4 ms·

€30k for 6 months is a low contracting rate. Normalise that to €60k per year. Full-time work in Germany is 231 days (52 * 5, less 29 days legally-mandated holi

by manarth 10y ago

€30k for 6 months is a low contracting rate. Normalise that to €60k per year. Full-time work in Germany is 231 days (52 * 5, less 29 days legally-mandated holiday). €60k / 231 = €259.74 per day. So around €260/$290/£220 per day. This is definitely the low-end of freelancing/contracting rates in Germany[1]/Western Europe. [1] Contracting rates in Germany: http://forums.contractoruk.com/business-contracts/77870-hourly-rates-germany-age-area.html http://forums.contractoruk.com/business-contracts/77870-hour... (German)

Xylakant 10y ago
You math is slightly off, it's 24 days of legally mandated holidays, but those assume a 6-day workweek (§ 3 BUrlG, see 1). Legally mandated holidays on a 5 days workweek is 20 days only. The actual number of workdays varies slightly with the location you're in as well. Some states have more federal holidays. Generally speaking the dominantly catholic part have more, the city of Augsburg has the most (they have the "Hohes Freiheitsfest", a holiday that is restricted to the city of Augsburg) https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augsburger_Hohes_Friedensfest https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augsburger_Hohes_Friedensfest http://www.schulferien.org/Arbeitstage/arbeitstage-2016.html http://www.schulferien.org/Arbeitstage/arbeitstage-2016.html Your general point still stands: 30k is a low contracting rate and in general untenable for a freelancer. You should be earning at least twice as much. However, for open source work this is a major step up - you can make a living off it instead of self-funding your work. (1) https://dejure.org/gesetze/BUrlG/3.html https://dejure.org/gesetze/BUrlG/3.html
progx 10y ago
And they pay only 60% ~ 155 per day
therealmarv 10y ago
IMHO Contracting rates based on GULP are totally BS. If you make €60K you are very good for beeing a self employed (programmer) and make more money than many not self employed programmers (yes, even when you subtract all taxes, health insurance and your private retirement arrangements). Specialists in big corporates earn of course more (what GULP is targeting), but then at first place you have to be a specialist and need to have the expertise. Also don't forget that many people do not have work the whole time... so you have to see the GULP rates also in contrast to gap times where you have no income.

by manarth 10y ago

Xylakant 10y ago

You math is slightly off, it's 24 days of legally mandated holidays, but those assume a 6-day workweek (§ 3 BUrlG, see 1). Legally mandated holidays on a 5 days workweek is 20 days only. The actual number of workdays varies slightly with the location you're in as well. Some states have more federal holidays. Generally speaking the dominantly catholic part have more, the city of Augsburg has the most (they have the "Hohes Freiheitsfest", a holiday that is restricted to the city of Augsburg) https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augsburger_Hohes_Friedensfest https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augsburger_Hohes_Friedensfest http://www.schulferien.org/Arbeitstage/arbeitstage-2016.html http://www.schulferien.org/Arbeitstage/arbeitstage-2016.html Your general point still stands: 30k is a low contracting rate and in general untenable for a freelancer. You should be earning at least twice as much. However, for open source work this is a major step up - you can make a living off it instead of self-funding your work. (1) https://dejure.org/gesetze/BUrlG/3.html https://dejure.org/gesetze/BUrlG/3.html

progx 10y ago

And they pay only 60% ~ 155 per day

therealmarv 10y ago

IMHO Contracting rates based on GULP are totally BS. If you make €60K you are very good for beeing a self employed (programmer) and make more money than many not self employed programmers (yes, even when you subtract all taxes, health insurance and your private retirement arrangements). Specialists in big corporates earn of course more (what GULP is targeting), but then at first place you have to be a specialist and need to have the expertise. Also don't forget that many people do not have work the whole time... so you have to see the GULP rates also in contrast to gap times where you have no income.