What does a PA earn? Here’s everything you need to know

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An assistant taking notes while talking with their manager in an office.


As the leading PA recruitment agency in Dubai and beyond, we’ve worked with thousands of individuals in PA jobs. From start-ups to global corporations, finance to creative industries, we’ve seen the whole range of job specs, giving us unrivalled insights into salaries across the market. So, whatever the job may look like, we can give you the best advice on what to expect of a personal assistant’s salary.

What is a personal assistant?

Personal assistants can be found in every industry, performing a highly valued role. Whether they’re working with a business manager or an UHNWI in a private capacity, PAs are vital for making their principal’s working lives smooth and efficient.

Of course, the day-to-day life of a PA in the creative sector may look quite different to one in investment banking, but the core duties of a personal assistant remain the same:

These time-sensitive and pressure-filled tasks favour assistants with a particular set of personality traits, such as clear communication, initiative, discretion and timekeeping. The best PAs have these traits in abundance and thrive in this fast-paced position. But that doesn’t mean they should be happy to do it for an uncompetitive salary!

How much do personal assistants make?

When it comes to the salary of a personal assistant, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Rather, the salary will depend on the industry, the level of seniority, whether the role is remote or office-based, and whether it’s a corporate role or a private PA job.

Below you will find some guidelines on the most up-to-date personal assistant salaries.

Personal assistant salary based on industry

Financial services companies are known to be paying the highest salaries to PAs in the market. The salaries in this industry can typically range from AED20,000-AED30,000 per month.

In addition, this industry usually provides great benefits and bonuses for their employees.

The personal assistant salaries in the tech industry can range between AED18,000-AED22,000, in the creative industry between AED15,000-AED20,000, and in the non-profit/charity, and education sectors pay between AED12,000-£15,000.

Average PA salaries based on seniority

The salary of a personal assistant will also be affected by seniority of the role. On average, for an entry level/junior office role with the prospect of progressing into a PA role, the salary will be around AED18,000-AED20,000 per month.

Private personal assistant salary

If being a private PA is your goal, expect to see quite a different range of salaries for this role. That’s because the pay will be affected by several factors, based on the principal’s requirements.

Some of these factors might be:

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but these requirements affect the salary bracket, meaning salaries for private PA roles can range from AED25,000 to AED40,000 per month.

If you’d like more information on PA salaries in Dubai and the MENA region, you can request a copy of our Salary and Benefits Review.

If you’re looking to hire a PA, read our ultimate guide to PA recruitment.

Author Zahra Clark Tiger Recruitment Team
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