[tuckerwales]

I'm a 21 year-old who has recently gotten into contracting to supplement my primary income (a Software Engineering Apprentice for a Defence contractor).

I earn £12 an hour for my contract work, which I'm quite happy with at the moment because 10 hours a week means I get an extra £500 per month (which is considerable at my age, it pays my rent and bills and some).

I know it doesn't seem much, but I think I'm actually quite lucky to be able to get a gig at my age with my experience.

[qume]

Great to hear you are happy, but I do think you're being exploited. I'm pretty sure you can flip burgers for £12.

I hope this motivates you to ask for more.

[tuckerwales]

I'm a little hesitant to ask for more, because I'm really not in a position right now (for a couple of months, anyway) to be able to afford losing that extra income...

[karmajunkie]

I sympathize with that, but what you should also consider is that by greatly undercharging the market rate, you're actually depressing wages for other in your peer group.

[fightfortheuser]

and you'll just keep getting more low-end work. The next client you get, double your rate, don't even bat an eye when you quote it, and you'll be surprised when people say yes.

[tuckerwales]

Thanks for the advice guys.

[mobiuscog]

How do you get into something like that, whilst working elsewhere as a day job ? I'm curious how you'd start - I mean do you have an agent, or did you just start marketing yourself ?

[tuckerwales]

I was referred by somebody that I know from Twitter...

[beachstartup]

charge more. like 5x more.

[fightfortheuser]

Agreed.