Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with salary and wage

Moving from Freelance to Employee

conigs — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:17:05 -0800

I am currently a freelance film/video editor slash motion graphic designer. One of the companies I freelance for is in the process of making me a job offer. I'm trying to figure out what a fair salary/wage is compared to what I pull in as freelance. I realize there are many factors to take into account with benefits, reduced taxes, etc. (Location isn't a big deal as all the places I freelance for are within 5-7 miles from home.) But it's really difficult to see what I make in a year go down that much (even considering the above). Basically, it's looking like I'll take what I make freelance after taxes and use that as the basis for judging the offer (take that number, add back in taxes the company with withhold, then take off any benefits).

Have you gone through this? I'd love to hear what you decided on and how you came to that decision.

Overtime pay versus comp time

Optimus Chyme — Tue, 01 May 2007 06:16:25 -0800

What are the rules, if any, governing overtime pay versus comp time? Yesterday afternoon, my employer told all employees that there would be no more overtime pay, only comp time. Neither I nor anyone else on my team is salaried.

I live in Arizona and as far as I can tell, Arizona does not have an overtime law, so we should be covered under federal law. But I can't find any explanations of overtime pay versus comp time here.

So, my questions are pretty simple:

1) Is it legal to give employees comp time in lieu of overtime?

2) Would that comp time be accrued like overtime pay, that is, one and a half hours for every hour worked over 40?

3) If it is not legal, what are the specific laws and penalties covering it?

Thanks!

Is there a formula to figure out how much an independent contractor makes?

bigmusic — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 18:47:07 -0800

Contractor filter: I need to figure how much I am actually getting paid. I have a feeling I'm getting the shaft on my pay. I read thru the C and E handbook but I am having a hard time getting my head around it and it really doesn't seem to appy to my situation.

Ok so the situation is this: I drive around and write reports on specific projects being worked on. My boss pays me by the job @ $20 per site. If there are more sites in that area I get a reduced ammount of pay per site. My checks are around 1300 every 2 weeks.

These are some things to take into account as well.

I have to pay for gas on my car. So that could equal somewhere around 300 a month (bad gas mileage.) and around 1500 miles on my car easy. I just started so it doesn't look like I am going to make enough money this year to even deduct the car mileage from my taxes.

I have to pay my own taxes which I still haven't figured out yet.

I also have to put time in at the office doing scheduling paperwork for the other people that do this and schedule them. Plus other stupid office crap that adds to the time that I spend working. I get paid nothing for this. Pretty much all this ensures is that I have a full route of sites to look at, but it costs me time.

I haven't made a contract with him yet so I am not locked into any payment price for my services. My boss really tries to play up the whole independent contractor benefits, like being my own bosses and writing crap off on taxes. How much do I need to be making for writing stuff off to even really matter?

Looking for a dull well paying job with good hours

b1tr0t — Thu, 11 Nov 2004 10:33:23 -0800

Since the cool jobs suck and pay badly, which less exciting jobs pay really well and have decent hours? Do you have to move to Nebraska? [please add comments so there will be more inside]

How much do caddies for professional golfers make?

o2b — Sun, 20 Jun 2004 18:14:10 -0800

How much do caddies for professional golfers make? Do they make a percentage of the purse?