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What Filipino Talent Actually Costs: A Real Salary Guide for Australian Professional Services Firms (2026)
They’ve heard “cheap overseas labour” and immediately think $300 a month call-centre work. Or they’ve been burned by an agency charging them a markup and walked away thinking offshore hiring is complicated and expensive.
Neither is right.
The reality: you can typically hire a skilled, experienced Filipino professional (accountant, loans processor, marketing manager, developer) for around $1,100 to $2,300 AUD per month. That’s about $13,200 to $27,600 per year in Australian dollars. These are typical market rates in 2026 for direct hiring of qualified remote staff across professional services disciplines. Treat them as estimates: actual pay moves with experience, location and the exchange rate.
Here’s the full breakdown.
Why These Numbers Matter
A typical Australian SME pays around $70,000–$100,000+ per year for a local admin or support hire. That’s before super, leave loading, payroll tax, and the cost of downtime when they leave.
On our estimates, Filipino talent in the same roles typically costs 51–87% less.
Not 10% less. Not 20% less. More than half off, for work that gets done.
The Philippines has one of the highest English proficiency rates in Asia, a strong education system across accounting, IT, legal, and business disciplines, and a workforce that has worked with US, UK and Australian firms for 20+ years. This isn’t a new market. Many Australian firms are already doing it.
The question isn’t whether it works. The question is whether you’re paying a fair rate, or whether an agency is quietly taking a percentage of the salary every month.
The Salary Guide: Role by Role
All figures are typical monthly rates in AUD for direct hire arrangements and are estimates, not quotes. Savings percentages are relative to typical Australian total employee costs for the equivalent role. For our core roles, the cost calculator shows the full comparison.
The backbone of any professional services firm. These are the roles most commonly moved offshore first, and for good reason. High leverage, fast to onboard, immediate impact on the founder’s time.
| Role | Monthly Rate (AUD) | Savings vs AU |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Assistant | $1,100 | Up to 87% |
| Admin Assistant | $1,200 | Up to 85% |
| Executive Assistant | $1,700 | Up to 86% |
| Paralegal | $1,500 | Up to 85% |
| Legal Assistant | $1,500 | Up to 85% |
| Data Entry Clerk | $1,200 | Up to 85% |
| Client Relations Specialist | $1,600 | Up to 70% |
| Client Specialist | $1,500 | Up to 83% |
| Customer Support Rep | $1,200 | Up to 85% |
| Phone Support Agent | $1,200 | Up to 85% |
| Live Chat Agent | $1,200 | Up to 85% |
| Shopify Admin | $1,700 | Up to 70% |
An Executive Assistant in Australia typically costs around $120,000 a year plus super. In the Philippines, you’re typically paying around $1,700 a month (about $20,400 AUD a year). Same work. The difference goes back into your business.
These roles surprise most people. Marketing managers, paid ads specialists and settlement officers aren’t just available. They’re often stronger than what you’d find locally for the same budget.
| Role | Monthly Rate (AUD) | Savings vs AU |
|---|---|---|
| Account Executive | $1,260 | Up to 72% |
| Lead Qualifier | $1,300 | Up to 72% |
| Sales Manager | $1,680 | Up to 71% |
| Sales Rep | $1,300 | Up to 80% |
| Loans Processor | $1,600 | Up to 84% |
| Settlement Officer | $1,600 | Up to 84% |
| Digital Strategist | $1,400 | Up to 77% |
| Paid Ads Manager | $1,680 | Up to 72% |
| SEO Specialist | $1,400 | Up to 66% |
| Social Media Manager | $1,400 | Up to 86% |
| Email Marketer | $1,300 | Up to 64% |
| Marketing Manager | $1,800 | Up to 76% |
| Marketing Assistant | $1,500 | Up to 85% |
| Content Writer | $1,200 | Up to 72% |
A Marketing Manager in Sydney typically costs around $90,000–$110,000 per year. In the Philippines, around $21,600 AUD per year. If you’re running paid ads and paying $80k+ for someone local to manage your Meta campaigns, do the maths. See our marketing assistant and social media manager role pages.
