[g3rv4]

ugh, as a developer from a remote country that’s been working for 10+ years for US companies I run as fast as possible from companies like this one.

If I provide the same value as US engineers, why should I make less than US engineers?

Fortunately, I’ve been able to make my case. I hope these Indian engineers realize they’re making 1/15th what they should.

[zavi]

Salaries are determined by supply & demand, not by how engineers feel, what they "realize", or what they create in terms of value.

[g3rv4]

at a macro level? sure. At a micro level, had I been convinced that my pay was fair (it was enough to cover my needs and save) and not asked for more, I’d be making upwork money.

[PenguinCoder]

Can you elaborate on the methods you've used to "make my case" for getting paid fairly, as a remote (and Indian??) engineer?

[g3rv4]

I’m not Indian (I’m Uruguayan).

There were two times where I more than doubled my pay. At one point I was 1 month into a contract and I got an offer from a previous client doubling what I was getting. I used that to make my case and we figured a schedule for me to make 2x my rate.

Then, I was bored and started playing with Asterisk and Twilio. I built an integration before there were docs on how to do it, I blogged about it and people started contacting me offering me to do it for them.

For each client I asked for more money. I started at 35/h and doubled it every time somebody contacted me.

One of those clients offered me a 40 hours/week contract. They got acquired and I was a key member working 60+ hours per week.

The new company wanted me to sign a long term contract and... to sign it I asked for even more money! since I’d be giving up opportunities to work with other clients.

Once you start making more money it’s easier to get the job because... you’re already being paid that. Obviously, you need to deliver according to the expectations, but luckily that wasn’t an issue for me.