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Do You Make $60/hr for Programming?
azzkicker asks: "I was reading some AP articles on offshoring. It talks about the struggles of out-of-work programmers and the shifting of jobs overseas [in the US]. Part way through one article it says: 'The average programmer commands $60 an hour in the United States, six times the rate in India.' I don't disagree with the Indian rate (USD $80/day, $400/week, $20,800/year gross), but what is with the US rate (USD $480/day, $2400/week, $124,000/year gross)? I know that programmers are billed out at high rates, but most of my programmer friends in Midwest, USA (years of experience and CS degrees) don't even see $50K/year. What is the actual rate most programmers see? Do you see $60/hr? Is the US rate misleading corporations into outsourcing?" Does offshoring really save corporations that much money?
I get >60 per hour, in fact 75 minimum, And have for over 8 years.
Sometimes I have billed (and collected) 200 dollars per hour for over a week straight.
The last three fulltime jobs were over 100K per year, excluding bonuses.
What do I do? i write mass market shrinkwrapped utilities sold on store shelves. I also write entertainment mass market software. Sometimes I do stuff for Hollywood.
3 shrinkwrapped products for 3 unrelated companies have each made MILLIONS (plural) per year in their best years.
Am I rich? No.
I refuse to work for less than 75 per hour ever in contract, and less than 105K base in salaray so I am frequently out of work, and my stock options at 4 companies never made a dime.
Am I happy? No. Not at all.
Do I have an awesome resume and lengthy carreer? Yes.
But I am a prima donna, and am used to the biggest office, best window view, car parking spot, etc, and am a tad arrogant.
But I have never made less than 75 per hour for contract, or less than 100K in salary in over 8 years.
So I agree that 60 sounds about correct.
But I am well aware that the crap on Monster and Dice in 2004 are LESS than that.
You have to know people, and have a good track record.
(excuse the typos and spelling errors).
The best programmers get paid well, but none get more than 140K US base compensation. Bonuses add 25K in some companies though, but stock options generally are how programmers with w2 employment get compensated.
I agree with one thing though, My resume on DICE or Monster used to get 20 phone calls per day when posted fresh, after being absent for a few months, up to around early 2001. In fall of 2003 it generated 2 or 3 calls per day.
ALMOST 10 times less interest, using my salary limits and contract rate limits.
10 times worse economy for people unwilling to budge on price by one dime.... such as myself.
India may indeed get some work... but will never work on the stuff I do.... (so far).
Am I concerned? Yeah. Vote Libertarian, reduce taxes, and maybe if federal taxes are cut 66% the economy could pick up and america will not die.
If america gets more socialist, we deserve to lose all our simple tech jobs to India.