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Those rates seem low. 20 years ago consultancies were charging $150/hr + materials. Their employees might see $30-50 depending on how much unallocated time they had. For a solo, the average including down time (sales) could reach $80-100, charging that same $150 to the clients.

Have rates fallen so far?

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Some anecdotal stats from my experience being a consultant with both megacorps and smaller gov contractor. The hourly rate is about $200 an hour on average. This is for a senior, highly specialized, engineer type role. Megacorp paid me about $60 per hour where the smaller firms paid me closer to $80. Both as an employee with benefits. When I first joined a startup we would go as low as $120 per hour and pay $30 an hour too a junior/mid level consultant.

I'm sure someone super specialized and in a hot market could get up to $300 an hour if they are delivering value.

having been employed by agencies directly, and having worked as a freelancer working with agencies as well as other businesses directly, these rates are right in line with my experience.

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