[hajile]

It's way more than 1k. I did a contract with a company once and looked to move to FTE. My rate was about $70/hr with an informally enforced cap at a bit over 40hr per week.

They submitted a total cost of employee as part of their employment request to HR. Their bog standard expenditure for an employee sitting right next to me was 50k/yr higher than I was making (my 1099 rate was the official standard for the position and not negotiated). $15/hr less (given unofficial hour cap), but with good insurance (group rates are also lower for the same insurance compared to individual), bonuses, vacation, 401k, etc.

Most companies simply refuse to pay out the same for a contractor as they would for an employee.

A large programmer union could do wonders for the industry.

[fortythirteen]

Let's say the average developer works 45 hours a week at a company and makes $15/hr more than a FT senior dev (with salary calculated at 40 hours). That's $2500 more a year, which sounds bad when you factor in all the FT benefits.

But, the FT senior developer spends a quarter of his/her time in meetings, is expected to be a "team player" in regards to internal politics, and can't do any side projects without running it by the business.

Both sides working 45 figure is kind of a fairy tale too. Having been on both sides, usually either FT or contractors are working all the extra hours. If it's open-ended contracts, then the FT are working many extra, unpaid hours and the contractors get a work/life balance (worth multiple $10k, IMHO). If it's short term contract, the contractors work 50+ hours a week, within the project window, make out like bandits, and go on to the next gig.

It's all preference. Neither side is objectively better.