Average hourly contract rate in Seattle area?

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G

Guest

Hi Folks,

I just moved to Seattle from Portland, Oregon. I was wondering what the
average contract rates ( as a W2 with an agency ) are up here for a senior
..NET software developer with around ten years experience developing with MS
technologies and a Masters in CS.

In Portland, I was getting around 65 ( before taxes ) an hour. The cost of
living in Portland is lower than Seattle so I'm hoping the average up here
might be a bit more. Am I hopin for too much?

Thanks much,
 
Greg T said:
In Portland, I was getting around 65 ( before taxes ) an hour. The cost
of
living in Portland is lower than Seattle so I'm hoping the average up here
might be a bit more. Am I hopin for too much?
Click to expand...

Here in Sacramento that's on the high end of what I've seen offered by the
various agencies for senior level .Net developers. Every once in a while I
see higher rates, but not too often.

If you're going direct, rates closer to $100 an hour seem fairly common.
 
Hi Chris,

Thanks much for your response. I am researching the prospect of breaking
out on my own and dealing with the clients directly. It does seem the
rewards can be significant. I'm looking at risks involved and how much
salesman legwork might be required. Also, of coarse, I have to remember the
IRS and not forget that they will want their fair share of the pie.
 
If I may suggest check out becoming an Inc.

Here in Canada you can also pay yourself in Dividends. That has a lower tax
rate than normal income rate,
so you pay yourself a minor small amount as a salary and pull out $$$ when
you need to as a dividend.

The other part about that is that the Company ( your inc ) pays the tax on
the Dividends, not you.
( at least here in Canada ). Using something like quickbooks you will need
a Charterd accountant to file
your papers properly once a year that costs about 1000 or a tad more, but
the bonuses and quirks you can
do when your an Inc, pay off that 1000 pretty quick.

Ill stop now since im now way off .net topic :)

Miro
 
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