>>>Who knows – Renior may soon receive e-mail advertisements suggesting an “out of Country Company” that can provide programming needs at very good rates. In this case it might be addressed something like: Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. IT Professional. Nadya, having supplied her name, will receive a more personalized e-mail. I have seen rates of $10 an hour being quoted. Am I being skeptical?
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>>>Tom
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>>I am curious: what would typical rates be for someone working within the US?
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>>An hourly rate of US$ 10 an hour would be considered a handsome salary here in Bolivia! If that is what the programmer receives, rather than an intermediary.
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>Hilmar;
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>Good question. The rate varies throughout the United States. I charge $105 an hour for consulting. I live in Silicon Valley and the price of living (existing) here is very high.
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>Full time senior programmers receive about half that amount. The advantage of being full time is that you have a benifits package that adds from 26 to 30% more to your total compensation package - medical, dental, vision, 401K, life insurance, and retirement are typical things paid by the employer.
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>When you are consulting you pay for your own "benifits". Consulting for 6 months out of 12 is a good goal. You spend time looking for contracts, training and a number of other things.
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>Tom

Wow!
We cross paths again. You are reciting my experience in charges and how time is spent. I, too, considered 1,000 contract hrs/yr a good goal. And, without group insurance, the older I got the MORE expensive insurance got, if they didn't refuse to renew.