4 ms·

Damn, what segments did you work in? The firm I'm working with maxes out at like $100 an hour.

by tschwimmer 7y ago

arcticbull 7y ago
$100/hr is really low in the bay area; most SWE generalist contractors can walk in and get $150 no questions asked, anywhere. $200 if you're more experienced in the specific area and $250+ if you "have a name for yourself" online. Rule of thumb at least around here is take your base salary in thousands per year, and that's your hourly rate. If you're getting $200K base, charge $200/hr for your contracting time. The extra that yields is to help you offset the fact you won't always have work and the extra you have to do to keep your pipeline full. Many startups pay $150K for senior engineers so have no problem paying $150/hr for contractors.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- jamestimmins 7y ago
  I'm always curious how contractors get hired by startups. Most of my work has been one-off jobs with non-tech companies, and I feel like I rarely see contractor gigs for solid technical startups.
  - arcticbull 7y ago
    Usually through network. Frequently it's people you've worked with in the past that end up at startups, have worked with you before and need your help on something. That'll get you through the door. Management often looks at it as a potential "contract-to-hire" opportunity and if they like you will try and sell you on full-time employment.
mattzito 7y ago
It was just various software spaces where I had first hand knowledge. I just kept asking for more money, and they kept trying to talk me down, and then I would offer to walk away, and we would negotiate something. I also made it very clear to a few platforms where I was unwilling to work with them due to price. In general, in my very limited experience, if you have experience in spaces they are getting inquiries about, you can make a strong case.

4 ms·

Damn, what segments did you work in? The firm I'm working with maxes out at like $100 an hour.

by tschwimmer 7y ago

Damn, what segments did you work in? The firm I'm working with maxes out at like $100 an hour.

arcticbull 7y ago
$100/hr is really low in the bay area; most SWE generalist contractors can walk in and get $150 no questions asked, anywhere. $200 if you're more experienced in the specific area and $250+ if you "have a name for yourself" online. Rule of thumb at least around here is take your base salary in thousands per year, and that's your hourly rate. If you're getting $200K base, charge $200/hr for your contracting time. The extra that yields is to help you offset the fact you won't always have work and the extra you have to do to keep your pipeline full. Many startups pay $150K for senior engineers so have no problem paying $150/hr for contractors.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- jamestimmins 7y ago
  I'm always curious how contractors get hired by startups. Most of my work has been one-off jobs with non-tech companies, and I feel like I rarely see contractor gigs for solid technical startups.
  - arcticbull 7y ago
    Usually through network. Frequently it's people you've worked with in the past that end up at startups, have worked with you before and need your help on something. That'll get you through the door. Management often looks at it as a potential "contract-to-hire" opportunity and if they like you will try and sell you on full-time employment.
mattzito 7y ago
It was just various software spaces where I had first hand knowledge. I just kept asking for more money, and they kept trying to talk me down, and then I would offer to walk away, and we would negotiate something. I also made it very clear to a few platforms where I was unwilling to work with them due to price. In general, in my very limited experience, if you have experience in spaces they are getting inquiries about, you can make a strong case.