Why does it matter how much the firm is charging? If you are happy with the money you are making then don't worry about it. Remember, they're the ones that do the marketing. They're the ones that find the contracts. They're the ones that negotiate the rates. They're the ones that do the monthly billing and collections and assume the risk that the client may not pay. If you want to earn more money than you currently make, then you need to do all those things and discover for yourself (1) what rate the market will bare and (2) how much more you need to bill to make doing all those things worth your while. That's how our economy works. Whatever salary or rate you are currently making is at precisely the amount you decided was good for you. You had the opportunity to negotiate when you interviewed and based on the market as you saw it, you negotiated for a fair rate. I've contracted for over 10 years and have worked in both W2 and 1099 positions. The trick to earning the rate you want is having the confidence in your skills and the reputation you bring to the table. But you need to be willing to sit on the sidelines for a while if you want to negotiate for the highest rates. The moral is: Negotiate for the rate you think is fair for the service you are providing and be happy knowing you're making the money you want.

Matt Janofsky