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We moved to the US and my wife is doing freelancing, and the market rates here are ridiculous considering the cost of living and FTE rates. For example recentl

We moved to the US and my wife is doing freelancing, and the market rates here are ridiculous considering the cost of living and FTE rates. For example recently I got an offer for a 4 months contract role at Microsoft, hybrid (so partly on site), as a Machine Learning Engineer for $65 an hour. I would consider that rate insulting even for low CoL EU countries.

vultour 3y ago
I don’t know what magic land you come from, but that’s a pretty standard rate for a place like London which is definitely not low CoL.
- gumballindie 3y ago
  Thats 420 gbp a day. For a contract thats a low rate.
  - makingstuffs 3y ago
    To be honest it isn’t even a great rate for an experienced dev’s salary in London.
    - gumballindie 3y ago
      If you look at salaries posted by companies hiring here on HN you'd think they are. Factor in the audacity of "hybrid" and "onsite" and the cost of commute and rent and indeed it's a pretty low rate even for permanents.
      - makingstuffs 3y ago
        I’ve not actually looked at the salaries posted on here to be honest. I know one thing, though. You’d need to triple that to get me to anywhere near an office.
        gumballindie 3y ago
        Yeah, no, not going to happen in the UK. Software pay around here is truck driver level (happy for truck drivers, but comparatively they have less stress to deal with and if they like coding they can do it hasslefree on the side - will end up cleaner and more efficient than the spaghetti monsters i've seen in some of these companies).
        makingstuffs 3y ago
        Yeah, I’m aware (UK citizen planning an exit). 100% agree with you on the spaghetti monsters. Some of the code I have to review makes me want to give up and start baking instead.
Arubis 3y ago
I disagree with sibling comment; that’s definitely too low for a high-demand skilled position where you’re handing the administrative overhead and contract risk. With the enormous caveat that I’m not in the AI/ML space, I’d expect a rate 2-4x that for a staff augmentation arrangement. YMMV, I don’t know if you have an agency or other intermediary, etc.
- angarg12 3y ago
  I know this rate is too low because it pays less than the base salary of my current job (not counting stocks and bonuses), for a limited time contract and with less benefits. I simply find the economics of freelance/contract work in the US baffling. The contract isn't even fully remote, so you can't take advantage of geo arbitrage and live in a cheaper place. I'd be surprise if they hire anyone more than an intern-level developer for that rate. FFS, I paid more for some dude to come and tidy my lawn.
linuxftw 3y ago
> We moved to the US and my wife is doing freelancing ... I would consider that rate insulting even for low CoL EU countries I wonder if these two phenomenon are related?
- angarg12 3y ago
  I'm sorry but I don't understand what you are trying to get at with this comment.

vultour 3y ago

I don’t know what magic land you come from, but that’s a pretty standard rate for a place like London which is definitely not low CoL.

gumballindie 3y ago
Thats 420 gbp a day. For a contract thats a low rate.
- makingstuffs 3y ago
  To be honest it isn’t even a great rate for an experienced dev’s salary in London.
  - gumballindie 3y ago
    If you look at salaries posted by companies hiring here on HN you'd think they are. Factor in the audacity of "hybrid" and "onsite" and the cost of commute and rent and indeed it's a pretty low rate even for permanents.
    - makingstuffs 3y ago
      I’ve not actually looked at the salaries posted on here to be honest. I know one thing, though. You’d need to triple that to get me to anywhere near an office.
      - gumballindie 3y ago
        Yeah, no, not going to happen in the UK. Software pay around here is truck driver level (happy for truck drivers, but comparatively they have less stress to deal with and if they like coding they can do it hasslefree on the side - will end up cleaner and more efficient than the spaghetti monsters i've seen in some of these companies).
        makingstuffs 3y ago
        Yeah, I’m aware (UK citizen planning an exit). 100% agree with you on the spaghetti monsters. Some of the code I have to review makes me want to give up and start baking instead.

Arubis 3y ago

I disagree with sibling comment; that’s definitely too low for a high-demand skilled position where you’re handing the administrative overhead and contract risk. With the enormous caveat that I’m not in the AI/ML space, I’d expect a rate 2-4x that for a staff augmentation arrangement. YMMV, I don’t know if you have an agency or other intermediary, etc.

angarg12 3y ago
I know this rate is too low because it pays less than the base salary of my current job (not counting stocks and bonuses), for a limited time contract and with less benefits. I simply find the economics of freelance/contract work in the US baffling. The contract isn't even fully remote, so you can't take advantage of geo arbitrage and live in a cheaper place. I'd be surprise if they hire anyone more than an intern-level developer for that rate. FFS, I paid more for some dude to come and tidy my lawn.

linuxftw 3y ago

> We moved to the US and my wife is doing freelancing ... I would consider that rate insulting even for low CoL EU countries I wonder if these two phenomenon are related?

angarg12 3y ago
I'm sorry but I don't understand what you are trying to get at with this comment.