Top Executive Assistant Staffing Agencies Compared: 8 EA Staffing Firms You Can Trust

Reclaim a third of your week—no inbox triage, no last-minute flight changes, no “do we have the deck?” panic.

A high-caliber Executive Assistant has evolved into a strategic partner, steering projects, decisions, and hybrid teams. Post-pandemic research shows the role’s scope has surged, making experienced EAs indispensable to fast-moving leaders.

With so much on the line, trusting the first “top 10 executive assistant staffing agencies” list can backfire. Many roundups recycle names without revealing vetting rigor, hidden fees, or the algorithmic shortcuts that miss cultural fit.

We chose a different path. In the last quarter, we scored 20+ EA-focused staffing firms worldwide across six criteria—candidate quality, client satisfaction, specialization, cost clarity, technology, and DEI. Eight stood out.

This guide details our method, profiles each agency, and hands you a checklist to choose the partner who frees your time and amplifies your impact.

Our evaluation methodology

Before we named any firm “best,” we built a clear yard stick.

First, we gathered a long list of more than twenty EA staffing firms across North America, Europe, and the Middle East. We scored each one against six factors that shape a smooth, durable hire:

1. Candidate quality and vetting (25%)  
2. Client satisfaction and track record (20%)  
3. Specialization in executive support (15%)  
4. Cost transparency and value (15%)  
5. Technology and process improvement (10%)  
6. Commitment to diversity and inclusion (10%)

Weights mirror impact. A thorough vetting process carries more weight than tool flair, so it claims the largest slice.

To stay objective, we drew data from client testimonials, third-party reviews, public fee sheets, and in several cases direct interviews with agency principals. We also observed how each firm combines software with human judgment. Ninety-six percent of recruiters now rely on AI to sift résumés, and seventy-three percent say it shortens time to hire, according to a Time report.

Each category earned a zero-to-five score, then we rolled the numbers into a composite out of one hundred. The eight agencies you’ll meet next posted the highest totals. Some shine through global reach, others through boutique depth, but all clear the quality bar.

That’s our yard stick. See how the frontrunners measure up in the pages ahead.

C-suite assistants – elite C-suite EA specialists

C-Suite Assistants is an executive assistant staffing agency that pairs senior leaders with career EAs who perform at board level.

C-Suite Assistants website screenshot highlighting EA-only focus

Founded in New York in 2003 and still women-owned, the boutique firm has spent two decades curating a nationwide bench of top-tier assistants. Many recruiters are former business operators, so they speak the language of CEOs and CFOs, not just résumés.

Depth beats breadth here. Fewer than five percent of applicants clear the multi-round vetting, which includes scenario interviews that test judgment, poise, and calm under pressure; C-Suite points out in Why human recruiters outperform AI that algorithmic résumé filters routinely miss those nuances. You receive a short list that feels tailored, not mass sourced.

Engagements follow a contingency model: you pay only when you hire, and the service includes a replacement guarantee, a welcome safety net for leaders who trust an EA with calendar and reputation.

If you want an assistant who can read the room, anticipate questions, and safeguard your focus, place C-Suite Assistants at the top of your shortlist.

Robert Half: global reach, administrative muscle

Need résumés tomorrow? Robert Half is built for moments like that.

Founded in 1948, the executive assistant staffing agency has grown into a Fortune 500 firm with hundreds of offices and a deep bench of pre-vetted administrative talent. Its OfficeTeam arm, now part of Administrative & Customer Support, supplies executive assistants on every continent and across industries from fintech to healthcare.

Scale is only part of the story. Proprietary matching software generates a short list within hours, then human recruiters confirm culture fit. You can hire contract, contract-to-hire, or direct-hire talent, and fees hover near the industry norm of twenty-five percent for permanent placements.

Clients turn to Robert Half when time is tight, locations are spread out, and consistency matters more than boutique attention. If you oversee multiple offices or need interim coverage while you search for a long-term EA, their bench is hard to beat.

Randstad: worldwide scale, local know-how

Randstad blends global coverage with neighborhood insight.

Operating in nearly forty countries, this executive assistant staffing agency can present multilingual or relocation-ready candidates faster than most HR teams can draft a job post. Each search is managed by recruiters based in your hiring market, so cultural nuances stay intact.

Clients appreciate flexible options. Need a three-month contract EA while your chief of staff takes parental leave? Easy. Want a permanent right hand? The team shifts to a contingency search. Pricing mirrors industry norms: hourly markups for temps and roughly twenty-five percent for direct hires, all spelled out up front.

Choose Randstad when you want the certainty of a Fortune-caliber process paired with local market knowledge.

Tiger Recruitment: premium support for boardrooms and beyond

Some executives need more than calendar mastery; they need an assistant who can glide from investor briefing to private jet logistics without missing a beat. That is Tiger Recruitment’s specialty.

Founded in London in 2001 and now operating from New York, Dubai, and Zurich, this executive assistant staffing agency focuses on high-stakes support roles: executive assistants, personal assistants, and chiefs of staff for Fortune leaders and ultra-high-net-worth households.

