3 ms·

I think the part that shocks me the most is the fact that he has a client who is willing to pay him at this rate for 3 hours. I can see the benefits of doing th

I think the part that shocks me the most is the fact that he has a client who is willing to pay him at this rate for 3 hours. I can see the benefits of doing this, but lets be frank here unless you're good and have the proof to back up the rate then you'll be laughed at by everyone for charging so much and be undercut. It's more than obvious Sam is more than just mediocre and can justify this hourly fee, I wish I could do the same myself.

vegas 14y ago
You can and should charge at least $225/hour if you are a competent software person. There are far less competent software people then there are mediocre lawyers, and mediocre lawyers can charge $225/hour.
- MBlume 14y ago
  Not that you're necessarily wrong, but you've only addressed supply, not demand.
  - vegas 14y ago
    "The main reason for the rapid growth is a large increase in the demand for computer software." http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/s... http://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm http://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm
    - danso 14y ago
      How is the stock photo for the software dev page not yet a meme?
      - aaronbrethorst 14y ago
        That is a glorious mustache. Edit: I did a Google image search on it. Here's the stock photo page: http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-58442602/stock-photo-male-programmer-with-headset-working-on-laptop-computer.html http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-58442602/stock-photo-male-pr.... "computer hacker in black shirt working at laptops" -- I wonder what the annual salary of black-shirted computer hacker is. BLS doesn't seem to have stats on that one. Here he is looking manic: http://www.123rf.com/photo_7515672_computer-hacker-in-black-shirt-working-at-laptops.html http://www.123rf.com/photo_7515672_computer-hacker-in-black-...
- thaumaturgy 14y ago
  HN's patio11 (if memory serves) has made a strong case in the past for charging by the day or by the week or by the job ... pretty much anything other than by the hour. Ex.: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2909480 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2909480
- lgieron 14y ago
  I'm thinking lawyers might, by the nature of their profession, provide more value than devs though, since they can keep you out of jail or prevent you from being seriously screwed in a deal, while a dev is mostly just increasing your revenue/profits by extending your software. Also, lawyers are able to provide value within relatively small timeframes (compared to developing something meaningful), which makes high hourly rates more acceptable to clients (as clients are mostly interested in "how much for not going to jail" total amount, not the hourly rate)
  - smiler 14y ago
    There's plenty of software required to track / audit what's happening in a business in order to comply with plenty of legislation

vegas 14y ago

You can and should charge at least $225/hour if you are a competent software person. There are far less competent software people then there are mediocre lawyers, and mediocre lawyers can charge $225/hour.

MBlume 14y ago
Not that you're necessarily wrong, but you've only addressed supply, not demand.
- vegas 14y ago
  "The main reason for the rapid growth is a large increase in the demand for computer software." http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/s... http://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm http://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm
  - danso 14y ago
    How is the stock photo for the software dev page not yet a meme?
    - aaronbrethorst 14y ago
      That is a glorious mustache. Edit: I did a Google image search on it. Here's the stock photo page: http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-58442602/stock-photo-male-programmer-with-headset-working-on-laptop-computer.html http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-58442602/stock-photo-male-pr.... "computer hacker in black shirt working at laptops" -- I wonder what the annual salary of black-shirted computer hacker is. BLS doesn't seem to have stats on that one. Here he is looking manic: http://www.123rf.com/photo_7515672_computer-hacker-in-black-shirt-working-at-laptops.html http://www.123rf.com/photo_7515672_computer-hacker-in-black-...
thaumaturgy 14y ago
HN's patio11 (if memory serves) has made a strong case in the past for charging by the day or by the week or by the job ... pretty much anything other than by the hour. Ex.: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2909480 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2909480
lgieron 14y ago
I'm thinking lawyers might, by the nature of their profession, provide more value than devs though, since they can keep you out of jail or prevent you from being seriously screwed in a deal, while a dev is mostly just increasing your revenue/profits by extending your software. Also, lawyers are able to provide value within relatively small timeframes (compared to developing something meaningful), which makes high hourly rates more acceptable to clients (as clients are mostly interested in "how much for not going to jail" total amount, not the hourly rate)
- smiler 14y ago
  There's plenty of software required to track / audit what's happening in a business in order to comply with plenty of legislation