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>I hope you were overpaid as an employee, because this is a great way
>to go broke.
Amen Robert
Adding 25% onto a full-time salary may seem reasonable, but for the very
reasons Robert pointed out, an experienced Technical Writer would be doing him
or herself a disservice calculating an hourly rate that way. For example, if
you are at a level that commands $42,000.00 in a full-time position ($21.88 per
hour), with benefits, you should be trying to get $35.00 to $40.00 an hour
contracting. Remember, you have to pay Uncle Sam 15% of that, 7% more than you
do as a full-time employee. When I was contracting (Northeast region/12 years
experience), I was charging $45.00 to $54.00 per hour as an independent
contractor, depending on the situation. Obviously, there are always reason why
you might have to work for less. If, for example, you go through a contracting
agency, 25% is probably the best you'll do because the agency has to get their
cut (which is why I don't use them). But for an experienced Tech Writer, in a
reasonable economy, you should be looking at more than 25% over your full-time
hourly rate. Afterall, a good Tech Writer is worth it.