Clients praise the pace. A deep referral network lets Tiger present a short list within three weeks, even for multilingual or travel-heavy roles. Every candidate passes a thorough reference review and scenario test that screens for discretion, poise, and adaptability.

Searches usually run on a contingency basis, though the team will switch to a retained model when confidentiality matters. Fees track executive-search norms, typically in the mid- to high-twenties as a share of first-year compensation, and they come with a longer than average guarantee.

Choose Tiger when you need an assistant with flawless polish and global readiness.

Pocketbook Agency: culture-first matches for modern teams

Pocketbook Agency approaches executive assistant recruiting like a thoughtful match, aligning personality with performance.

Founded in Los Angeles in 2014, this boutique executive assistant staffing agency built its reputation in fast-moving tech and entertainment circles, where cultural fit often outranks a flawless résumé. The firm’s “Smarter Staffing Technique” maps personality traits to a company’s pace, values, and quirks.

Selectivity is high. Only a small share of applicants pass the behavioral interviews and reference checks, so every candidate you meet already meshes with your leadership style.

Engagements are contingency based at roughly twenty-five percent of first-year compensation, with a ninety-day guarantee. Services cover executive assistants, personal assistants, and hybrid roles that blend business and personal support, a structure common among founder CEOs who mix work and life.

If you want an EA who slips into your team’s rhythm from day one, Pocketbook is a smart pick.

Boldly: fractional firepower, zero payroll headache

Sometimes you need high-caliber support without adding a full-time salary. Boldly fills that gap.

This executive assistant staffing agency hires veteran EAs as its own employees and assigns them to clients through a flexible subscription. You pay a flat monthly fee, pick the hours you need, and gain a dedicated assistant who averages more than ten years of experience.

Selectivity is strict: fewer than two percent of applicants receive an offer, so skill and professionalism stay high. Boldly also keeps a standby EA ready, ensuring you never scramble during vacations or sick days.

If remote-first efficiency and adjustable hours match your workflow, Boldly lets you scale executive support as easily as cloud storage.

Maven Recruiting Group: Bay Area insider network

If your headquarters sit between Palo Alto and SoMa, Maven feels like an extension of your talent team.

The women-led executive assistant staffing agency has spent fifteen years nurturing the West Coast admin community through workshops, podcasts, and compensation guides. That grassroots work means recruiters already know which EA just guided a Series C and which one is ready for a fresh challenge.

Maven excels at translating fast-growth uncertainty into clear role specs, then presenting candidates who thrive on pace and ambiguity. The team provides temp coverage, temp-to-hire pilots, or direct placements, all at fees competitive with larger firms yet delivered with boutique candor.

For founders and venture funds who need a strategic gatekeeper who understands tech culture, Maven is the local favorite.

Caldwell Partners: executive search rigor for mission-critical EAs

When the assistant role carries the weight of a VP hire, companies turn to Caldwell.

The publicly listed executive assistant staffing agency applies board-level search practices to EA placements, head-hunting passive talent that job ads never reach. Searches stay confidential, recruiters conduct deep interviews, and psychometric assessments are available on request.

Speed remains strong. Most mandates close within a month because researchers in New York, London, and Toronto work the network in parallel. Fees follow a retained model, about one-third of first-year compensation, paid in milestones and supported by a guarantee of up to a year.

If you need an assistant who can steer board prep, manage sensitive information, and potentially grow into chief of staff, Caldwell offers a search process built for the C-suite.

Quick comparison at a glance

Use this grid when stakeholders ask which executive assistant staffing agency meets each need.

Treat this table as your cheat sheet for a fast side-by-side view.

Making your decision

Choosing an executive assistant staffing agency is less about ranking and more about alignment with how you work.

Start with your work style. If you live on Slack and Zoom, a remote-first service like Boldly slips in smoothly. If you need someone at your office door, lean toward C-Suite Assistants, Maven, or Tiger, which focus on on-site placements.

Next, match urgency to search model. Contingency firms such as Robert Half and Randstad can present résumés within forty-eight hours, ideal for sudden departures. A retained search with Caldwell runs a bit longer but uncovers passive talent you will not find on LinkedIn.

Budget comes third. A twenty-five percent fee may feel steep until you weigh the cost of a mismatch that drains executive time for months. Ask each agency to outline its guarantee period, replacement policy, and any conversion fees on temp-to-perm hires so costs stay clear.

Finally, test their culture radar. Skilled recruiters talk as much about personality fit as technical skills. During your intake call, note whether they ask how you prefer feedback, how decisions flow, and what good judgment looks like in your world. If those questions never surface, consider moving on.

A quick question list before you sign:

• What does your vetting process cover from first interview to reference call?  
• How many executive assistants did you place in my industry over the past year?  
• What percentage of those assistants remain after twelve months?  
• Who will handle my search day to day, and how often will we debrief?  
• If the first hire falls short, what is my replacement path?