Salary Guide Philippines 2026: Remote Team Salaries, Employer Costs, and EOR Fees
Author: Martin English, CEO & Founding Partner
Updated: June 01, 2026
TL;DR
Salaries in the Philippines are usually lower than equivalent US, UK, or Australian hiring costs, but the real monthly cost of hiring is not salary alone.
For an employee hired through an Employer of Record in the Philippines, your monthly cost normally includes:
- Employee salary
- Employer statutory contributions
- 13th-month pay accrual
- Benefits or allowances, if offered
- The EOR service fee
Smart Outsourcing Solution charges a flat US$190 per employee per month for its Philippines EOR service. This is separate from salary and statutory employer costs.
For budgeting, many offshore roles fall into these monthly salary ranges:
| Role | Junior | Mid-Level | Senior |
| Virtual Assistant | US$600–US$900 | US$900–US$1,300 | US$1,300–US$1,800 |
| Customer Support | US$700–US$1,000 | US$1,000–US$1,500 | US$1,500–US$2,200 |
| Software Developer | US$1,500–US$2,500 | US$2,500–US$4,000 | US$4,000–US$6,000 |
| UI/UX Designer | US$1,200–US$2,000 | US$2,000–US$3,500 | US$3,500–US$5,000 |
| Bookkeeper | US$800–US$1,200 | US$1,200–US$2,000 | US$2,000–US$3,000 |
Need the full employment cost, not just the salary? See our EOR Pricing Philippines guide.
What Is a Salary Guide?
A salary guide helps employers estimate what they should pay for specific roles in a specific country.
For the Philippines, a useful salary guide should show more than base pay. It should also help you estimate:
- Monthly employment cost
- Role seniority
- Market competitiveness
- Statutory employer costs
- 13th-month pay
- Benefits expectations
- EOR or payroll service fees
This matters because the cheapest salary is not always the safest hiring cost. If you are hiring a full-time remote worker in the Philippines, you need to budget for proper employment, payroll, benefits, and compliance.
Average Monthly Salaries in the Philippines for Remote Teams
| Role | Junior Monthly Salary | Mid-Level Monthly Salary | Senior Monthly Salary | Typical Use Case |
| Virtual Assistant | US$600–US$900 | US$900–US$1,300 | US$1,300–US$1,800 | Admin, inbox, scheduling, CRM support |
| Customer Support Specialist | US$700–US$1,000 | US$1,000–US$1,500 | US$1,500–US$2,200 | Email, chat, phone support, CX operations |
| Software Developer | US$1,500–US$2,500 | US$2,500–US$4,000 | US$4,000–US$6,000 | Front-end, back-end, full-stack development |
| UI/UX Designer | US$1,200–US$2,000 | US$2,000–US$3,500 | US$3,500–US$5,000 | Product design, web design, UX research |
| Bookkeeper | US$800–US$1,200 | US$1,200–US$2,000 | US$2,000–US$3,000 | Accounts payable, reconciliation, reporting |
These ranges are planning benchmarks. Actual salaries depend on experience, communication skills, technical requirements, working hours, industry background, and how competitive the hiring market is for the role.
Salary Is Not the Full Cost of Hiring in the Philippines
When hiring in the Philippines, especially through an Employer of Record, salary is only one part of the total monthly cost.
A complete budget should include:
| Cost Item | What It Means |
| Base salary | The employee’s agreed monthly compensation |
| Employer statutory contributions | Employer-side contributions such as SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG |
| 13th-month pay | Mandatory annual pay that should be accrued into the monthly budget |
| Benefits | Optional or agreed benefits such as HMO, allowances, equipment, or stipends |
| EOR service fee | The provider fee for legal employment, payroll, compliance, contracts, payslips, and support |
For a clear breakdown of how these costs work, visit EOR Pricing Philippines.
