

Shopify or web developer: the BLS median for web developers is $92,650 a year (May 2025, SOC 15-1254). With employer costs, that is about $11,350 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire in the Philippines for this seat is from $2,500 a month, working your hours, with recruiting and pay included.

Software developer (full-stack, back-end, mobile): the BLS median for software developers is $135,980 a year (May 2025, SOC 15-1252). With employer costs, that is about $16,658 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire in the Philippines for this seat is from $2,500 a month, working your hours, with recruiting and pay included.

QA or test automation engineer: the BLS median for software quality assurance analysts and testers is $104,300 a year (May 2025, SOC 15-1253). With employer costs, that is about $12,777 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire in the Philippines for this seat is from $2,500 a month, working your hours, with recruiting and pay included.

Project coordinator: the BLS median for project management specialists is $102,320 a year (May 2025, SOC 13-1082). With employer costs, that is about $12,620 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire in the Philippines for this seat is $1,800 a month, working your hours, with recruiting and pay included.

Sales coordinator or SDR: the BLS median for sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel is $69,990 a year (May 2025, SOC 41-3091). With employer costs, that is about $8,049 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire in the Philippines for this seat is $1,800 a month, working your hours, with recruiting and pay included.

Legal assistant: the BLS median for paralegals and legal assistants is $62,890 a year (May 2025, SOC 23-2011). With employer costs, that is about $7,704 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire in the Philippines for this seat is $1,800 a month, working your hours, with recruiting and pay included.

Healthcare admin assistant: the BLS median for medical secretaries and administrative assistants is $45,930 a year (May 2025, SOC 43-6013). With employer costs, that is about $5,703 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire in the Philippines for this seat is $1,800 a month, working your hours, with recruiting and pay included.

AI Implementation Specialist: the BLS median for computer systems analysts is $105,850 a year (May 2025, SOC 15-1211). With employer costs, that is about $12,967 a month. A full-time Rekruuto hire in the Philippines for this seat is from $2,500 a month, working your hours, with recruiting and pay included.

A local U.S. cost is what an employer in the United States pays for that occupation. A Rekruuto hire is a full-time professional in the Philippines, vetted to the top 2% of applicants, working your hours, with a 14-day start and a 1-week trial. We place talent in the Philippines only.

How many working hours overlap?

The Philippines stays on UTC+8 all year. Eastern and Pacific both observe daylight saving time, so they stay 3 hours apart: an Eastern 9-to-5 is 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pacific, which shares 5 hours with a local Pacific 9-to-5. The same U.S. workday falls at night in Manila. Our hires work that shift as their regular schedule.[14]

U.S. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the Philippines. U.S. summer: daylight saving time (March–November).
U.S. time zonePhilippines, U.S. summerPhilippines, U.S. winterRekruuto hire
Eastern9 p.m. – 5 a.m.10 p.m. – 6 a.m.Works your hours: the full day overlaps
Pacific12 a.m. – 8 a.m.1 a.m. – 9 a.m.Works your hours: the full day overlaps

How does English 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. The United States is not listed in that index, so this page does not invent a U.S. rank or score.[13] English is an official language of the Philippines for communication and instruction.[33]

What employer costs apply in the United States?

A U.S. employer pays wages plus legally required benefits, insurance, paid leave, and retirement. The June 2026 BLS release reports dollars of total compensation for every $1 of wages. The role table uses the ratio for each occupation's group. The all-worker figure is listed first.[2]

  • All full-time private industry workers: 1.46 dollars of total compensation for every $1 of wages.
  • Office and administrative support occupations: 1.49 dollars of total compensation for every $1 of wages.
  • Management, business, and financial occupations: 1.48 dollars of total compensation for every $1 of wages.
  • Professional and related occupations: 1.47 dollars of total compensation for every $1 of wages.
  • Sales and related occupations: 1.38 dollars of total compensation for every $1 of wages.

The federal minimum wage works out to about $1,257 a month on the same full-time basis as the offshore hiring cost report.[8]Metro Manila's non-agriculture minimum is about $286 a month.[4][9] With Rekruuto there is no U.S. payroll to run for the hire: 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.

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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. The full price list is on Rekruuto pricing. Role-by-role Philippines costs are on cost to hire. Run your own numbers in the offshore salary calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Does Rekruuto hire in the United States?

No. We place talent in the Philippines only. The United States figures on this page are BLS wage and employer-cost benchmarks, shown so you can compare a domestic employment cost with a Philippines placement.

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. The first week is a trial: if you are not satisfied, we find a replacement or refund your money. We accept only the top 2% of applicants.

What does a U.S. executive assistant cost?

The BLS median for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants is $76,590 a year (May 2025). With employer costs from the June 2026 compensation release, that is about $9,510 a month. That is a U.S. employment cost. It is not a Rekruuto price.

How do Philippines hours line up with a U.S. workday?

A U.S. Eastern 9-to-5 is 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. in the Philippines during U.S. summer, and 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. in U.S. winter. Rekruuto hires work your hours, so your whole workday overlaps.

Is the United States in the EF English Proficiency Index?

The EF English Proficiency Index 2025 ranks 123 countries and regions. The United States is not listed. The Philippines ranks 28 with a score of 569 (high proficiency). English is an official language of the Philippines.

Why compare the United States if you only hire in the Philippines?

A U.S. salary plus employer costs is the number most buyers already know. This page puts that published cost next to $1,800 a month for most roles and from $2,500 a month for software developers and AI Implementation Specialists, so the comparison uses sources rather than a guess.

Sources

  1. 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).
  2. 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 $36.97 wages and salaries per hour worked.
  3. Philippine Statistics Authority, 2024 Occupational Wages Survey, August 2024, released November 2025. Average monthly wage rate (basic pay plus allowances) of full-time, time-rated workers in establishments with 10 or more workers.
  4. National Wages and Productivity Commission (Philippines), NCR daily minimum wage rates, Wage Order No. NCR-28, Effective September 26, 2026. Non-agriculture rate. Wage Order NCR-27 is in litigation; its second tranche is not in force.
  5. U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Federal minimum wage, 2026. Many states and cities set a higher minimum.
  6. World Bank, Official exchange rate, local currency per US$, period average (PA.NUS.FCRF), 2024 and 2025 annual averages.
  7. 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.
  8. 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).
  9. 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.

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