This is the category most relevant to many of our clients. Filipino finance professionals are trained, often CPA-qualified, and many are familiar with Australian lending, compliance and accounting frameworks. See our accountant, bookkeeper and loan processor role pages.
| Role | Monthly Rate (AUD) | Savings vs AU |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Analyst | $2,800 | Up to 78% |
| Head of Finance | $2,800 | Up to 78% |
| Accountant | $1,800 | Up to 85% |
| Bookkeeper | $1,400 | Up to 85% |
| AP / AR Specialist | $1,400 | Up to 85% |
| Loans Processor | $1,600 | Up to 84% |
| Settlement Officer | $1,600 | Up to 84% |
A Loans Processor locally: typically around $100,000 a year plus super, or about $122,450 all-in. In the Philippines: around $1,600 a month (about $19,200 a year). That’s one hire saving you $100,000+ per year. For a broker doing $50M+ in loan volume, a loans processor is not optional; the question is whether you pay $122k or $19k for the same output.
The Financial Analyst and Head of Finance roles sitting at $2,800/month deserve special mention. These are senior-level hires. In Australia, you’re typically looking at $120,000–$150,000 per year for the equivalent. In the Philippines, around $33,600. The savings percentage isn’t even the headline; the absolute dollar figure is.
If you’re producing content, running ads, or maintaining a brand, you need creative talent. These roles are consistently strong in the Philippines, particularly video editing and graphic design.
| Role | Monthly Rate (AUD) | Savings vs AU |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $1,500 | Up to 67% |
| Video Editor | $1,700 | Up to 71% |
| Photo Editor | $1,200 | Up to 70% |
A Video Editor locally typically costs around $70,000–$85,000 per year. In the Philippines: around $20,400. For firms producing marketing content, YouTube videos, reels or ad creatives, the case is easy to make.
Operations roles cover a wide range: property management, procurement, project management and real estate. Filipino talent has deep experience here, particularly in real estate and construction admin.
| Role | Monthly Rate (AUD) | Savings vs AU |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Manager | $1,900 | Up to 65% |
| Operations Assistant | $1,300 | Up to 57% |
| Procurement Specialist | $1,400 | Up to 68% |
| Inventory Planner | $1,300 | Up to 77% |
| Quote Coordinator | $1,260 | Up to 51% |
| Vendor Management | $1,400 | Up to 79% |
| Project Manager | $1,680 | Up to 81% |
| Construction Admin | $1,200 | Up to 69% |
| Real Estate Virtual Assistant | $1,200 | Up to 85% |
| Property Improvement Specialist | $1,400 | Up to 75% |
| Property Manager | $1,400 | Up to 73% |
| Leasing Consultant | $1,250 | Up to 67% |
Project Managers at around $1,680/month show savings of up to 81% compared with local equivalents. That’s about $20,160 a year against the Australian full cost. If you’re running a construction firm, real estate business or any operations-heavy environment, this changes what’s possible on your headcount budget. See our pages for builders and trades and real estate and property.
Tech roles carry the biggest dollar savings, because local developer salaries are the highest. Filipino developers are working with US and European tech companies at scale. The local talent market is deep.
| Role | Monthly Rate (AUD) | Savings vs AU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Stack Developer | $2,300 | Up to 84% |
| Back-End Developer | $2,300 | Up to 84% |
| Front-End Developer | $2,300 | Up to 84% |
| Data Scientist | $1,680 | Up to 77% |
| Analytics Specialist | $1,680 | Up to 84% |
| Analyst | $1,600 | Up to 77% |
| Underwriter | $1,200 | Up to 81% |
An Australian Back-End Developer: typically around $145,000 a year plus super. In the Philippines: around $2,300 a month (about $27,600 a year). An Analytics Specialist locally typically costs $90,000+ all-in. In the Philippines: around $20,160, savings of up to 84%. For any firm investing in tech, data, or automation, these numbers make the hiring decision obvious.
