John W. Colby
jcolby at ColbyConsulting.com
Thu Mar 27 21:50:08 CST 2003
Ron, Compensation (in which I include salary) depends very much on where you are. Places like NYC or San Francisco command as much as 50% higher salary than other lower cost areas. That said, you'd have to be in a low cost area for $40k to be a good salary for the job description you quoted. That said, times are tough right now which means that lots of people with your qualifications (or better) are unemployed and willing to take jobs at less that they would have 2 years ago. When I got to Connecticut I "accepted" a job at $60k with a description similar to what you describe. That was at the low end. In the boonies in Alabama or the likes that would probably have been in the stratosphere. As my brother-in-law said (in the suburbs around Nashville) - making $60 k a year (which he was) he was up there with the doctors and lawyers. One way or the other, 40K is probably low during good times. John W. Colby Colby Consulting www.ColbyConsulting.com -----Original Message----- From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Ron Allen Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 10:32 PM To: Jim Hewson Subject: Re[2]: [AccessD] OT:Building your business was... Rate for first time JH> I work for a company that contracts my database development services to JH> clients. My rates to develop Access databases range from $65 to $125 per JH> hour depending on the location of the customer (San Antonio vs DC), location JH> of the work (customer site vs my office) and complexity of the project. I JH> can assure you, I do not get the full amount. Most of database developers JH> (Oracle, Access, SQL Server, etc.) are salaried. I have a couple of questions in this thread. First, I am a salaried developer. I work with SQL Server, Oracle, Access, Visual Basic, and do all kinds of incidental but necessary stuff too (DOS batch files, UNIX shell scripts, manual and other writing, even some very basic graphics work for manual illustration screen shots and program icons and such). I have an excellent health benefits package, dental plan, vision plan, pension plan, 401K, and yearly cost of living raises plus yearly profit-based bonuses. I work a base 37.5 hours per week, and receive either comp time or time and a half at my employer's discretion for any hours beyond that in any given week. I don't want to quote my actual salary quite so publically, but let's assume for argument's sake that its about $40K/yr. I feel I am doing very well for a self-taught programmer with no degree who turned his hobby into a profession, but I have sometimes wondered where that salary range, all things being equal, falls for positions of this type. I'm very happy where I'm at, but when speaking to others I sometimes get the feeling that I'm underpaid and sometimes get the impression that I'm overcompensated. It would be nice to have some solid idea. Second, I have considered attempting some consulting work on the side. I understand the need to decide on a reasonable rate and then stick by it. What I have concerns about is, what happens when a client needs something that I don't know how to do without learning first or (shudder) what happens if I screw something up? I'm a little dual personality about my skills; I'm proud that I'm come as far as I have with no formal training and no credentials, but it also causes me to think twice about trying independent work. So the question is, I'm actually pretty good, but am I good enough? How do you tell, other than by jumping in? Should that affect the rate at all? Thanks for any considered response. Ron _______________________________________________ AccessD mailing list AccessD at databaseadvisors.com http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com ---------------------------------------------------- Is email taking over your day? Manage your time with eMailBoss. Try it free! http://www.eMailBoss.com -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: winmail.dat Type: application/ms-tnef Size: 4012 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://databaseadvisors.com/pipermail/accessd/attachments/20030327/58345125/attachment-0001.bin>