[austechwriter] Re: Another one down - and almost out

Feel free to take a poke.  Every one seems to be making assumptions.  That
includes me.

At least I was good enough to mention the word salary.  If you want to talk
about contracting rates it might be a good idea to mention the word
contractor.

Getting back to my original point.  Whether you (anyone) are a contractor or
a salaried employee, unrealistically high remuneration demands are just as
bad for our industry as unrealistically low remuneration demands.

http://www.textology.com.au/resources/rates/rates_all_f.htm  This address
was posted in the last week or so.

The employment category shows a few people are receiving greater than
$40/hr.  There *are* permanent jobs paying that sort of money.  The people
filling those jobs have around 10+ years experience.  The average for the 24
participants is $68,479 pa.  That is in excess of $30/hr.

Independent Contract has 14 participants.  Min $40/hr, Max $80/hr, Avg
$55/hr.

Agency contract has 15 participants.  Min $25/hr, Max $67/hr, Avg $51/hr.

These figures are obviously only from people who were prepared to provide
details, but they are the best we've got so far this year.

How real is that?

Geoff


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian Clarke" <brianclarke01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2003 8:35 PM
Subject: [austechwriter] Re: Another one down - and almost out


> High horse, Geoff!
> Where are these permanent jobs at $40 per hour? I think $40 per is a lousy
contracting rate even for a short term contract. When you, as a contractor,
have to take the risk of being out of work for long periods of time, as many
of us do, then when a scalper offers a two week job at $40 per, what do you
do???
> Your notion of 40x40x52 is totally underrealistic - perhaps surrealistic.
> Get real,
> Brian.
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: geoff@xxxxxxxxxxx
>   To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>   Sent: Monday, June 30, 2003 4:47 PM
>   Subject: [austechwriter] Re: Another one down - and almost out
>
>   Quoting Michael Edward Granat <megranat@xxxxxxxx>:
>   >
>   > The unrealistic job requirements, the $40.00 and less an hour offers
and
>   > the unfunded relocation requirements that we have seen of late are
just an
>   > insult to our profession.
>   >
>
>   I think that $40 x 40hrs x 52weeks = $83200pa
>
>   Anyone who thinks that $83,200 p.a. is an unrealistically *low* salary
will
>   probably remain uneployed for a considerable amount of time.  Most
employers
>   are not looking for The Ultimate Tech Writer, they are looking for
someone who
>   can do the job for a *realistic* salary.  If a writer applies for a job
at
>   $25/hr, and can do the job - what employer is going to pay someone else
$40/hr
>   to do the same job?
>
>   I've noticed that most people who complain about low rates devaluing the
>   industry are hanging out for rates that get them laughed out of most
jobs.  Be
>   thankful that I have a job, because I'd be happy to take on most tech
writing
>   tasks at $30/hr salary.
>
>   Michael, you may feel wounded by my comments, but expecting a salary so
high
>   when so many of your peers are unemployed is just as bad for the
industry as
>   asking $15/hr.
>
>   0.02c
>
>   Geoff
>
>
>
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