I need estimates of what a Propeller programmer, hardware developer, assembly t
ElectricAye
Posts: 4,561
The grant-writer-uppers want to know what it would take to replace me. 
Considering that I work for free, I find that prospect nearly impossible.
There's nobody on earth can design and build and program a Propeller project slower than me. I'm downright glacial.
Yet, I think they're worried I might have a meltdown or slip on a banana peel or something, so they want to know how much they'd have to pay somebody from the low rent district to replace me.
So I need to know about how much per hour for the following Propeller-based activities:
Programmer
Hardware designer
PCB layout
electronic assembler (soldering through-hole parts)
This would be on the east coast of the US and not China (where we'll all end up having to live if things keep up as they are.)
your most humble servant,
Mark
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Watching the world pass me by, one photon at a time.
Considering that I work for free, I find that prospect nearly impossible.
There's nobody on earth can design and build and program a Propeller project slower than me. I'm downright glacial.
Yet, I think they're worried I might have a meltdown or slip on a banana peel or something, so they want to know how much they'd have to pay somebody from the low rent district to replace me.
So I need to know about how much per hour for the following Propeller-based activities:
Programmer
Hardware designer
PCB layout
electronic assembler (soldering through-hole parts)
This would be on the east coast of the US and not China (where we'll all end up having to live if things keep up as they are.)
your most humble servant,
Mark
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Watching the world pass me by, one photon at a time.
Comments
Your problem is that if your grant-writer-uppers ever discover this forum, they'll realize that all they need to do is pose as newbies and they'll get their entire development done for free!
Ross.
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Catalina - a FREE C compiler for the Propeller - see Catalina
Why do you think I keep my full name a secret here?
electronic assembler (soldering through-hole parts) - I hate through hole and stick to surface mount only allows for automated machinery.
I know my Chinese suppliers charge $150 for low product run through hole assembly.
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24 bit LCD Breakout Board coming soon. $21.99 has backlight driver and touch sensitive decoder.
We also fall in the range. The price depends on how complicated the work is.
James L
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James L
Partner/Designer
Lil Brother SMT Assembly Services
Are you addicted to technology or Micro-controllers..... then checkout the forums at Savage Circuits. Learn to build your own Gizmos!
I'd put you at $100+ for the programming rate, and $80+ for PCB design; $50 for the through-hole technician.
If you live in China you can divide by 5. Multiply by 0.9 if you are working in Taiwan, and multiple by 1.2 if you are in Germany and 1.5 if you are in Switzerland.
And adjust further based on where you live in the USA.
Why are they asking you this question, anyway? Very odd thing to ask a valued contributor (you are a valued contributor, right?).
Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.
Post Edited (Ken Gracey (Parallax)) : 11/11/2009 9:38:15 AM GMT
And if they get a quote for that, and compare it with your hourly rate of, what did you say again, $0 per hour, they might work out it could be worth paying you something.
I wear many different hats through the week; employer (of 6 people), employee, contractor (and even propeller programmer at the same hourly rate/speed as yours!) and for;
Programmer
Hardware designer
PCB layout
electronic assembler (soldering through-hole parts)
I'd put it at Chip's $100 rate for the first three. The last one I might put at maybe half that.
Don't undersell yourself here - it could be a ticket to a pay rise!
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www.smarthome.viviti.com/build
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My Prop Info&Apps: ·http://www.rayslogic.com/propeller/propeller.htm
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NYC Area Prop Club
Prop Forum Search (Via Google)
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Rgds, David
You know, I've never thought about that.
They work for peanuts, too, so we're all in it for the Big Warm Cosmic Fuzzy (BWCF).
I wouldn't do that if I were you. I've known a number of people that ran away from school to grab the cash and for a while it looks great. But, as hard as this might be to believe, the economy really does fluctuate! One day you're gold with all the pearly fringe benefits, the next day you're living in a cardboard box wishing you hadn't complained about all those people getting government handouts. Besides, the more cash you've got the faster you burn through it and you'll never seem to have enough no matter how much you make. In my humble opinion, it's better to get your education, in school as well as outside of school, before that big grinding wheel of prosperity gets too close to your nose. And sometimes it's better to kinda shrug at the money and grab as much of the BWCF as you possibly can.
