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Up here in Ottawa, I get $50/hour CDN in my pocket for basic Web writing
and $70 in my pocket for technical writing (online hep development). I
work through staffing agencies for the low rate and consulting firms for
the higher rate (which also means long term contracts on projects). In
both cases, the middlemen are charging about $525 per diem. I'm a
senior TW and my rate is considered high. These rates are for the
public sector (Government of Canada, oh dear, I'm supposed to call it
"Canada's New Government), the private sector here is comprised mostly
of telecom and biomed companies, so the rate continues to be supported.
Going through middlemen means that they take care of my security
clearance, it means I always get paid on time (even if the middleman
doesn't). I could try and go direct through the government's
procurement methods, but I am a one-person shop. I may make $5.00 more
per hour, but the administrative overhead is too much of a nightmare.
Annual gross income has been between $96,000 and $110,000 for the past
15 years. And I have nothing to show for it :)
Elayne
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+sandahl=rogers -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+sandahl=rogers -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Andrew Warren
Sent: September 7, 2006 1:56 PM
To: jwerfmail-techwr -at- yahoo -dot- com; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Consulting Fees
Bill Swallow wrote:
> Rates vary greatly, depending on the type of work, your experience,
> your location, the industry, and of course, what you can get.
One thing that hasn't been discussed is how to know when, and by how
much, to RAISE your rate.
When I was consulting, I tied my hourly rate to the cost of a US
First-Class postage stamp. When the postal rates changed, my rate
changed by the same percentage. Worked great, and cross-checking
confirmed that my rate always fell between my auto mechanic's and my
lawyer's, so I figured it was reasonable.
-Andrew
=== Andrew Warren - awarren -at- synaptics -dot- com
=== Synaptics, Inc - Santa Clara, CA
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