[CLUE-Talk] Linux programmer needed with Kernal 2.6

[Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier]

On Wed, 2004-06-02 at 13:53, Jed S. Baer wrote:
> On Wed, 2 Jun 2004 18:55:27 +0000 (UTC)
> Angelo Bertolli <angelo at freeshell.org> wrote:
> 
> > Senior level kernel programmers go for $50/hr now?  sheesh
> 
> And I have zero sympathy for anyone who'd feel underpaid at that rate.

I agree with that...it's hard to feel underpaid at $50 an hour. But is
$50 an hour really unreasonable for a "senior-level" kernel programmer?
Particularly for a short-term project where they're getting no benefits,
job security or anything?

I've figured it up a few times, and what I get paid to write the
"average" piece hovers between $35 and $60 an hour if I calculate the
actual time it takes to write a column or article. (That holds true for
columns and features -- not so much for reviews, which take a lot more
time.) That counts the time from proposal to outline to final draft and
review of copy. I only wish I could keep enough work in the queue to
have 40 hours of writing work per week... and I happily take steady work
at lower rates when I can get it just to keep a steady cash flow. 

I don't know how many freelance kernel developers there are, but if
you're freelancing in the writing field, you really have to squirrel it
away when you can. (Particularly since publishers often take their sweet
time cutting checks...but that's another story...) 

So... I guess I don't see the $50 per hour figure for kernel developers
being out of line since I see kernel development as being much harder
than what I do. (At least, I can do what I do, and I haven't a clue
about coding for the Linux kernel...) It's executive salaries that I've
always seen as being out of line. Folks who have no specialized
knowledge at all (other than who they know...) that pull down six and
seven-figure salaries for laying people off...that always seemed rather
unreasonable to me. 

Best,

Zonker