Example Monthly Cost Model
Here is a simple way to estimate the monthly cost of hiring a Philippine employee through an EOR.
| Example Role | Monthly Salary | Estimated Employer Statutory + 13th-Month Accrual | SOS EOR Fee | Estimated Monthly Total Before Optional Benefits |
| Virtual Assistant | US$1,000 | Varies by salary and statutory tables | US$190 | Salary + statutory + 13th-month accrual + US$190 |
| Customer Support Specialist | US$1,300 | Varies by salary and statutory tables | US$190 | Salary + statutory + 13th-month accrual + US$190 |
| Software Developer | US$3,000 | Varies by salary and statutory tables | US$190 | Salary + statutory + 13th-month accrual + US$190 |
| Bookkeeper | US$1,500 | Varies by salary and statutory tables | US$190 | Salary + statutory + 13th-month accrual + US$190 |
The EOR fee should not be confused with salary. SOS charges a flat US$190 per employee per month for EOR service. Employee salary, statutory employer costs, and optional benefits are billed separately.
What Is Included in SOS EOR Pricing?
Smart Outsourcing Solution’s EOR pricing is designed for companies hiring employees in the Philippines without opening a local entity.
The flat US$190 per employee per month EOR fee includes:
| Included Item | Details |
| Legal employment support | Employ staff in the Philippines without setting up a local entity |
| Payroll processing | Monthly payroll, payslips, salary processing, and payroll records |
| Statutory administration | SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, withholding, and required payroll compliance support |
| Employment documents | Locally compliant employment contracts and employment documentation |
| 13th-month handling | Accrual and processing support for mandatory 13th-month pay |
| Reporting | Payroll summaries and finance exports |
| Account support | Philippines-based support and EOR coordination |
Salary, employer statutory contributions, optional HMO, allowances, equipment, and other agreed employee benefits are separate pass-through costs.
How SOS EOR Pricing Compares With Global EOR Providers
For companies hiring only in the Philippines, a local EOR provider can be more cost-effective than a global EOR platform.
| Provider / Model | Published or Typical EOR Fee | Best Fit | Notes |
| Smart Outsourcing Solution | US$190 per employee/month | Philippines-only hiring, remote teams, cost-conscious employers | Local Philippines EOR support with flat monthly pricing |
| Multiplier | From US$400 per employee/month | Multi-country hiring | Global EOR platform with broader country coverage |
| Deel | From US$599 per employee/month | Global hiring across many countries | Strong global platform, but higher published EOR fee |
| Remote | From US$599 per employee/month | Global hiring across many countries | Global EOR platform with published international pricing |
| Staffing agency / BPO | Often margin-based or bundled | Managed outsourcing, not always direct team employment | May include recruitment, management, seat costs, and agency margin |
If you only need to employ people in the Philippines, the key question is not “which EOR has the biggest global footprint?” It is:
Which provider gives us compliant Philippine employment, transparent pricing, reliable payroll, and local support at the lowest practical total cost?
For many Philippines-only teams, SOS is positioned as the lower-cost EOR option because its flat fee is US$190 per employee per month.
Salary Benchmarks by Role
Virtual Assistant Salary Philippines
Virtual assistants in the Philippines commonly support admin work, inbox management, calendar management, CRM updates, research, reporting, and executive support.
| Level | Monthly Salary Range |
| Junior VA | US$600–US$900 |
| Mid-Level VA | US$900–US$1,300 |
| Senior VA / Executive Assistant | US$1,300–US$1,800 |
A junior VA may be suitable for structured admin work. A senior VA or executive assistant is usually better for client-facing work, stakeholder coordination, inbox ownership, and decision support.
Customer Support Salary Philippines
Customer support roles vary based on channel, working hours, product complexity, and whether the employee handles phone, chat, email, or technical support.
| Level | Monthly Salary Range |
| Junior Customer Support | US$700–US$1,000 |
| Mid-Level Customer Support | US$1,000–US$1,500 |
| Senior Customer Support / Team Lead | US$1,500–US$2,200 |
Higher salaries are usually needed for night shift coverage, technical support, SaaS support, escalation handling, or team leadership.