Now let's see.... so if I take $100/hour and adjust it for my lack of speed and my almost total ignorance of all things electronic, that means I'm "worth" ...hmmmmm... about 50 cents an hour. Hey, suddenly western Xinjiang ain't lookin so bad after all!
All kidding aside, on the one hand, I'm glad you asked this question...because I had been wondering the same thing myself. On the other hand, now that I've read some of the replies, I wish you hadn't asked. But you did, and I guess that's good because, now more than ever, I realize that I'd better pick up as many of these skills myself as I can. Still, maybe there's some potential "contractors" out there that have one rate scale for established companies and another (hopefully lower rate scale) for private individuals that only aspire to be "going concerns" someday. I know I'll get burned at the stake for saying this, but it's a bit odd how hard people will work for free--even paying for the pleasure--on their own projects (few of which ever make any money), but then want "NASA contractor rates" for applying the benefit of·experience to the projects·of others, but that's their call to make, I realize. I just have a naive hope that there's still some people that are willing to provide service at affordable rates, depending on the type of customer and project. It's great that everyone knows what they're "worth" these days, I suppose, but it's a pity that we live in such an expensive world and one wherein the "love of the game" is seemingly not much of a reward anymore. It's all about greed, these days. Part of the reason I'm in Taiwan is that I can afford to pay for health care here, as opposed to the immoral health care system in the US where everyone knows their worth all down the line. But now we can't build much in the US as a result, and unemployment is 10%, with under-employment much higher. But back to the forum, what's wrong with an MVP here offering a generous rate for "extra money" as opposed to an "extra boat" and doing so partly for the love of the hobby/profession (perhaps in a different context than their regular job)? While I'm at it, I think it would be good if there were a way to make "micro-payments" ($1,·$3,·$5, $10, $15, $20, $25) for useful information received. Such payments would possibly be voluntary, with suggested amounts for various classes of help provided. For example, I'd be willing to pay for a useful tip, such as a suggestion for a supplier or what have you, say by using PayPal. But based on the preliminary responses so far, it sounds like it's either free or "an arm-and-a-leg," with no middle ground. Is that really the best we can do? --Just my two cents, for what it's worth.
Post Edited (JRetSapDoog) : 11/11/2009 10:59:40 PM GMT
JR,
There are many out there which have a flexible rate. We are one of those. We try to be fair, but people must understand, we do this solely for a living. This is not a part time venture for us. Plus, there is a lot which goes on behind the scenes which people do not see.
Just for example, we are working with a customer who sent the wrong sized chip. Not only did we have to prove the chip was wrong (by a picture sent through email), we went even further to tell him what the right chip was. It's not a matter of who is wrong or right.....just a matter of not having the knowledge. We will not charge any more for doing the research, even though at least 45 minutes of our time was spent doing so.
It takes communication to find a company who is willing to work with you. If you provide little to no communication, the company typically does the required job, and charges the standard rate.
Is this right??? I don't know. But we feel people who are interested in us, provide an opportunity for us to reiterate the feelings.
James L
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James L
Partner/Designer
Lil Brother SMT Assembly Services
Are you addicted to technology or Micro-controllers..... then checkout the forums at Savage Circuits. Learn to build your own Gizmos!
This is in Louisiana though where the cost of living is famously low compared to the coasts, and if you're deep in a megalopolis where an efficiency apartment costs $800 a month I'd expect at least $150/hr.
100 hours is less than a month, so I should be back in school by next quarter (January). $80,000 is a resume builder, plus it will pay for the next two and a half years...
@JRSD
I disagree. The thing about the forum is that it is for what interests the helper. There are some threads begging for help that pretty much just die, and some that get lots of helpful replies. The paying part (beyond food/home) is a motivation factor, and IMHO it's just not worth it to beg for a few dollars at a time.
Plus, this model has already been tried and it didn't work: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Answers