Hire remote staff in India
India runs on one time zone, India Standard Time, half an hour off most others. Here's what Indian remote staff cost, the hours they cover for US, UK and Australian teams, and how paying them works.
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What remote staff in India charge
- Freelance VA rate on Upwork, India benchmark
- $10–20/hr
Upwork gives its worldwide VA range as the benchmark for India and publishes no India-only figure. Upwork, India VA page (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 2026
- US employee wage, median
- $23.23/hr
Secretaries and administrative assistants, $48,310 a year. US Bureau of Labor Statistics (opens in a new tab), May 2025 data
India time zone and working hours
India is on India Standard Time (IST), UTC+5:30, all year: it never changes its clocks, so only your side moves. The whole country uses one time zone, half an hour off most others.
Your US Eastern 9-to-5, in India
- Your standard time (EST)
- 7:30 pm to 3:30 am
- Your summer time (EDT)
- 6:30 pm to 2:30 am
- Shared hours
- 0 hours
Your US Pacific 9-to-5, in India
- Your standard time (PST)
- 10:30 pm to 6:30 am
- Your summer time (PDT)
- 9:30 pm to 5:30 am
- Shared hours
- 0 hours
Your London 9-to-5, in India
- Your standard time (GMT)
- 2:30 pm to 10:30 pm
- Your summer time (BST)
- 1:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Shared hours
- 2.5 hours
- Shared hours, your summer
- 3.5 hours
Your Sydney 9-to-5, in India
- Your standard time (AEST)
- 4:30 am to 12:30 pm
- Your summer time (AEDT)
- 3:30 am to 11:30 am
- Shared hours
- 3.5 hours
- Shared hours, your summer
- 2.5 hours
| Your 9-to-5 | In India, your standard time | In India, your summer time | Shared hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Eastern | 7:30 pm to 3:30 amEST | 6:30 pm to 2:30 amEDT | 0 hours |
| US Pacific | 10:30 pm to 6:30 amPST | 9:30 pm to 5:30 amPDT | 0 hours |
| London | 2:30 pm to 10:30 pmGMT | 1:30 pm to 9:30 pmBST | 2.5 hours3.5 hours in summer |
| Sydney | 4:30 am to 12:30 pmAEST | 3:30 am to 11:30 amAEDT | 3.5 hours2.5 hours in summer |
The other way round: a 9-to-5 in India, in January
- US Eastern (EST)
- 10:30 pm to 6:30 am
- US Pacific (PST)
- 7:30 pm to 3:30 am
- London (GMT)
- 3:30 am to 11:30 am
- Sydney (AEDT)
- 2:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Shared hours are the part of both 9-to-5s that overlaps. Every profile shows which business hours the person covers. IANA time zone database (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 2026
English in India
EF's English Proficiency Index 2025 ranks India 74th of 123 countries, with a score of 484, in its “low” band. It's based on people who chose to take EF's test, so treat it as a rough guide.
EF English Proficiency Index (opens in a new tab), 2025 edition
On StaffPick you don't rely on a national average: everyone takes the same English test, and their CEFR band and score sit on their profile. What the CEFR bands mean at work.
Paying someone in India
- Wise
Wise sends rupees to Indian bank accounts or straight to a UPI ID. You pick a payment purpose, and business transfers are capped at ₹15 lakh (1.5 million rupees) a working day.
Wise (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 2026
- Hire Direct, $79 a month
- Request intros, then pay the person directly, in the way you both agree.
- Done For You, their pay plus $399 a month
- StaffPick pays them for you and replaces them free if it doesn't work out.
Holidays and the law
- Public holidays
Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August) and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October) are compulsory holidays for central government offices. Most other holidays vary by state.
DoPT Office Memorandum 12/2/2023-JCA (opens in a new tab), 3 Jul 2025, holidays for 2026
Agree up front which days they take off, and what happens if you need them on one.
- Contractor or employee
India's four labour codes took effect on 21 November 2025, replacing 29 central labour laws.
Whether someone counts as an employee usually depends on how the work really happens (who sets the hours, who directs the work, how they're paid), not on what the contract calls them. If you hire a contractor, keep it a contractor relationship, or use an employer of record. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Roles you can hire
Each guide covers what the role does, cited rates and how we test the people you'll meet.
Tested Indian staff on StaffPick
Live profiles. Each person passed the English, typing and role tests, and we reviewed the profile before it went live.
Questions about hiring in India
Still unsure? Contact us. A person reads every message.
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