Ask HN: Why aren't more software engineers contractors? tax savings?
I work for an agency and through them do contract work with other companies.  I&#x27;m about to start looking for new jobs after two years doing this and I am only looking at salaried positions.<p>Being paid hourly rather than salaried means your income is heavily dependent on the hours you can secure.  This can lead to awkward situations.  I have to accurately track and itemize all my time, down to the minute, which is a big pain.  When I finish something quickly I sometimes end up making less money for being efficient (but I never over-bill or inflate hours, since I think this is unethical and would also damage my reputation and ability to win repeat contracts).  I sometimes offer potential hours to multiple parties hoping one of them bites, but if two or more bite at the same time suddenly I&#x27;ve over promised and have to deliver on more work than I can handle.  I have to alway be looking for the next contract and always be ready to reopen an old contract.  I&#x27;m often treated as an outsider working for an external team rather than a core team member.  I&#x27;m the first to go when a company needs to save money.  If I take longer than expected on something it becomes very stressful to justify to the client.  I get dropped in to projects that have lost their technical team or technical lead, and I am expected to pick them up very quickly and deliver the same quality of work (or higher quality, since I have a high hourly rate and bill as an expert in the field).  I have slow seasons where there isn&#x27;t any work and it feels bad to have no stable income.  Etc.<p>I liked the work for a couple years where I was working far less than full time, but still paying my bills and enjoying some freedom over when I put in my work hours.  However now I have growing family and I am seeking more stability, and contract work ain&#x27;t it.