I am a Java programmer in Chicago. I do corp-to-corp contracts. I am currently getting $58/hr for subcontracting with a Chicago consulting firm for a six-month gig. I was getting $67/hr at my previous gig. I wish I were making much, much more like some of the folks here. I have been programming professionally since 2002.
If you're subcontracting and getting paid corp-to-corp they shouldn't be skimming much off the top. I'm just pretty sure that the market rate for a senior Java dev or team lead with 7+ years of experience is a lot higher than the pre-tax corp-to-corp numbers mentioned, even in Chicago. I have front end dev friends who make much more than that, just doing CSS/HTML work.
I guess they are skimming. I have negotiated, and they don't accept my desired rate. My current contract used the recession as an excuse to lower my rate. And, I was out of work in Jan and Feb due to hardly any contracts in Chicago and no one accepting my rate. May I send you my resume for you to quickly glance at it?
