You can't directly equate contract rates to salary rates. In terms of costs, the contractor has to cover taxes, equipment, insurance (of all types, including he

You can't directly equate contract rates to salary rates. In terms of costs, the contractor has to cover taxes, equipment, insurance (of all types, including health). Additionally, the contractor has to set aside sufficient profit to cover the risks involved in short-term work. Business development takes a considerable amount of time, and it can be days (or, in some cases weeks) before another contract starts. That time has to be paid for.