[Sohakes]

I'm not in Toptal, but a friend is and he asks for around $5k a month. Here in Brazil it's insanely good. I don't personally know anyone else who receives more than him here, actually. In software dev or anything else. I don't go around asking how much people make, though.

[GFischer]

5k a month is ridiculously good in South America. Even if he's doing taxes like he should (which would bring him more in line with the averages for a senior software dev.) it's probably 30% to 50% more than he'd get as a salaried employee.