>>>Hello all,
>>>
>>>I've ben offered a consultant job with VFP.
>>>
>>>Considering that the demand is much higher than the offer how much per hour am I worth?
>>>
>>>Also considering that I used to work there for almost 2 years, so training should be minimal.
>>>
>>>I have a number in my head but I'd like to have your feedback.
>>
>>One rule of thumb to get an hourly rate is to start with an annual "number" and then divide by 1,000. That number might be:
>>
>>- The amount you want to earn on a yearly basis (without benefits)
>>- A yearly salary they may be offering you now (or hourly rate offered x 2,000 hours)
>>- The yearly salary you used to earn when you worked for them, adjusted for inflation
>>
>>If your "number" is, say, 100K, then you can start with $100 / hour.
>>
>>Unless a contract specifies otherwise, a consultant typically gets no benefits, can be dismissed at any time and receives no severance or any other consideration under an applicable Employment Standards Act. This is convenient for employers and risky for consultants, thus justifying relatively higher consulting rates.
>>
>>Actual numbers for VFP consultants will vary wildly. If they need work done, and you're the only person who can do it, you can ask for a high number.
>
>I agree 100%. As a side note -- I would think that VFP developer pay-rates should be going up as there are fewer of us every year. At the same time there are fewer foxpro apps every year too so perhaps it balances out? i know that COBOL programmers can make big money these days because most of those developers are older and retiring so there is a huge demand for them and no one to fill the jobs. Difference of course is that there is a lot more COBOL code in use than Foxpro code.

Agreed, COBOL is a reasonable comparison. My understanding also is COBOL is much bigger than VFP so it probably has a more liquid job market. In comparison VFP is like a thinly traded stock, subject to wild swings.

Another factor is remote work is much more accepted now than a couple of years ago. For employers this opens up the talent pool to their time zone and maybe plus/minus an hour or so, instead of commuting distance from their offices. Maybe other time zones too, if they're flexible. VFP consultants can also look for work outside their own geographic area. The net effect is to make the VFP job market more liquid.