Really depends on where you work. There are some managers that make $47k in some parts of the US and live very comfortably.

Aside from that, contracting can help get bump your salary up. Fresh out of college I was making less than $47k and then easily tripled my salary within a year of contracting (although I was working insane hours and basically used all of my allotted overtime hours). It isn't always great for mental health or work/life balance, but it can be a great shot in the arm in terms of providing needed work experience and money.

Thanks -- I've toyed with the idea in the past, and I think it might be time to just dive in.

So if anyone has resources for a web developer in Portland looking to break into contracting, I'd love to hear from you.

Do keep in mind that "most" programming jobs are in areas with high costs of living: San Francisco, San Jose, and New York.

That said, take a look at this: http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Location=Portland-OR/Sal... The median salary for an SE in Portland is $67k.

So, yeah, it's negotiating time.

Try contracting. Seriously. Go to a local user group and talk with people who contract and see what the going rate is in your area. Its probably 2x to 2.5x of what you're getting now.

Though you have to pay your own taxes -- probably 30%, in the end -- and your own medical.

You pay your own taxes now.

In the US, there's a Social Security payroll tax (previously 12.4%, now 10.4%) that's split between employer and employee. Self-employed people pay it themselves; their clients don't.

I think what he meant was that you have to consider a hefty tax burden come April 15 because, as a contractor, you don't get taxes taken out of your paycheck. This is where having a good accountant and knowing what expenses you can deduct comes in (to reduce your taxable income).

If for nothing else, you should have a business just so you can claim more expenses and reduce the amount you have to pay Uncle Sam (from my understanding, all you need to have is a profit motive -- not necessarily profits).

My tax guy always tells me: the US hates employees. There are more loopholes if you contract or (even better) have your own business (which could be a contracting business).

Plus you don't get taxed at source so you can take that extra 30%+ you get each paycheck to pay a tax person to figure this all out for you in time to save up for the tax hit at the end of the year.

renegotiate/find a new job? With 1.5 years of 'starving freelance' experience I got my first programming job at 55k and was able to negotiate to 70k within 6 months.

They offered me more ($55k) on my internship. I really think you should earn more.