Reply to: Rate poll

[Platypus]

I've got to be honest, my rate has been pretty much the same for 10 years, and it's not a fantastic rate either, but it's a WFH job and I'm happy that while I could improve my rate considerably by commuting to London, I'd lose 4 hours a day in travel time and be spending (I reckon) £15k p.a. on travel. The money I could easily make back but not the quality of life and lack of travel stress, so while I'll never win a "highest rate" p!ssing competition, I'm ok with that.

[Old Hack]

No idea? What's £200k PA with all the perm benefits as a contractor then?

50% tax, I'd say £400 a day

[mudskipper]

No idea? What's £200k PA with all the perm benefits as a contractor then?

An MF fantasy.

[MarillionFan]

No idea? What's £200k PA with all the perm benefits as a contractor then?

[Old Hack]

I spoke to a pimp today, a good one, and he said he's having to remind a lot of his clients 2008 was a long time ago, and we've moved on.

Generally, from what I have been offered over the past 2-3 years, they've stopped trying it on so much this year, when we've discussed rates. I think 2010 was the worst year, I can remember in many years of contracting, when it seemed that every client was attempting to take the piss. IBM told all contract staff they wanted a 15% reduction in rates or they'd be off hired, and I know of many other companies who tried more.

I think todays rates are lower than they should be, but are picking up.

Niche areas have always been good though, so it depends where you are.

[proggy]

How do you find time to post tulip on CUK then?

I do it while my code is compiling.

[AtW]

My rate is average, but it's 20 min commute and I get to work from home 2 days a week, plus it's interesting work. more to a contract than rate.

How do you find time to post tulip on CUK then?

[NotAllThere]

Jesus Wept.

Sheesh - not another religious maniac...

Nice to see you're capable of learning.

[sasguru]

Jesus Wept.

So the option "A lot more than £700 a day" doesn't cover it? Hope your not doing any maths related work

It does technically. "But a fooking tulip lot more than £700 would be more accurate". HTH

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Jesus Wept.

So the option "A lot more than £700 a day" doesn't cover it? Hope your not doing any maths related work

Well spotted

[proggy]

For which client? I'm on day rate for client 1 but fixed cost project for (potential but almost certain) client 2.
If I convert client 2 into a day rate based on how long I think the project will take, your range of options isn't large enough.

Jesus Wept.

So the option "A lot more than £700 a day" doesn't cover it? Hope your not doing any maths related work

[proggy]

My rate is average, but it's 20 min commute and I get to work from home 2 days a week, plus it's interesting work. more to a contract than rate.

[NotAllThere]

Over the six or seven years I've been doing this, my worst rate was the first one. But I saw the headline rate and the salary I was on, and jumped.

The rates that I've been on since then have varied - here's the ones that I can remember:

Rate 1: x
Rate 2: x + 12%
Rate 3: x + 20%
Rate 4: x + 25%
Rate 5: x + 40%
Rate 6: x + 25%
Rate 7: x + 22%
Rate 8: x + 12% (working from home, no expenses, no travel)
Rate 9: x + 37% (working from home, no expenses, no travel)

Whether the rates have generally gone up, I doubt. I think that I'm just more confident of knowing what I'm worth, what my expenses are likely to be, whether I'm interested in the role, and negotiating with the agency / client.

Rate 1: x.
Rate 2: x + 15%
Rate 3: x + 150%
Rate 4: x + 260%
Rate 5: x + 150%
Rate 6: x + 260%
Rate 7: x + 300%, concurrently with rate 8: x + 270%

I've corrected for exchange rate fluctuations, which put my current rates rather higher. Generally, my rates have gone up as I've got more specialist in niche skills.

[stek]

Rate poll

Okay, you can sit this one out. You are special needs.

FTFY

[TheFaQQer]

Over the six or seven years I've been doing this, my worst rate was the first one. But I saw the headline rate and the salary I was on, and jumped.

The rates that I've been on since then have varied - here's the ones that I can remember:

Rate 1: x
Rate 2: x + 12%
Rate 3: x + 20%
Rate 4: x + 25%
Rate 5: x + 40%
Rate 6: x + 25%
Rate 7: x + 22%
Rate 8: x + 12% (working from home, no expenses, no travel)
Rate 9: x + 37% (working from home, no expenses, no travel)

Whether the rates have generally gone up, I doubt. I think that I'm just more confident of knowing what I'm worth, what my expenses are likely to be, whether I'm interested in the role, and negotiating with the agency / client.