Contractors and Part-Timers

The data values for those identifying themselves as contractors or part-time workers are significantly different than from the broader population. So we separated that data from the main set.

Contractors

Eighty of the respondents indicate they work as either an independent contractor or through an agency. Average income is not a very descriptive statistic for this group because (1) many contractors are paid for every hour they work and (2) a number of contractors work less than full-time. We convert reported income to an average hourly wage using the average number of weekly work hours submitted by the respondents. We assume 50 weeks of work per year.

This pegs the average hourly wage at $44. The wage rates range from a high of $165 to a minimum of $14. About half of the respondents earn between $30 and $50 per hour. The distribution of all the reported wages is shown in the chart.

On average, contractors receive an hourly wage rate that is 50% higher than their salaried counterparts. However, very few contractors receive non-monetary benefits, bonuses, or long-term contracts. These workers are expected to make up the deficit through the overall higher wage rates that they receive. In addition, small business taxes cost many contractors 30 to 40% of their earnings. Coupled with the lack of insurance, vacation, and profit-sharing benefits, the reason people choose to work on contract often has more to do with quality of life issues than with compensation.

With respect to job satisfaction, 90% indicated they are either Satisfied or Very Satisfied. This is higher than the 80% for salaried workers. The non-monetary satisfaction is markedly different with only 72% being Satisfied or Very Satisfied compared to 84% for those on salary. This is doubtlessly tied to lack of insurance, vacation, and profit-sharing benefits.

Part-Timers

We received responses from nineteen people who indicated they work less than 35 hours per week. We separated these responses from the rest of the data. This group does not include those who identify themselves as contractors.

• Their weekly work load ranges from 20 to 32 hours and averages 28 hours.
• Their effective hourly rate (calculated the same as with contractors) works out to an average of $41.50. The range is $20 to $80 per hour.
• Eighteen of the nineteen part-timers are women.
• All but three have at least five years of user assistance experience.

Of this group, not a single person indicated they are less than Satisfied with their monetary compensation and only one person is Dissatisfied with non-monetary compensation. So the wages seem to fit the quality of life needs for these people.