6 years ago, contract rate of $100 per hour plus car and accomodation 3 years ago $40 per hour. In last 28 months, two jobs - one of 6 days, the other of 4 days.
Have been asked to drop my rates over the last three years but have found that I haven't needed to. Usually reply to the query 'are your rates negotiable' that 'I can always take more'.
It would be good to get an idea about the number of tech writers who are doing work considered to be the perogative of other job titles such as business analyst, change manager, etc.
My hourly rate varies according to the customer and what I think they can pay (or what they are offering). For example, although I most usually ask for $65 / hour, in the last 2 years I have received a high of $85 per hour and a low of $10 per hour (on a fixed price contract - their fixed price, not my quote!) I took it because it was interesting, something I hadn't done before and there was no other work on the horizon at the time.
IT software technical writing
My salary dropped by 15% between being retrenched for the first time (2002) and finding another permanent role. My contract rates have not increased since 1998, when I was contracting in Sydney.
Despite the reasonable number of contracts in the ACT in the last few months, there is pressure from government departments to lower rates. It is unfair that public servant salaries are not expected to go down, but contractors' rates are. Perhaps they do not see our hourly rates as the money that pays our rent or mortgage, and puts food on the table.
It would helpful to offer a DEFINITION of technical writing and editing. In my case its often taking scientific information and making it digestable - plainer. I do not work in computing areas at all.
I am a scientist (I currently work fulltime as a scientist) and have freelanced as a scientific journals editor for approx. 3 years, using my computer at home and having document emailed to me. My main work has come from journals in Germany.
I ran a successful documentation consulting firm (from 1995), employing contractors and full-timers, but over the past 8 months I have moved into a salaried position due to market forces.
Would have been good to request information about the most recently earned / achieved salary or rate, if currently unemployed and on the salary or rate being requested or considered.
My experience is that market conditions have been very tough over the past 18 months, although "appear" to be improving very slightly. I've reluctantly chosen to remain in a longer term contract with the same agency/end client for past 3 years, on a quarterly or six monthly renewable basis (utterly boring, unfulfilling and undervalued role but relatively secure, better the devil you know etc). However due to business downturn it seems unlikely to continue, so expect to be on the market again before too long.
It would be interesting to correlate this salary information with skills and industry.
I live in Sydney, work is in Brisbane (that is, I telecommute).
I also provide support and assistance to oher areas of the company I work for, e.g. marcom, training, and to individual staff members in preparation of their technical papers, theses, etc. Some of this is out of hours. And there's the ill-defined but important stuff like building relationships between groups ensuring that we all share information and are aware of each other's requirements.
I have two part time contracts of 2 and 2.5 days per week. I have had the first contract for about 16 months without a pay rise. My contract has actually expired 12 months ago but I'm still working.
Regarding the previous question - I also telecommute with US companies.
My background is in book editing. It is only in the last year that I have sort of defined myself as a 'technical communicator or writer' but all my career experience points to it being a 'legitimate' description!
My experience in technical writing is 'officially' 3 years, however I have 15 years of IT experience, quite a bit of experience in graphic design/layout and digital imaging.
Depending on the nature of the contract I may work from home. This is dependent on the industry and commercial nature of the work. I have found that rates have dramatically dropped in the last 8 months. I have in the past earned $20/hr more than my current contract. That was when I was direct. Due to the economic downturn I have been forced to return to agency work. Agency work has meant that my rates have had to go down as the agency gets their cut.
I was made redundant in Feb 2002 (just outside your limit) & started in this position in April 2002. I was employed at the salary I've been on since March 2001, but now have superannuation taken out of my pre-tax salary.
The company where I currently contract requested my agency to reduce their rates. The agency reduced their rate to the company but have continued to pay my the same rate, bless them!
I am waiting ou the the slump in IT by doing a TAFE course, but have answered the salary questions according to my last contract.
My hours are all over the place at the moment due to two companies, one paying well the other a start up. The paying one is subsidising the start up.
More tasks related such as product development would have been good.
I'm not specifically a technical writer: writing backround beyond biology included computer literacy education (2 yrs), standard tech writing (business software and banking IS), from 1990-2000 have primarily been responsible for planning, implementing and maintaining technical authoring systems (which involves writing many internal reports & presentations). Since 2000 have been moving progressively into more general areas of corporate knowledge management.
One question I would like to have seen there relates to hourly rate 12 months ago, 24 months ago and 36 months ago. Mine has dropped dramatically and I would like to guage which are personal factors and which are industry. Another possible question relates to periods of unemployment or underemployment - for me gaps between projects have been getting longer - to the point of being unsustainable, and I think that may be the case for others also.
No area to record in-progress tertiary qualifications.
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Page last updated: 27 July 2003