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Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid?

I imagine working remotely is a very competitive because there are proportionally fewer jobs than jobseekers and many jobseekers live in low cost areas (Montevideo and Manila vs Manhattan for example).

How have supply and demand equilibrated?

Remote developers, what are you paid? Managers, what do you pay remote software developers?

( 27 comments | 26 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by dangoor on Friday August 01, 2014 @01:46PM (#8121740)
I don't mean this to sound snarky but remote developers are paid whatever they can negotiate.

If a company wants remote workers for "off shoring reasons", then pay will be low. If they want remote workers that are perfect for their needs, they'll pay what they think is fair and within their budget.

Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by ulisesrmzroche on Friday August 01, 2014 @10:17PM (#8123783)
I was gonna say something similar but you said it best. Moving to a lower cost city is actually a competitive advantage because the scope of the project determines its pricing.
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by petervandijck on Saturday August 02, 2014 @08:27AM (#8124754)
No, supply and demand have not balanced out.

From what I've heard here in South America, a common salary goes from 25 - 50 US$/hr for experienced remote freelance developers. That works out to a pretty decent salary that's above local market rates.

The keys are: - good English - experienced developers - above local market rates (but usually below market rates where the client lives)

I expect this market to continue to evolve and expand, there's really no reason for it not to.

Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by kphild on Saturday August 02, 2014 @06:16AM (#8124562)
$65k / year, working four days a week. I do not think my employer is aware of or interested in where I live.
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by simpixelated on Friday August 01, 2014 @01:22PM (#8121592)
I think you'll find that remote developers' salaries vary as much as any other worker. I work remotely for a company based in NYC. My employer based their initial offer on the average salary for software developers in the city that I lived in at the time. I countered for much higher ($135k) and got it. Now I live in San Diego, which has one of the highest costs of living, but I feel the tradeoff is worth it.

This company also hires lots of developers from around the world, in places with much lower cost of living and I suspect their salaries balance out, so to speak, with mine and the local NYC employees.

Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by khebbie on Friday August 01, 2014 @02:13PM (#8121900)
I work remotely and get paid excactly like I was when I did not work remotely
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by collyw on Saturday August 02, 2014 @01:19PM (#8125323)
That doesn´t mean much without the context of where you would not be working remotely from.
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by MakhkhanChor on Friday August 01, 2014 @12:52PM (#8121369)
I make python web crawlers and extract desired data from yellow pages web sites for $50. My client is very happy. I am from Nepal.
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by jchrome on Friday August 01, 2014 @01:13PM (#8121526)
Well, I guess that solves that. Next post.
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by mrfusion on Friday August 01, 2014 @03:22PM (#8122298)
Wow, are you available for other jobs?
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by collyw on Friday August 01, 2014 @01:18PM (#8121560)
Is that $50 dollars per hour?
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by juliangoldsmith on Friday August 01, 2014 @04:50PM (#8122739)
$50 is almost what the average person in Nepal earns in a month, so that seems unlikely.
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by semicolondev on Monday August 04, 2014 @07:09AM (#8131155)
I've been working in Kathmandu since last 10 years. On average full time programmers here earn 10 times more than that. And for freelancers the average income goes above $2k/month. Parent charging $50 is probably a cost for small "task" of few hours.
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by collyw on Saturday August 02, 2014 @06:21AM (#8124567)
$50 an hour is low by any other standard, expect perhaps freelancer.com
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by semicolondev on Monday August 04, 2014 @07:04AM (#8131136)
I make Content Management Systems for small medium businesses with optional eCommerce integration mostly LAMP stack, 3 person team(PHP & Android dev, a Designer), earning $60/hr. Location: Kathmandu. Have been bootstrapping my company with these occasional contract works for last 3 years.
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by hijinks on Friday August 01, 2014 @10:06PM (#8123759)
I've never worked remote but interviewed for a bunch. I had some places come out and say since you work remote we will pay you less then is average for your area since you don't have to commute and some offer the going rate.
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by kphild on Saturday August 02, 2014 @06:22AM (#8124570)
It is called "subsistence coding".
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by OutThisLife on Monday August 04, 2014 @12:11PM (#8132449)
I charge $60-80/hr and live in upstate NY, while most of my clients are in TX.
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by vive1 on Friday August 08, 2014 @03:56AM (#8151888)
I charge £15/hr to £20/hr. Working as PHP / JQuery / Bootstrap / HTML5 / API etc., I source work from PPH mostly (90%)

I live in India & Happy to be here considering the cost of living.

Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by thowar2 on Friday August 01, 2014 @03:01PM (#8122184)
The same as locals: you dont get anything you dont ask for.
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by motyar on Saturday August 02, 2014 @01:14PM (#8125312)
20-25$/hr working as PHP developer. Started with NodeJs few months ago and charge 30USD/hr

I am form India. Most of my clients are via oDesk.

Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by collyw on Saturday August 02, 2014 @01:20PM (#8125328)
I was going to say, that’s quite low (for me here in Europe), but then I read the ODesk part.
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by motyar on Saturday August 02, 2014 @01:35PM (#8125371)
Yes, I need to get out of oDesk.
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by vive1 on Friday August 08, 2014 @03:53AM (#8151882)
But $30/hr is really a good pay considering living in India yes? Ofcourse aiming high is definitely a goal. If Odesk helped you to get clients with those rates I really appreciate it. Keep it up.
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by seekingcharlie on Sunday August 03, 2014 @12:02AM (#8126974)
I get paid the same as when I was in SFBA. I don't understand why people think they should be paid less for working remotely.
Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by trumbitta2 on Monday August 04, 2014 @01:34PM (#8132965)
I recently asked for $30/hr.

I'm based in Italy.

I plan to somewhat raise the rate if the work is enough to allow me to open a "partita IVA".

Re:Ask HN: How much are remote software developers paid? by justplay on Friday August 01, 2014 @03:29PM (#8122331)
Nah, the remote worker are paid too less then actual on-site work.

PS: I'm remote worker.