Software Developer Salary Philippines
Software developer salaries vary widely depending on stack, seniority, English communication, and whether the role requires architecture, product ownership, or only execution.
| Level | Monthly Salary Range |
| Junior Developer | US$1,500–US$2,500 |
| Mid-Level Developer | US$2,500–US$4,000 |
| Senior Developer | US$4,000–US$6,000 |
Senior developers, full-stack developers, DevOps engineers, and niche technical specialists usually sit at the higher end of the range.
UI/UX Designer Salary Philippines
UI/UX design salaries depend on whether the role is focused on visual design, product design, UX research, design systems, or conversion-focused web design.
| Level | Monthly Salary Range |
| Junior UI/UX Designer | US$1,200–US$2,000 |
| Mid-Level UI/UX Designer | US$2,000–US$3,500 |
| Senior UI/UX Designer | US$3,500–US$5,000 |
Senior designers with product, SaaS, research, or conversion experience usually require stronger compensation.
Bookkeeper Salary Philippines
Bookkeeping roles are common for companies that need finance operations support, reconciliations, invoicing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and monthly reporting.
| Level | Monthly Salary Range |
| Junior Bookkeeper | US$800–US$1,200 |
| Mid-Level Bookkeeper | US$1,200–US$2,000 |
| Senior Bookkeeper | US$2,000–US$3,000 |
Experience with Xero, QuickBooks, NetSuite, Australian accounting, US accounting, or ecommerce finance may increase salary expectations.
Local vs Offshore Hiring Cost Comparison
| Role | Typical US/UK/AU Monthly Cost | Philippines Monthly Salary Range | Typical Savings |
| Virtual Assistant | US$3,000–US$5,000 | US$800–US$1,500 | 60–70% |
| Customer Support | US$2,500–US$4,000 | US$800–US$1,500 | 60–70% |
| Developer | US$6,000–US$12,000 | US$2,000–US$4,000 | 50–70% |
The Philippines can be significantly more cost-effective than hiring equivalent roles in Western markets. However, employers should budget properly for compliant employment rather than comparing salary alone.
A realistic monthly budget should include salary, employer contributions, 13th-month pay, optional benefits, and EOR fees.
What Affects Salary in the Philippines?
Philippine salary ranges are influenced by:
| Factor | Why It Matters |
| Seniority | Senior talent costs more but needs less supervision |
| English proficiency | Strong written and verbal communication increases market value |
| Technical skill | Developers, designers, finance, and specialist roles vary widely by skill depth |
| Shift schedule | Night shift or timezone-aligned work may require higher pay |
| Industry experience | SaaS, ecommerce, healthcare, finance, and legal support may command higher rates |
| Client-facing responsibility | Roles involving customers, executives, or stakeholders usually require stronger compensation |
| Retention risk | Underpaying strong talent increases replacement and retraining costs |
The best salary is not the lowest salary. It is the salary that attracts qualified candidates, supports retention, and still creates a strong cost advantage versus local hiring.
When Should You Use an EOR Instead of Hiring Freelancers?
Use an Employer of Record when the worker is functioning like a long-term employee.
An EOR is usually more appropriate when the person:
- Works full-time or close to full-time
- Reports to your managers
- Uses your systems and processes
- Has fixed responsibilities
- Works on an ongoing basis
- Is part of your core team
- Needs payroll, benefits, payslips, and compliant employment records
Freelancers may be suitable for short projects or independent work. But for ongoing team roles, an EOR gives you a cleaner employment structure.
Related guide: EOR vs Freelancer Philippines
How to Build a Hiring Budget
Use this simple framework:
Step 1: Choose the role
Define the job title, responsibilities, tools, hours, and reporting structure.
Step 2: Choose the seniority level
Decide whether you need junior, mid-level, or senior talent.
Step 3: Set the monthly salary range
Use the salary table above as a planning benchmark.
Step 4: Add employer costs
Include statutory employer contributions, 13th-month accrual, and agreed benefits.
Step 5: Add the EOR fee
For SOS, add US$190 per employee per month.
