The verdict in three sentences
In Mbour and Saly, the executive assistant role pays in 2026 between 150,000 and 300,000 FCFA net per month at entry level, and 350,000 to 600,000 FCFA for a confirmed profile with advanced office skills and English. Local recruiters (Saly hotels, companies in the Diass zone, NGOs on the Petite Côte) look less for a diploma than for someone able to run a calendar, produce clean documents and filter a manager's communications. A targeted 47 hour course at 200,000 FCFA pays for itself within a few months if it moves you from basic secretarial work to executive assistance.
What an executive assistant earns on the Petite Côte in 2026
The Mbour and Saly job market rests on three employers: hospitality and tourism, companies set up around AIBD airport and the Diass economic zone, and NGOs or development projects. The figures below are 2026 orders of magnitude seen in job ads and from recruiters, not guaranteed amounts.
| Typical employer | Entry profile (net/month) | Confirmed bilingual profile (net/month) | What makes the difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel or residence in Saly | 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA | 350,000 to 500,000 FCFA | Spoken English, group booking management |
| Service SME in Mbour | 150,000 to 220,000 FCFA | 300,000 to 400,000 FCFA | Excel, invoicing, client follow-ups |
| Company in the Diass zone | 200,000 to 300,000 FCFA | 400,000 to 600,000 FCFA | Minutes, dashboards, procedures |
| NGO or development project | 200,000 to 300,000 FCFA | 450,000 to 600,000 FCFA | Donor reports, mission logistics |
| Remote assistance (freelance) | 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA per client | 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA per client | Reliability, online tools, discretion |
| Secretary without specialisation | 100,000 to 150,000 FCFA | 180,000 to 250,000 FCFA | Quick ceiling without upskilling |
The gap between a secretary and a confirmed executive assistant often exceeds 150,000 FCFA per month. It does not come from seniority alone: it comes from the ability to prepare a meeting end to end, write usable minutes and manage a director's priorities without them having to check everything.
The duties and skills that raise the salary
A hotel manager in Saly or an NGO project lead in Mbour expects concrete deliverables. Here is what is actually asked in interviews, and what each skill changes on the payslip.
| Duty | Expected skill | Common tool | Impact on employability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managing the director's calendar | Prioritising, confirming, anticipating | Google Calendar, Outlook | High: it is the core of the job |
| Letters and internal memos | Clear writing, layout | Word, Google Docs | High |
| Budget and purchase tracking | Tables, simple formulas | Excel, Google Sheets | High in SMEs and NGOs |
| Meeting preparation | Agenda, minutes, action follow-up | Word, Meet, Zoom | Medium to high |
| Welcoming foreign partners | Basic written and spoken English | Email, phone | Very high in Saly |
| Filing and archiving | Folder structure, naming, confidentiality | Drive, shared server | Medium |
What training costs, and which one to choose
In Mbour, secretarial schools offer in-person programmes costing 150,000 to 350,000 FCFA, with fixed hours that are hard to combine with a job. Free videos exist, but they give neither a complete method nor a certificate.
| Option | 2026 cost | Duration | Certificate | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-person secretarial school in Mbour | 150,000 to 350,000 FCFA | 3 to 9 months | Yes, local | Fixed hours, sometimes dated content |
| Free YouTube tutorials | 0 FCFA | Variable | No | No pathway, no reviewed projects |
| International online certificates | 20,000 to 60,000 FCFA per month | 1 to 3 months | Yes | In English, poorly suited to the Senegalese context |
| Kolonell Academy, Executive Assistant (level 5) | 200,000 FCFA | 47 h, self-paced | Yes | Requires regular effort |
The recommended course is the Executive Assistant course: office tools, organization and communication, level 5 Advanced, 200,000 FCFA (about 305 EUR), 47 hours of lessons with practical projects, taught in French. It is the final level of the Office tools and productivity track: if you start from zero with computers, the full 5 level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000. Payment is by Wave or Orange Money.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Ndèye, 26, a secretary at a car rental agency in Mbour, paid 140,000 FCFA net per month. She takes the Executive Assistant course over 10 weeks, in the evenings, at 5 hours a week. She then applies for an executive assistant position at a hotel residence in Saly, offered at 240,000 FCFA net.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
- Course cost: 200,000 FCFA
- Monthly gain if she gets the job: 240,000 minus 140,000, i.e. 100,000 FCFA per month
- Payback: 2 months of salary after hiring, about 9 weeks
This calculation remains an order of magnitude: it assumes a hire, which also depends on the interview and on networking.
FAQ
Do I need a BTS diploma to become an executive assistant in Saly?
No, many hotels and SMEs hire on demonstrated skills. A BTS or a bachelor's degree helps for roles above 400,000 FCFA, but a portfolio of real documents often weighs as much in an interview.
How long does it take to complete the 47 hours?
At 5 hours a week, allow about 10 weeks. At 10 hours a week, 5 weeks are enough, and you keep access to the content to review.
Is English mandatory on the Petite Côte?
For Saly hospitality, it is almost essential: a bilingual profile usually earns 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA more per month. For a local SME, basic written English is often enough.
Can I work as a remote assistant from Mbour?
Yes, SME owners and diaspora entrepreneurs pay 75,000 to 250,000 FCFA per month per client for online assistance. You need a stable connection and flawless organisation.
How do I pay for the course?
The 200,000 FCFA fee is paid by Wave or Orange Money. The full Office tools and productivity track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 if you take all 5 levels.
Take the next step. Enroll in Executive Assistant: office tools, organization and communication: 47 hours, 200,000 FCFA, Kolonell Academy certificate included. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
