> pay taxes (higher as a contractor) Depends where you live, in the UK I pay a flat 20% (after income and expenses). My monthly costs in London add up to about

> pay taxes (higher as a contractor) Depends where you live, in the UK I pay a flat 20% (after income and expenses). My monthly costs in London add up to about $2k. So that leaves me about $15k. Not quite as much as the OP but give me a couple more years of experience and I'll be able to put my rates up.