Step 6: Compare against local hiring
Compare total monthly cost, not salary alone.
Example: Budgeting for a Customer Support Hire
A company hiring a customer support specialist in the Philippines might estimate:
| Cost Item | Example |
| Monthly salary | US$1,300 |
| Employer statutory + 13th-month accrual | Calculated based on applicable payroll rules |
| Optional benefits | HMO, allowances, or equipment if offered |
| SOS EOR fee | US$190/month |
| Estimated total | Salary + statutory + 13th-month accrual + benefits + US$190 |
This gives a more accurate hiring budget than salary alone.
For a full cost breakdown, visit EOR Pricing Philippines.
Best Use Cases for This Salary Guide
Use this guide if you are:
- Budgeting your first Philippine remote hire
- Comparing offshore hiring against local hiring
- Moving freelancers into compliant employment
- Planning a customer support, admin, finance, design, or development team
- Comparing EOR providers in the Philippines
- Estimating total monthly cost before booking a consultation
Why Hire Through Smart Outsourcing Solution?
Smart Outsourcing Solution helps companies hire employees in the Philippines without setting up a local entity.
SOS is a strong fit if you want:
- Philippines-focused EOR support
- Transparent flat-fee pricing
- Local payroll and compliance handling
- Clear monthly cost visibility
- Support for remote teams
- Help with employee onboarding, payroll, payslips, statutory contributions, and 13th-month pay
The SOS EOR fee is US$190 per employee per month, separate from salary, statutory employer costs, and optional benefits.
FAQs
What is the average salary in the Philippines for remote employees?
Remote employee salaries in the Philippines vary by role and seniority. Virtual assistants may range from US$600 to US$1,800 per month, customer support roles from US$700 to US$2,200 per month, and software developers from US$1,500 to US$6,000 per month.
How much does an EOR cost in the Philippines?
EOR pricing in the Philippines depends on the provider. Smart Outsourcing Solution charges a flat US$190 per employee per month for its Philippines EOR service. Salary, statutory employer contributions, 13th-month pay, and optional benefits are separate.
What are typical EOR fees in the Philippines?
Typical EOR fees vary by provider model. Some global EOR platforms publish fees from US$400 to US$599 per employee per month. SOS charges US$190 per employee per month for Philippines EOR service.
What is included in Philippines EOR pricing?
EOR pricing usually includes legal employment support, payroll processing, payslips, statutory administration, employment documentation, compliance support, and account management. With SOS, salary and employer statutory costs are billed separately from the US$190 monthly EOR fee.
Is salary the same as total employment cost?
No. Salary is only the employee’s base compensation. Total employment cost may include employer statutory contributions, 13th-month pay, benefits, allowances, equipment, and EOR or payroll service fees.
Is the Philippines cheaper than hiring locally in the US, UK, or Australia?
Often, yes. Many companies save 50–70% by hiring remote employees in the Philippines compared with equivalent local roles. The actual savings depend on role, seniority, benefits, working hours, and management model.
Should I hire a freelancer or use an EOR in the Philippines?
Use freelancers for short-term independent project work. Use an EOR when the person works like an employee, especially if they are full-time, long-term, managed by your team, or part of your core operations.
Does SOS include 13th-month pay in the EOR fee?
No. The SOS EOR fee covers the service layer. 13th-month pay is an employee cost and should be accrued separately as part of the total employment budget.
Can SOS help estimate the full monthly cost for a role?
Yes. Share the role title, target salary, seniority, and start date. SOS can prepare a line-item estimate showing salary, statutory costs, 13th-month accrual, optional benefits, and the US$190 monthly EOR fee.
Get a Philippines Salary and EOR Cost Estimate
Send us the role title, target salary, seniority level, and expected start date.
We’ll help estimate:
- Monthly salary
- Employer statutory costs
- 13th-month accrual
- Optional benefits
- SOS EOR fee
- Estimated total monthly cost
Speak with the Smart Outsourcing Solution team
View EOR Pricing Philippines
