[MichaelGG]

I'm curious, if you're only doing the top 3%, shouldn't all the work being done be around or above that amount $200+/hr)? I'm probably in the top 3% of devs if we include the mass of people that do any such work. While I don't do hourly, I'd not consider any new projects that don't end up earning at least that much.

Top 3% is sort of a useless metric, isn't it? I'd not be surprised to find that, since most people suck, 97th percentile is a minimum you need to get anything done properly. But within that, there's probably at least an order if magnitude difference in capability (and rates).

[Madmallard]

Relative perception of others' proficiency for a particular skill is something that subjectively changes as you become better at it. Things you might consider absolutely necessary for a project may not be considered that way for others, and potentially not even recognized by those below your skill level. Projects can ship as a mess of unmaintainable code, after all.

[rattray]

It's the global 3%, not the US 3%. I think they get that stat from the percentage who apply and fail.