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How is this unusual? You worked for a contracting/consulting firm directly?

The running rate for IT (not programming) work is $150/hr east-coast. That can get cut down, but is often even higher. The industry doesn't pay these techs more than $30 an hour.

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For $30 an hour I hope they are employees, not contractors, otherwise they are getting ripped off. Bill out rates for employees are usually a lot higher than their salary. The company has to pay for non-billable hours, office space, medical insurance, benefits, computers, tools, etc. In my previous experience, the bill out rates for sub-contractors is usually a lot closer to what they actually get paid since they need to cover all those costs themselves.

Oh sure, they're hired as salary (or hourly) employees of the parent contracting company. These aren't subcontractors.

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