This bothered me for awhile. I consider myself pretty good software architect, with significant abstract thinking abilities. In the same time I am handy enough to fix my cars/bike, make new copper/pvc/whatever piping at home, I can easily mount dry board and figure out how to make a nice texture on the wall. I can replace a bathtub, install gas water heater, read codes to find what are local requirements are, etc.
In my opinion all this stuff I do with hands is way easier than trying to come up with good thought through software/hardware/network system. I understand, that I am sorta "IT plumber" too, but I feel like my skills set is out of reach of most plumbers/handymen out there.
Or put it simply - I can do basic plumbing and I can code, plumbers out there can do plumbing, but have hard time with craigslist.
So... My concern is that when I am asking $100-$125 / hr only very few clients are OK with that (they usually either pass this cost on their client or get way more value out of my work.) On top of this I constantly get "Impostor Syndrome". On the other hand plumber, who need just a bit of common sense and practice (and honesty to get nice feedbacks) charges $100+ an hour without even thinking twice, and everyone pays...
I constantly see in Craigslist's Service section maid service for $25+/hr (if they provide their supplies - it is extra), Handyman charging $50+/hr for simple things like fixing drywall hole. Plumber's help - from $75/hr (it is good deal)
Why is that? Why becoming a plumber actually can be more profitable than trying to solve way harder problems? Either all IT professionals are heavily underpaid, or their work simply brings less value somehow?
Sorry for this rant, but this bothers me for quite a while. Were I grew up plumbing for for people who did not have enough will to pursue college degree. And here in US they somehow charge often more than I can do.
In my opinion all this stuff I do with hands is way easier than trying to come up with good thought through software/hardware/network system. I understand, that I am sorta "IT plumber" too, but I feel like my skills set is out of reach of most plumbers/handymen out there.
Or put it simply - I can do basic plumbing and I can code, plumbers out there can do plumbing, but have hard time with craigslist.
So... My concern is that when I am asking $100-$125 / hr only very few clients are OK with that (they usually either pass this cost on their client or get way more value out of my work.) On top of this I constantly get "Impostor Syndrome". On the other hand plumber, who need just a bit of common sense and practice (and honesty to get nice feedbacks) charges $100+ an hour without even thinking twice, and everyone pays...
I constantly see in Craigslist's Service section maid service for $25+/hr (if they provide their supplies - it is extra), Handyman charging $50+/hr for simple things like fixing drywall hole. Plumber's help - from $75/hr (it is good deal)
Why is that? Why becoming a plumber actually can be more profitable than trying to solve way harder problems? Either all IT professionals are heavily underpaid, or their work simply brings less value somehow?
Sorry for this rant, but this bothers me for quite a while. Were I grew up plumbing for for people who did not have enough will to pursue college degree. And here in US they somehow charge often more than I can do.