Ok Gang,

I feel compelled to reply to this message, since this is a little up my alley.

First, I did not even have a Bachelor in 2000, and with 3-4 years experience, and I’ve made $80k. Things changed after the DOT.COM bubble…..

However, to put my 2 cents in this trail, here are some facts.

NOTE: I don’t have SD specific data, as my portfolio of Engineers (contractors/contingent labor) is for US high tech positions (software, hardware, IT architects, PMs etc…..all IT related)

My portfolio of contractors (504 right now), combined with off-shore (India = 294) and local (US = 210) shows something like this:

Local (USA) – IT contractors (high tech engineers/techs) AVE RATE / Hour $63.06 (you have to subtract 20% from the agencies/headhunters mark up) – REAL RATE $ 50.45

Combined (USA + India) – IT Contractors AVE RATE / Hour $ $43.15 (again, subtract 20% markup).

Bottom line, per my local (US portfolio of IT contractors):

US Contractors (Engineering IT jobs) aprox. $50.45 / hour (2,080 x hourly rate = $104,936 average contractor salary / year)

Note: keep in mind, the ratio of US hires vs. off-shore hires is consistently moving toward (off-shoring…..India). However, as some research might have you believe, off-shore outsourcing does create jobs locally (high end…….complexity/management/PM jobs).
Also, keep in mind, that contractors don’t get benefits (401K, medical….etc)