[geeks] What is a system admin worth these days?

[Jonathan C. Patschke]

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004, Brian Dunbar wrote:

> I've been putting in after hours work on a website / startup for the
> past 18 months or so.  The principal has offered to compensate the low
> salary* with stock

A risky bet, but, if it's not your day job, hey, it could be a
profitable one.  If it isn't, you've only lost your time, not your house
and so-forth.

> I know what my time at the Day Job is worth - but I have no real idea
> what a system administrator could command for his time.

Short answer: it depends.

Long answer: For contracting, I charge $60/hr.  If it's someone that's
fscked me around before, or they get me out of bed for an emergency, it's
a minimum $100/hr at no less than three hours, paid when I finish,
before I leave.  If it involves Windows, it's time-and-a-half what I'd
otherwise charge.  If I like the person and/or the work is fun[0], I'll do
it for $30/hr.  If it's a long-term contract for just any-old-joe, I'll
bid as low as $40/hr, but, below that, it's worth less than my day job
(after you figure in taxes + lack of time off, etc.).

If it's -just- web work, it tends to command less money per hour, mainly
because web work is so time-intensive, especially if you're as 
artistically-challenged as I am.

> Assume I have  10+ years of experience, buzz-word compliant, mixed Unix 
> (Solaris, mostly with BSD on the side) and Windows background.

Sounds like our experience is comparable.  Factor in for differences
between our local economies and how much you like the guy, and fudge the
numbers.


[0] That is, if it's something I'd probably do for hack value, anyway.
-- 
Jonathan Patschke ) "I've built my whole system with [-fomit-frame-pointer]
Elgin, TX        (  cause it was recommended...as I don't care if a program
USA               ) crashes, not interested in finding out why."
                  (                    --Tim, Another Satisfied Gentoo User