Rates

[fool]

I wasn't contracting in 2008 but:-

Perm:
Company A: 2007-2009: 13k to 24k p/a
Company B: 2009-2012: 25k to 27k p/a
Company C: 2012: 30k p/a

Contract:
Company A 2013 (3 MONTH): 220 p/d
Company B 2013 (5 MONTH): 320 p/d
Company C 2014 (4 MONTH): 400 p/d
Company D 2014 (3 MONTH): 400 p/d
Company E 2014 (3 MONTH): 500 p/d
Company F 2015 (3 MONTH): 650 p/d
Company F 2015 (6 MONTH): 700 p/d

I have an offer to extend and an alternative at £800 p/d. I'd like to say my rates keep rising because I'm better than the competition ( I think I'm better, they think they're better) but the truth is the reason I keep getting rates rises is mostly because I lie to recruiters about how much I'm currently on. Funnily enough, they always come back with they can only offer me the same as what I'm on.

[stek]

I wasn't contracting in 2008 but:-

Perm:
Company A: 2007-2009: 13k to 24k p/a
Company B: 2009-2012: 25k to 27k p/a
Company C: 2012: 30k p/a

Contract:
Company A 2013 (3 MONTH): 220 p/d
Company B 2013 (5 MONTH): 320 p/d
Company C 2014 (4 MONTH): 400 p/d
Company D 2014 (3 MONTH): 400 p/d
Company E 2014 (3 MONTH): 500 p/d
Company F 2015 (3 MONTH): 650 p/d
Company F 2015 (6 MONTH): 700 p/d

I have an offer to extend and an alternative at £800 p/d. I'd like to say my rates keep rising because I'm better than the competition ( I think I'm better, they think they're better) but the truth is the reason I keep getting rates rises is mostly because I lie to recruiters about how much I'm currently on. Funnily enough, they always come back with they can only offer me the same as what I'm on.

Yeah. right...

[fool]

Yeah. right...

Which part are you unconvinced with?

[malvolio]

Which part are you unconvinced with?

All of it. I get high end rates, they have stayed much the same for the last 15 years. So either someone has been continually reskilling or becoming more expert in a niche skillset. That level of rate change over a two year period encompassing eight roles may be right ( ) but is hardly representative or helpful.

[jamesbrown]

All of it. I get high end rates, they have stayed much the same for the last 15 years. So either someone has been continually reskilling or becoming more expert in a niche skillset. That level of rate change over a two year period encompassing eight roles may be right ( ) but is hardly representative or helpful.

Agreed. It would be rather childish to provide false information, and it probably isn't false, but it isn't representative. This is one reason I haven't responded, as my rates are quite variable depending on how much I like the project, among other things. Anecdotally, I would say that rates are quite robust and improving for specialists in science and engineering, but they've been flat lining or worsening for more typical skillsets AFAIK.

Incidentally, does IPSE have an archive of the benchmarking or other surveys that might be useful here? I can only find the benchmarking survey from 2012. It has some useful information about rates for a couple of years, but not the longer time-series that the OP is looking for (IIRC the OP is an IPSE member, so should have access to these documents, but it isn't easy to locate them via the new website, perhaps because they have the old PCG branding...).

[fool]

All of it. I get high end rates, they have stayed much the same for the last 15 years. So either someone has been continually reskilling or becoming more expert in a niche skillset. That level of rate change over a two year period encompassing eight roles may be right ( ) but is hardly representative or helpful.

It depends who we're trying to help. It doesn't help prove the OPs point, but if she doesn't present any outliers, her numbers probably won't be taken seriously, so it might be helpful to her, despite not being on message.

That's not why I posted it though. I'm going to struggle getting further rate bumps because those in the middle of the road fail to negotiate with the agents. If enough people optimise for that then rates will rise.

Agreed. It would be rather childish to provide false information, and it probably isn't false, but it isn't representative. This is one reason I haven't responded, as my rates are quite variable depending on how much I like the project, among other things. Anecdotally, I would say that rates are quite robust and improving for specialists in science and engineering, but they've been flat lining or worsening for more typical skillsets AFAIK.

I saw the thread days ago and didn't post initially because of this. Now I actually think it's unhelpful because it makes the data look fabriated. In addition, I think it's helpful for others to know that high rates do exist.

For what it's worth, I'm a pretty respectable Developer & Sysadmin. I'm 30 with ~8 years experience. Other than being able to do both jobs, I don't have anything particularly niche on my CV.

[BoredBloke]

When I work away I tend to rack up expenses to the tune of about £2k a month. Meaning if I can't expense that then I'd have to earn and draw £24k a year to pay the bills just to allow me to work. So obviously given the implications on my personal tax thresholds that isn't going to happen. So for me it will have to be commutable only work. In the North West rates have not moved from what I can see. Generally my roles still get pitched around the 300 a day mark which is what I was working for t BT in Leeds back in 2010. In London that's 450 to 550. Nothing like having your flexibility curtailed by your own government!

[BoredBloke]

I wasn't contracting in 2008 but:-

Perm:
Company A: 2007-2009: 13k to 24k p/a
Company B: 2009-2012: 25k to 27k p/a
Company C: 2012: 30k p/a

Contract:
Company A 2013 (3 MONTH): 220 p/d
Company B 2013 (5 MONTH): 320 p/d
Company C 2014 (4 MONTH): 400 p/d
Company D 2014 (3 MONTH): 400 p/d
Company E 2014 (3 MONTH): 500 p/d
Company F 2015 (3 MONTH): 650 p/d
Company F 2015 (6 MONTH): 700 p/d

I have an offer to extend and an alternative at £800 p/d. I'd like to say my rates keep rising because I'm better than the competition ( I think I'm better, they think they're better) but the truth is the reason I keep getting rates rises is mostly because I lie to recruiters about how much I'm currently on. Funnily enough, they always come back with they can only offer me the same as what I'm on.

What role goes from 220 to 700 a day in 2 and a bit years based on a total of 8 years experience?

[fool]

What role goes from 220 to 700 a day in 2 and a bit years based on a total of 8 years experience?

DevOps. Last response as this is a total thread derail.

5 years working as developer / ops for hosting industry
9 Months Dev & Ops digital agencies
1 year dev in card industry
1/2 year ops startup & digital agency
9 Months Ops Government

But again, the point was that I never got more because I didn't know how to ask for it and take myself seriously.

[stek]

What role goes from 220 to 700 a day in 2 and a bit years based on a total of 8 years experience?

Number one rule of CUK club, do not balloon about rates....