# What are contractor rates for RoR programmers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [July 7, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/what-are-contractor-rates-for-ror-programmers/108822 "2007-07-07T17:55:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elgringo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@elgringo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/elgringo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/what-are-contractor-rates-for-ror-programmers/108822/1 "2007-07-07T17:55:52Z")
I’m in the Bay area, finishing my CS degree part time and learning RoR. I’d love to be able to quit my day job and do RoR contracting in 6 months to 1 year. Just wondering what people are getting paid for contract gigs. Or, are there any ways to find out what the going rate is? ---
**Author:** ![elgringo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@elgringo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/elgringo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/what-are-contractor-rates-for-ror-programmers/108822/2 "2007-07-07T19:29:59Z")
On 7/7/07, elgringo [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > I’m in the Bay area, finishing my CS degree part time and learning > RoR. I’d love to be able to quit my day job and do RoR contracting in > 6 months to 1 year. Just wondering what people are getting paid for > contract gigs. Or, are there any ways to find out what the going rate > is? You may be better off asking on [http://groups.google.com/group/rails-business](http://groups.google.com/group/rails-business) ---
**Author:** ![elgringo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@elgringo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/elgringo)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 2:58pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/what-are-contractor-rates-for-ror-programmers/108822/3 "2007-07-08T14:58:32Z")
I didn’t know there was such a group. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![elgringo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@elgringo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/elgringo)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 5:44pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/what-are-contractor-rates-for-ror-programmers/108822/4 "2007-07-08T17:44:14Z")
Perry, excellent explanation!!! I am working in a full time job, and as most of the full time workers dream to start my own business. advices like yours are very professional. jsn Smith wrote: > elgringo wrote: > > > I’m in the Bay area, finishing my CS degree part time and learning > > RoR. I’d love to be able to quit my day job and do RoR contracting in > > 6 months to 1 year. Just wondering what people are getting paid for > > contract gigs. Or, are there any ways to find out what the going rate > > is? > > Generally, for any contracting job, you charge double your salary. So, > if you make $50K per year now (as a full time employee of some company), > that is $25/hr. You would charge $50/hr. If you can’t find work at > that rate, give up early. > > I’ve not had a full time job since a year after college. I’ve done > contracting and consulting my whole career. About 15 years ago, a guy > told me I was thinking about it all wrong. Don’t think dollars per > hour. Do fixed bid contracts based upon the value of your work. > Usually the dollars per hour you make thinking this way is astronomical > – but you take the risk of doing what you promise. > > Never turn down a job because you are too busy. Keep tweaking your > prices higher. And, even more important, never take a job that smells > bad from the start. This is really hard to do but you have to learn how > to say “no”. > > Clear honest communication up front of what the customer wants, needs, > and expects is key. > > Good luck > Perry S. > Ease Software, Inc. ([www.easesoftware.com](http://www.easesoftware.com)) > SATA disk storage for AIX ---
**Author:** ![elgringo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@elgringo](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/elgringo)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 3:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/what-are-contractor-rates-for-ror-programmers/108822/5 "2007-07-08T15:48:31Z")
elgringo wrote: > I’m in the Bay area, finishing my CS degree part time and learning > RoR. I’d love to be able to quit my day job and do RoR contracting in > 6 months to 1 year. Just wondering what people are getting paid for > contract gigs. Or, are there any ways to find out what the going rate > is? Generally, for any contracting job, you charge double your salary. So, if you make $50K per year now (as a full time employee of some company), that is $25/hr. You would charge $50/hr. If you can’t find work at that rate, give up early. I’ve not had a full time job since a year after college. I’ve done contracting and consulting my whole career. About 15 years ago, a guy told me I was thinking about it all wrong. Don’t think dollars per hour. Do fixed bid contracts based upon the value of your work. Usually the dollars per hour you make thinking this way is astronomical – but you take the risk of doing what you promise. Never turn down a job because you are too busy. Keep tweaking your prices higher. And, even more important, never take a job that smells bad from the start. This is really hard to do but you have to learn how to say “no”. Clear honest communication up front of what the customer wants, needs, and expects is key. Good luck Perry S. Ease Software, Inc. ([www.easesoftware.com](http://www.easesoftware.com)) SATA disk storage for AIX