5 ms·

Re-Ask HN: Engineer contractor rates in Spain, Catalonia (Barcelona)?

8 points by zerr 12y ago

Any ideas about contractor hourly rates for experienced software engineers in Barcelona, Catalonia or Spain in general?

jcr 12y ago
I saw your previous "Ask" float by the /newest queue, but I'm at a loss for any way to help you find an answer, save for giving you an up-vote. Worse yet, my grasp of Spanish is pitiful and I know nothing about Catalan, so I can't even reliably search for an answer. Can you think of any native language sites or IRC channels where you could ask this question?
Dewie 12y ago
I think Catalonia is richer (per capita) than the rest of Spain, so hourly rates in Barcelona might be higher than in other major cities.
- fasteo 12y ago
  Indeed. Madrid and Barcelona rates are up to 30% higher than in the rest of Spain. Cost of living is higher as well. Then we have a second group: Valencia, Bilbao, Sevilla, Malaga with somehow higher rates. And then the rest of Spain.
collyw 12y ago
Not sure about contractors, as there doesn't seem to be the market here like there is in London or other large cities. For permanent positions, you can get up to 40k euros per year with experience. I haven't seen much more offered than that.
professorTuring 12y ago
I am from Spain, when charging you should take into consideration various aspects: 1. 21% of your fee goes behind taxes. 2. If you want to work on your own you have to pay each month around 250€ 3. If you are going to live there, you should also consider paying the social security fees (around 1000€/month more). More input: A house keeper charges between 10/12€/hour, A particular teacher charges between 15€/hour. A computer forensic expert charges around 100-150€/hour. Mechanics charge between 30-50€/hour. I would recommend between 75-150€/hour depending on the amount of hours. If you are going to stay in their office and work with them around 8h/month I would charge between 5-7k/month. 1k/week should be fine.
- fasteo 12y ago
  I am also from Spain, and this info is misleading: 1. 21% is VAT. You hourly rate must be always VAT excluded. 2. I suppose you are referring to the "cuota de autonomos". This is 330 euro/month. New freelancers can get a cut during the first 2 years (100 euro/month if I remember well) 3. Nope. If you are a freelancer, the "cuota" includes social security (this includes public health service, so you don´t need a private health insurance; and yes, public health system in Spain works really well most of the time) 4. Then, you have the actual tax for your work (IRPF). In every invoice you need to withhold 9% of the gross amount during the first 2 years, 21% afterwards. Every 3 months you need to file "modelo 130" (more or less equivalent to an additional 9% monthly withhold) and once a year the government will net all these amounts. Depending on your personal situation (married,kids,mortage,etc), you may get some money back. Nevertheless, 5-7K/month seems pretty accurate for Barcelona. Hope this helps
  - amorphous 12y ago
    Social security in Madrid is around 260 EUR/month Rates are much lower compared to London or Germany (where I have worked before, I'm german). However, income tax (IRPF) also, I pay around 20% (in Germany I'd pay at least 30-35%) I wasn't aware of a cut for the first 2 years, that's either only in Catalonia or a new law (I moved to Madrid 3.5 years ago) 7K/month would be a very good salary in Madrid. I earned around 5K, but now I work remotely for companies in Germany or England (with better rates) One thing to know though is that working freelance is rare in Spain, I get asked in interviews why the hell I want to stay freelance if they are offering me a permanent position.
    - fasteo 12y ago
      330 EUR/month gives you additional coverage in case of illness. But yes, you can get away with 260 EUR/month. Yes, new law. For new autonomos only. The cut is not linear. I believe you have to pay 50 EUR/month first 6 months, then 130 EUR/month for 18 months. Yes, freelancing is rare in IT, but pretty normal in many professions. There are around 3 millions autonomos in Spain, out of 16 million workers.

8 points by zerr 12y ago

Any ideas about contractor hourly rates for experienced software engineers in Barcelona, Catalonia or Spain in general?

jcr 12y ago

I saw your previous "Ask" float by the /newest queue, but I'm at a loss for any way to help you find an answer, save for giving you an up-vote. Worse yet, my grasp of Spanish is pitiful and I know nothing about Catalan, so I can't even reliably search for an answer. Can you think of any native language sites or IRC channels where you could ask this question?

Dewie 12y ago

I think Catalonia is richer (per capita) than the rest of Spain, so hourly rates in Barcelona might be higher than in other major cities.

fasteo 12y ago
Indeed. Madrid and Barcelona rates are up to 30% higher than in the rest of Spain. Cost of living is higher as well. Then we have a second group: Valencia, Bilbao, Sevilla, Malaga with somehow higher rates. And then the rest of Spain.

collyw 12y ago

Not sure about contractors, as there doesn't seem to be the market here like there is in London or other large cities. For permanent positions, you can get up to 40k euros per year with experience. I haven't seen much more offered than that.

professorTuring 12y ago

I am from Spain, when charging you should take into consideration various aspects: 1. 21% of your fee goes behind taxes. 2. If you want to work on your own you have to pay each month around 250€ 3. If you are going to live there, you should also consider paying the social security fees (around 1000€/month more). More input: A house keeper charges between 10/12€/hour, A particular teacher charges between 15€/hour. A computer forensic expert charges around 100-150€/hour. Mechanics charge between 30-50€/hour. I would recommend between 75-150€/hour depending on the amount of hours. If you are going to stay in their office and work with them around 8h/month I would charge between 5-7k/month. 1k/week should be fine.

fasteo 12y ago
I am also from Spain, and this info is misleading: 1. 21% is VAT. You hourly rate must be always VAT excluded. 2. I suppose you are referring to the "cuota de autonomos". This is 330 euro/month. New freelancers can get a cut during the first 2 years (100 euro/month if I remember well) 3. Nope. If you are a freelancer, the "cuota" includes social security (this includes public health service, so you don´t need a private health insurance; and yes, public health system in Spain works really well most of the time) 4. Then, you have the actual tax for your work (IRPF). In every invoice you need to withhold 9% of the gross amount during the first 2 years, 21% afterwards. Every 3 months you need to file "modelo 130" (more or less equivalent to an additional 9% monthly withhold) and once a year the government will net all these amounts. Depending on your personal situation (married,kids,mortage,etc), you may get some money back. Nevertheless, 5-7K/month seems pretty accurate for Barcelona. Hope this helps
- amorphous 12y ago
  Social security in Madrid is around 260 EUR/month Rates are much lower compared to London or Germany (where I have worked before, I'm german). However, income tax (IRPF) also, I pay around 20% (in Germany I'd pay at least 30-35%) I wasn't aware of a cut for the first 2 years, that's either only in Catalonia or a new law (I moved to Madrid 3.5 years ago) 7K/month would be a very good salary in Madrid. I earned around 5K, but now I work remotely for companies in Germany or England (with better rates) One thing to know though is that working freelance is rare in Spain, I get asked in interviews why the hell I want to stay freelance if they are offering me a permanent position.
  - fasteo 12y ago
    330 EUR/month gives you additional coverage in case of illness. But yes, you can get away with 260 EUR/month. Yes, new law. For new autonomos only. The cut is not linear. I believe you have to pay 50 EUR/month first 6 months, then 130 EUR/month for 18 months. Yes, freelancing is rare in IT, but pretty normal in many professions. There are around 3 millions autonomos in Spain, out of 16 million workers.