I'm contracting, maintaining my own equipment, office space, software, hardware, training and marketing, tax collecting and accounting (where I can). If an employer is going to supply me the equipment, the rate is lower. If I have to supply the equipment, the rate reflects that. The rate reflects the type of software required for the type of job and the length of time for the contract. It is simple economics. $65.00 per hour is a minimum in Sydney. Warren. -----Original Message----- From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of geoff@xxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Monday, 30 June 2003 4:47 PM To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 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 ------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ ************************************************** To post a message to austechwriter, send the message to austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe to austechwriter, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "subscribe" in the Subject field. To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject field. To search the austechwriter archives, go to www.freelist.org/archives/austechwriter To contact the list administrator, send a message to austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ************************************************** ************************************************** To post a message to austechwriter, send the message to austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe to austechwriter, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "subscribe" in the Subject field. To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject field. To search the austechwriter archives, go to www.freelist.org/archives/austechwriter To contact the list administrator, send a message to austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx **************************************************