I wonder - is it possible to earn a living wage by freelancing at sites like oDesk or eLance? And I mean US living wage, not Eastern European living wage, for example.
Ask HN: is it possible to earn a living US wage at oDesk?
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Re: Ask HN: is it possible to earn a living US wage at oDesk?
#2I put myself through college about 6 years ago contracting. I found most of my clients through similar sites (Rentacoder and scriptlance). I was making about $30k a year working part time during the school year, and mostly full time in the summers. Not a spectacular wage when you compare it to full time Silicon Valley wages, but I'd definitely call it a "living wage" for the US.
The key to being successful on these sites is to view them as a way to meet and get to know longterm clients. It's much easier to charge higher rates once someone has gotten to know you and the quality of your work. I often did one or two projects through the site on a fixed rate while we got to know each other, and then would work directly with them on an hourly basis after that.
Re: Ask HN: is it possible to earn a living US wage at oDesk?
#3I put myself through college about 6 years ago contracting. I found most of my clients through similar sites (Rentacoder and scriptlance). I was making about $30k a year working part time during the school year, and mostly full time in the summers. Not a spectacular wage when you compare it to full time Silicon Valley wages, but I'd definitely call it a "living wage" for the US. The key to being successful on these s…
Thanks for reply, Scotty. What technologies were you using?
Re: Ask HN: is it possible to earn a living US wage at oDesk?
#4"US living wage" isn't very useful. A living wage in Manhattan is an integer multiple of a living wage in Montana.
Re: Ask HN: is it possible to earn a living US wage at oDesk?
#5It's definitely very possible. There are US-based contractors who successfully charge $40-50/hour and get lots of business. The competition is steep though, I wouldn't recommend this as a way to get business if you're based in US.
Re: Ask HN: is it possible to earn a living US wage at oDesk?
#6I put myself through college about 6 years ago contracting. I found most of my clients through similar sites (Rentacoder and scriptlance). I was making about $30k a year working part time during the school year, and mostly full time in the summers. Not a spectacular wage when you compare it to full time Silicon Valley wages, but I'd definitely call it a "living wage" for the US. The key to being successful on these s…
If I'm not being mistaken, you are the one who answered my question two years ago on StackOverFlow (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/763883/options-for-a-deve...)
It was a long road. I have had lot of non-related issues and difficulties but I almost got there. I made $10K doing it last year and I may make 3 or 4 times that number this year.
You are one of the persons who changed my life, although it was a simple response. Thank you.
Re: Ask HN: is it possible to earn a living US wage at oDesk?
#7"US living wage" isn't very useful. A living wage in Manhattan is an integer multiple of a living wage in Montana.
What term would you suggest?
Re: Ask HN: is it possible to earn a living US wage at oDesk?
#8I know a gentleman who swears by oDesk, mostly as a billing/mediation platform for custom Twilio apps. I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole, but he charges enough to make it viable.
Re: Ask HN: is it possible to earn a living US wage at oDesk?
#9I know a gentleman who swears by oDesk, mostly as a billing/mediation platform for custom Twilio apps. I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole, but he charges enough to make it viable.
Why won't you deal with it? Bad experience? On the customer or developer side?
Re: Ask HN: is it possible to earn a living US wage at oDesk?
#10I put myself through college about 6 years ago contracting. I found most of my clients through similar sites (Rentacoder and scriptlance). I was making about $30k a year working part time during the school year, and mostly full time in the summers. Not a spectacular wage when you compare it to full time Silicon Valley wages, but I'd definitely call it a "living wage" for the US. The key to being successful on these s…
If I'm not being mistaken, you are the one who answered my question two years ago on StackOverFlow ( http://stackoverflow.com/questions/763883/options-for-a-deve... ) It was a long road. I have had lot of non-related issues and difficulties but I almost got there. I made $10K doing it last year and I may make 3 or 4 times that number this year. You are one of the persons who changed my life, although it was a simple…
Wow.