5 ms·

I'm also in NC and agree with the above. The following comments reflect what I hear/know about compensation in RTP. In general, I've heard very little buzz ab

by tom_b 16y ago

I'm also in NC and agree with the above. The following comments reflect what I hear/know about compensation in RTP. In general, I've heard very little buzz about jobs in the $120K to $150k range here that are permanent positions. The few I know making that range are oddly enough managers, even at smaller shops. Some of the smartest lead devs/architect type hackers I know here can't locate opportunities at that salary level. I do know a few contractors making in that range, but they are the exception rather than the rule. I also feel that there is some significant downward pressure on top salaries here in the RTP area. But I'm underexposed in my personal network to hackers working in consulting roles. I'm consistently amused by comments on threads here saying someone should be making "$120K to $160K." Maybe in SV or Redmond, this is true, but I don't see it here.

ryanwaggoner 16y ago
Guess what: programming can be done remotely, and clients tend to pay the rates where they are, not where you are. So you can land a job making $150k / yr from a company in NYC or SF, but live in Thailand where you annual expenses are $10k.
- hello_moto 16y ago
  Would you mind to elaborate how to communicate with clients not local to you? Thanks.
  - deleted 16y ago
    [deleted]
  - ryanwaggoner 16y ago
    Am I missing something here? The same answer for how you communicate with anyone not local: phone, email, and IM. I've landed numerous projects and long-term contract gigs without ever meeting the client.
    - hello_moto 16y ago
      Sorry, I thought you had to fly and meet the client once in a while. I scoured Craigslist locally and most of them are looking for "Web developer, contract, MUST BE LOCAL". Was wondering how was it out there.
- mgkimsal 16y ago
  Perhaps that's a skill you have you could teach others (and perhaps make more doing that than something else!). My own experiences (and those of most I know) come down to most of those sorts of positions A) aren't advertised around much - you have to have a strong network B) Typically require you to be onsite for at least part of the time or at least periodic visits. I've not yet found gigs that pay $150/hour for long extended periods (9-12 months) which didn't require any face to face or onsite time (where you could live in Thailand but charge US rates). Not saying they don't exist at all, but I think they're rarer than your experiences might indicate. Also, I don't think all clients tend to pay the rates where they are. There's a whole outsourcing trend, which many freelancers are exploring - taking on 'virtual assistants' based in other countries. They do this precisely because you can get reasonable professional-level assistance for $3-$5/hour - which is a good rate for where the worker lives, not where the freelancer is. If I wouldn't pay someone in Thailand $30/hour to do secretarial work for me, why should someonei n NYC pay me $150/hour if I'm living in Thailand? Because I'm a US-born white guy?
  - ryanwaggoner 16y ago
    Again, finding 6-12 month contracts at 40 hrs a week isn't hard. So you don't need to make $150 / hr to make $150k / yr. $75 / hr will get you there if you can bill 2000 hrs, and doing a longer-term contract gig like that will get you there. As for the rate, these companies aren't "outsourcing" or "offshoring" in the sense that you're thinking of. They just want to hire someone to get their work done, and they're desperate enough that they don't care where you are. Again, your experience might differ, but this is what I've found.
js2 16y ago
I'm in NC. I have over a decade experience now, but I was making in the range I mentioned in Atlanta 3 years out of college.
loewenskind 16y ago
> The few I know making that range are oddly enough managers, Why would this be odd? Management salaries are always the highest and I know of no exceptions to this. >I do know a few contractors making in that range It depends on the area. If you live in a low cost of living area of course salaries will be lower. If the cost of living could some how be low and the salaries high then everyone would move there (driving salaries down and costs up). So the best is, as noted below, live in a very low cost area but work in a high cost area. Failing that live and work in a high cost area. I'm a contractor, I'm well past $150k/year and I'm just getting started. My next contract should add at least $100/day.

by tom_b 16y ago

ryanwaggoner 16y ago

Guess what: programming can be done remotely, and clients tend to pay the rates where they are, not where you are. So you can land a job making $150k / yr from a company in NYC or SF, but live in Thailand where you annual expenses are $10k.

hello_moto 16y ago
Would you mind to elaborate how to communicate with clients not local to you? Thanks.
- deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]
- ryanwaggoner 16y ago
  Am I missing something here? The same answer for how you communicate with anyone not local: phone, email, and IM. I've landed numerous projects and long-term contract gigs without ever meeting the client.
  - hello_moto 16y ago
    Sorry, I thought you had to fly and meet the client once in a while. I scoured Craigslist locally and most of them are looking for "Web developer, contract, MUST BE LOCAL". Was wondering how was it out there.
mgkimsal 16y ago
Perhaps that's a skill you have you could teach others (and perhaps make more doing that than something else!). My own experiences (and those of most I know) come down to most of those sorts of positions A) aren't advertised around much - you have to have a strong network B) Typically require you to be onsite for at least part of the time or at least periodic visits. I've not yet found gigs that pay $150/hour for long extended periods (9-12 months) which didn't require any face to face or onsite time (where you could live in Thailand but charge US rates). Not saying they don't exist at all, but I think they're rarer than your experiences might indicate. Also, I don't think all clients tend to pay the rates where they are. There's a whole outsourcing trend, which many freelancers are exploring - taking on 'virtual assistants' based in other countries. They do this precisely because you can get reasonable professional-level assistance for $3-$5/hour - which is a good rate for where the worker lives, not where the freelancer is. If I wouldn't pay someone in Thailand $30/hour to do secretarial work for me, why should someonei n NYC pay me $150/hour if I'm living in Thailand? Because I'm a US-born white guy?
- ryanwaggoner 16y ago
  Again, finding 6-12 month contracts at 40 hrs a week isn't hard. So you don't need to make $150 / hr to make $150k / yr. $75 / hr will get you there if you can bill 2000 hrs, and doing a longer-term contract gig like that will get you there. As for the rate, these companies aren't "outsourcing" or "offshoring" in the sense that you're thinking of. They just want to hire someone to get their work done, and they're desperate enough that they don't care where you are. Again, your experience might differ, but this is what I've found.

js2 16y ago

I'm in NC. I have over a decade experience now, but I was making in the range I mentioned in Atlanta 3 years out of college.

loewenskind 16y ago

> The few I know making that range are oddly enough managers, Why would this be odd? Management salaries are always the highest and I know of no exceptions to this. >I do know a few contractors making in that range It depends on the area. If you live in a low cost of living area of course salaries will be lower. If the cost of living could some how be low and the salaries high then everyone would move there (driving salaries down and costs up). So the best is, as noted below, live in a very low cost area but work in a high cost area. Failing that live and work in a high cost area. I'm a contractor, I'm well past $150k/year and I'm just getting started. My next contract should add at least $100/day.