Svenne Krap  <svenne.u2005@krap.dk> wrote:
+---------------
| I don't know what your living expenses are in the US, but here you can 
| barely live for say 1200$ a month after taxes as a single person (I 
| figure it is not that different in the US).
+---------------

*HAH!*  We wish.  $1200/month won't even pay my *rent*!!
[And I'm getting a good deal, due to long tenancy...]

+---------------
| By the way, I go for around 100$ an hour (as an indepedant consultant, 
| not employee)...
+---------------

A highly-experienced person can certainly still get that in
the SF Bay area for short-term technical gigs, though you'll
have to do some serious negotiation to have that hold up for
longer-term work.

+---------------
| I would not take a paid job for less that say 40-45.000 dollars/year 
| before taxes (as I am danish there is not such things as 
| medical/dental/whatever benefits paied by an employer - the only 
| exception is pension payment).
+---------------

Here fairly-hefty medical/dental/etc. benefits are considered standard
for full-time employees, though of course independent consultants don't
get any of that. The typical benefits package around here is ~30% of
base salary, so if you think you're worth a $45K/yr salary you shouldn't
price yourself at less than $31/hr (minimum).


-Rob

-----
Rob Warnock			<rpw3@rpw3.org>
627 26th Avenue			<URL:http://rpw3.org/>
San Mateo, CA 94403		(650)572-2607