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typical pay for a contractor??

typical pay for a contractor??

typical pay for a contractor??

(OP)
Given that full time engineering positions, when you factor in health care, 401k, etc, value significantly more than base pay alone, how much of an offer should a contractor reasonably expect??? Electrical engineer, mechanical and computer engineering positions in particular.

RE: typical pay for a contractor??

Quote:

Electrical engineer, mechanical and computer engineering positions in particular.
That's not very particular.

RE: typical pay for a contractor??

I was paid $41/hr (including per diem) with about three experience out of college. I was employed by a firm at the time, so they continued to pay the employer portion of social security. (As opposed to independent contractor where you have to take out 12.6% for social security)

RE: typical pay for a contractor??

I would guess 20-25% higher than nominal..  But I have seen as much as 50% higher

RE: typical pay for a contractor??

Hiya, KTechSci,

My experience is base pay X 1.2 to 1.3.  Above 1.3X, the company (on average) makes out better by hiring as an employee with benefits, even if part time and limited duration.

Let's see what the others say...

Good on ya,

Goober Dave

RE: typical pay for a contractor??

I've seen up to about 60% higher and seem to recall stories of 100% higher.

As well as all the things you list above, many contractors like to allow for gaps between jobs and/or intentional leave.

There are some that get by working only about 6 months a year, but I suspect these are the exception.

Your question is a bit general for a good answer.

At my place when I hired on direct from contract they claimed benefits etc that permanent employees got were worth on average $11,000.

So in this case as a contractor I would have wanted to be earning around that much more than a direct.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies recently, or taken a look at http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

RE: typical pay for a contractor??

If you know Pro/ENGINEER rates range from 40 to 50 per hour.  

If you can specialize in something and make your self in even more demand like Cabling or surfacing rates can go has high as 80 per hour.  

Bart Brejcha    Chicago
DESIGN-ENGINE|EDUCATION
http://www.proetools.com
surfacing and Pro/CABLE training
 

RE: typical pay for a contractor??

Civil/Structural: in the SouthEast, 65/hr.(Louisville, Grenville and Raleigh); in Houston, Kansas City and Baton Rouge, 75/hr; In Anchorage, 92/hr.  These rates have a per diem split which increases the take home net.

RE: typical pay for a contractor??

If you're a good stress engineer you can make over $200,000 per year on contract work.  But that doesn't tell you how much more that is than if you're direct, which is what the OP is asking.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies recently, or taken a look at http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

RE: typical pay for a contractor??

KENAT

Quote:

If you're a good stress engineer you can make over $200,000 per year on contract work.

This is revenue and not profit. When you factor in O&M expenses (health care, vacation, retirement) for your contract work it really does not seem like a whole hell of lot does it?

RE: typical pay for a contractor??

My last year contracting I cleared 220 thousand USD running Pro/ENGINEER for the CAB group at a major tractor manufacture.  

Bart Brejcha    Chicago
DESIGN-ENGINE|EDUCATION
http://www.proetools.com
surfacing and Pro/CABLE training
 

RE: typical pay for a contractor??

A lot of non contractors pay for at least a portion of their health insurance.  If you contact through a job shop you can get the same deal, including vacation although they basically keep it from you and then give it back in the form of benefits.  That being said, in the field I am in, it's not unusual for contractors to make $60+/hr plus OT. If you make less than 200k you had a slow year.

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