[eaxix]

Don't ask for $1.5k/mo. No one will think of you as valuable if that's what you ask for. People who do pay you that much will treat you like shit and are not the kind of people you want to work with.

The problem is you're referring to yourself as a newbie. I don't know where you're from, but generally in America that would be seen as lack of confidence. Don't be humble. You can learn on the job. Working from home you can easily work 12 hour days if things take you longer than an experinced developer.

Look for companies you'd like to work with. If you're fine with startups which can be generally more approchable I'd look on AngelList. Email the founder or CTO. Talk to them about their problems. Try to be genuinely helpful and understanding. If they have job openings talk about how you can help them. Put everything you did on your CV. Upload your projects on GitHub.

You can absolutely do this, but first you need to change your mindset.

[stu2b50]

I mean that would be true in the US, but OP explicitly said he's not in the US. It really depends on where he is; 1.5k/month could be considered a very good wage where he is.

[eaxix]

That's the wrong way to go about it. You want to be pricing based on supply and demand, not based on your costs.

OP stated he wanted to work remotely, hence he's competing in the global (remote work) market. Many US and other companies hire in this market and often pay US-level (but generally not Silicon Valley-level) salaries. A lot of digital nomad types have those jobs.

Judging by OP's good grasp of English and the fact that he reads Hacker News, I'd say that alone makes him more qualified for those jobs than the bulk of developers from his country. I'd wager many of them don't even compete in that market to begin with.

[matt_the_bass]

I concur. Maybe OP prices themselves at $50/hour. That means only 20 hours of work in a month is needed. Lots of people will pay $50/hour. Maybe op has trouble finding full time work at this level starting out. But sure they could find 1/2 weeks work over the course of the month.

[dominotw]

> 1.5k/month could be considered a very good wage where he is.

Agreed. 1.5k/month is almost upper middle class in my country.

[some_furry]

> It really depends on where he is; 1.5k/month could be considered a very good wage where he is.

But if you're competing with the US market, no reason not to aim for 15k/month or even 150k/month while you're at it.

Then you can take some of your earnings and invest it in your local economy. Help friends start local companies, etc.

[theonewolf]

I think what the others are getting at is it's more like the US market is competing now with cheaper labor markets.

But I understand what you're saying.