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A developer for Toptal tops out at $3,200 a week? $80 an hour is peanuts in software engineering and they certainly aren't attracting the entire "top 3%" of "e

by aantix 8y ago

A developer for Toptal tops out at $3,200 a week? $80 an hour is peanuts in software engineering and they certainly aren't attracting the entire "top 3%" of "experts in the field" with such a low, max rate. https://www.toptal.com/faq#how-much-does-toptal-cost https://www.toptal.com/faq#how-much-does-toptal-cost

TomMarius 8y ago
I think the plus sign specifically means that it can be more?
- aantix 8y ago
  Fair point. Let's hope. Price is a signal and they're diluting their brand with such low rates.
mantas 8y ago
$80/h is peanuts only in SV. It's totally viable for "top 3%" of eastern european of "experts in the field".
- cheez 8y ago
  Chances are TopTal takes a 30% cut
  - COil 8y ago
    30%? That would be huge.
- jcadam 8y ago
  $80/h would be great for a full-time employee in most of the US (outside of SV of course - a safe place to sleep doesn't have to start at $4k/month). For a freelancer it would suck. I'd be a nervous wreck every time I found myself between clients. Which is why I'm not a freelancer. If I could get $100+/hour, I probably would be :)
- noitsnot 8y ago
  I'm curious for some examples where a front-end dev. installing premium themes and creating custom ones is making a huge amount over $80/hr?
- CryoLogic 8y ago
  Lets choose SF since it's a pretty popular tech hub: $80/hr in SF = Lets assume 10/12 months billable (optimistic) the rest looking for clients or on vacation that gives you 80 * 8 * 5 * 4 * 10 = $128,000 28% federal income tax + 15.3% self employment tax + 7.25% California state income tax = 55.55% in tax. After tax 128000 - (128000 * .5555) = $56,896 Average 1bd in SF: $3250 (https://www.rentjungle.com/average-rent-in-san-francisco-rent-trends/ https://www.rentjungle.com/average-rent-in-san-francisco-ren...) * 12 = $39,000 per year. $56,896 - $39,000 = $17,896. Cheapest health insurance for a year (http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/health-insurance-premiums.aspx http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/health-insurance-premium...): $6,000 or so $17,896 - $6,000 = $11,896 $500/mo for food = $6,000/yr, $11,896 - $6,000 = $5,896 W/S/G + Electric = $50/mo, $600/yr, $5,896 - $600 = $5,296 Internet + Phone = $600/yr = $4,696 So yeah that's not actually a lot depending on your location. I am sure if you are a great developer living in Thailand than $80/hr makes you a baller.
superkarolis 8y ago
Keep in mind that Toptal keeps a significant chunk of that so a developer is left with much less. I am on Toptal platform myself and think that it's most suited for those like me that are from countries with a relatively cheap cost of living.
- aantix 8y ago
  What % do they keep?
  - superkarolis 8y ago
    I was told it could be around 50%.
  - leviathan 8y ago
    A bit late to the party, but they don't keep a percentage of your rate. You set your rate and that is what you get paid. Whatever they take as commission is between them and the client. Source: I work with Toptal.
brianmcc 8y ago
In maybe 3 or 4 cities worldwide, sure, you might be right. That leaves plenty locations where $80 per hour is insanely well paid. And most folks live in those other locations - including some top-3% experts!
iamcasen 8y ago
Right? Top talent in software engineering can generate billions in revenue through their work. Getting paid $80 per hour to help your client make 2 billion annually? Fuck that.
Sohakes 8y ago
I'm not in Toptal, but a friend is and he asks for around $5k a month. Here in Brazil it's insanely good. I don't personally know anyone else who receives more than him here, actually. In software dev or anything else. I don't go around asking how much people make, though.
- GFischer 8y ago
  5k a month is ridiculously good in South America. Even if he's doing taxes like he should (which would bring him more in line with the averages for a senior software dev.) it's probably 30% to 50% more than he'd get as a salaried employee.
derangedHorse 8y ago
$80 is peanuts?? Where can I work to get a salary like that?? lol

by aantix 8y ago

TomMarius 8y ago

I think the plus sign specifically means that it can be more?

aantix 8y ago
Fair point. Let's hope. Price is a signal and they're diluting their brand with such low rates.

mantas 8y ago

$80/h is peanuts only in SV. It's totally viable for "top 3%" of eastern european of "experts in the field".

cheez 8y ago
Chances are TopTal takes a 30% cut
- COil 8y ago
  30%? That would be huge.
jcadam 8y ago
$80/h would be great for a full-time employee in most of the US (outside of SV of course - a safe place to sleep doesn't have to start at $4k/month). For a freelancer it would suck. I'd be a nervous wreck every time I found myself between clients. Which is why I'm not a freelancer. If I could get $100+/hour, I probably would be :)
noitsnot 8y ago
I'm curious for some examples where a front-end dev. installing premium themes and creating custom ones is making a huge amount over $80/hr?
CryoLogic 8y ago
Lets choose SF since it's a pretty popular tech hub: $80/hr in SF = Lets assume 10/12 months billable (optimistic) the rest looking for clients or on vacation that gives you 80 * 8 * 5 * 4 * 10 = $128,000 28% federal income tax + 15.3% self employment tax + 7.25% California state income tax = 55.55% in tax. After tax 128000 - (128000 * .5555) = $56,896 Average 1bd in SF: $3250 (https://www.rentjungle.com/average-rent-in-san-francisco-rent-trends/ https://www.rentjungle.com/average-rent-in-san-francisco-ren...) * 12 = $39,000 per year. $56,896 - $39,000 = $17,896. Cheapest health insurance for a year (http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/health-insurance-premiums.aspx http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/health-insurance-premium...): $6,000 or so $17,896 - $6,000 = $11,896 $500/mo for food = $6,000/yr, $11,896 - $6,000 = $5,896 W/S/G + Electric = $50/mo, $600/yr, $5,896 - $600 = $5,296 Internet + Phone = $600/yr = $4,696 So yeah that's not actually a lot depending on your location. I am sure if you are a great developer living in Thailand than $80/hr makes you a baller.

superkarolis 8y ago

Keep in mind that Toptal keeps a significant chunk of that so a developer is left with much less. I am on Toptal platform myself and think that it's most suited for those like me that are from countries with a relatively cheap cost of living.

aantix 8y ago
What % do they keep?
- superkarolis 8y ago
  I was told it could be around 50%.
- leviathan 8y ago
  A bit late to the party, but they don't keep a percentage of your rate. You set your rate and that is what you get paid. Whatever they take as commission is between them and the client. Source: I work with Toptal.

brianmcc 8y ago

In maybe 3 or 4 cities worldwide, sure, you might be right. That leaves plenty locations where $80 per hour is insanely well paid. And most folks live in those other locations - including some top-3% experts!

iamcasen 8y ago

Right? Top talent in software engineering can generate billions in revenue through their work. Getting paid $80 per hour to help your client make 2 billion annually? Fuck that.

Sohakes 8y ago

I'm not in Toptal, but a friend is and he asks for around $5k a month. Here in Brazil it's insanely good. I don't personally know anyone else who receives more than him here, actually. In software dev or anything else. I don't go around asking how much people make, though.

GFischer 8y ago
5k a month is ridiculously good in South America. Even if he's doing taxes like he should (which would bring him more in line with the averages for a senior software dev.) it's probably 30% to 50% more than he'd get as a salaried employee.

derangedHorse 8y ago

$80 is peanuts?? Where can I work to get a salary like that?? lol