FWIW I have been both a contractor and a full time employee a few times in the past 5 years and from what I have learned/been told, the general rule is if you m

FWIW I have been both a contractor and a full time employee a few times in the past 5 years and from what I have learned/been told, the general rule is if you make 74k, you should ask for 74/hr to be a contractor due to higher taxes, less job security, no benefits, etc. Obviously this is a pretty sweet deal as the paychecks are bigger, but your expenses are higher and eventually the threat of a changing economy taking your job mean you need to save some extra from that.