Comment by rubber_duck | Hacker News Reader

Comment by rubber_duck | Hacker News Reader

> I'm a dev with almost no experience

> Started coding 3.5 years ago and probably have enough under my belt to try multiple projects over this duration

This isn't enough information to go on, 3.5 years of programming could mean you've built your own game engine and a CMS from scratch in an attempt to do some project of yours, or it could mean you've been watching random programming courses sporadicly in hopes of landing a higher paying job eventually. (What third world country has median income of 1500$/month anyway ?)

Going off on what this sounds (because you didn't provide the info above) it seems like you aren't even close to an independent developer/freelancer but you're starting the discussion by determining your expected income.

IMO start with anything where you see you have potential to progress at any price point - if you actually have technical skills it shouldn't take you long to reach the level that matches them and if you don't it will give you time to learn.

> What third world country has median income of 1500$/month anyway?

Many of them: https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/median-income-by...

According to your list, even if you take the household income, 1500/month is 18000/year - which of those countries above 18000 would you describe as third world ?

Median income lifestyle in first world country does not equate to median lifestyle in say India or Brazil.

For example, In India, fresh out of college students earn ~$6k/yr in TCS and similar companies. They make ends meet by pinching pennies. At the same time the median household income is ~$3.6k, that's what a household of a hardworking physical labourer would make and the conditions they live in aren't pretty.

I don't think it's outlandish at all for someone from a similar country to target $1k/mo. Heck, it may not even be enough if he has a family he wants to give a comfortable life.

OP signaled $1.5K though as well. 50% higher than $1K. Same difference or bigger than your examples in difference alone.

Might be wrong, but believe the point was not that $1500 is unbelievable, but per the data you linked to - that the “median household income worldwide is $9733“; that and the OP posted $1500 is above and beyond there needs; worth highlighting that is household income, not individual income.

There’s a massive difference $811 a month and $1500 month; $811 is $9733 divided by 12, though really should be the divid by at least 2, since by definition household has at least 2 members.

> since by definition household has at least 2 members.

You can have single person household, and single income - but yeah - my point is 1000$-1500$ for someone who claims to live in a "third world country" and have no experience sounds like you have expectations on what you should make because you've seen others charge that - in reality with no experience and formal training you should consider yourself lucky to get any opportunity to learn/validate your skills because more often than not (from my experience at least) during the first 6 months to a year it will probably take more resources off productive people to get you to be productive than you will be able contribute

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