What These Rates Don’t Include
These are direct hire salary rates. They don’t include:
Employer contributions: if you hire the person, the Philippines has SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG (government social contributions), which add a small percentage on top
13th month pay: mandatory for employees in the Philippines, equivalent to one extra month’s salary per year (see our 13th month pay guide)
Equipment: laptop and peripherals if not provided by the hire
Payroll or employer of record platform: if you use one, these services hire or pay overseas workers for you for a monthly fee per hire; check current pricing with the provider
Add these up and, on our estimates, you’re still typically looking at 50–85% savings on the total cost compared with local hiring, across every role category. Recruitment is separate: with Tarino, one fee of $5,000 excl. GST per hire.
The Agency Problem
Here’s what often goes unsaid.
Many offshore agencies charge a monthly markup on top of the staff member’s salary, often 15–30% or more, for as long as the person works for you. You’re essentially paying rent to use talent you never own.
If your Filipino hire earns $1,800/month and the agency charges a 20% markup, you’re paying $360/month, or $4,320/year, on top of salary. Over three years, that’s $13,000+ in fees. Some agencies charge a flat monthly fee instead; one large Australian agency publishes A$1,099 per person per month plus A$1,200 per hire, about A$13,188 a year.
The Tarino model is different. One fee per hire: $250 upfront, credited back when you hire, and $4,750 on hire, so $5,000 excl. GST in total. You own the hire. No ongoing markups. See pricing.
What to Do Next
If you’re running a professional services firm in Australia and you don’t have a Filipino team member yet, you’re paying more than you need to for the same work.
The question isn’t whether to hire offshore. It’s how to do it without overpaying in the process.
Start with one role. Pick the task you hate most or the one eating the most of your team’s time. Use the salary guide above to set expectations. Then hire properly: direct hire, fair wage, no agency middleman taking a cut every month.
That’s what Tarino exists for. We start with 1,000+ candidates per role and send you a shortlist of 3–4, typically within about 2 weeks.
Ready to hire? Book a 30-minute call.
One fee per hire. You own the hire. No markups.
The savings percentages in this guide aren’t based on base salary alone. They reflect the total employment cost of hiring locally in Australia, compared to the direct hire rate for an equivalent Filipino professional.
Australian total employment cost includes:
Base salary (market rate for the role in a capital city)
Superannuation: 12% on top of base (2025–26 rate)
Leave loading: 17.5% on annual leave entitlements
Payroll tax: ~5.45% (NSW rate; applies to businesses above the $1.2M threshold)
Workers’ compensation insurance: ~1–2% depending on industry
Recruitment cost (amortised): typically $5,000–$15,000 per hire
Example: Loans Processor
AU base salary: ~$100,000
Super (12%): $12,000
Leave loading: ~$3,500
Payroll tax (5.45%): ~$5,450
Workers’ comp (~1.5%): ~$1,500
Total AU cost: ~$122,450/year ($10,204/month)
PH direct hire rate: $1,600/month ($19,200/year)
Saving: ~$103,250/year, about 84% less
The savings figures in the tables above use the same methodology applied across each role category. Actual savings vary based on your state (payroll tax thresholds differ), industry (workers’ comp rates vary), and whether your business sits above the payroll tax threshold.
For smaller businesses below the payroll tax threshold, savings are slightly lower, typically 50–80% rather than 51–87%. They’re still significant.
Sources: Salary benchmarks compiled from market research (2026); all figures are typical estimates. Australian on-costs based on ATO superannuation rates (2025–26), NSW payroll tax rate and Fair Work leave entitlements. This guide is general information, not financial or tax advice.
This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Check your situation with a qualified adviser.