If you can't find a job that pays your normal salary, don't work at all? So, homelessness?
Come on, this a total false dichotomy. There is a range between an $80k / yr salary and $200 for a 2-week development project. I wouldn't blink if this story said that junior developers were taking gigs for $10 - 30 / hr. But $2 / hr? You either are a really poor developer or you have no idea how to find work.
In fact, I'll put my money where my mouth is. If anyone out there who can code well wants to make $5 / hr, email me and I'll give you all the work you can handle.
But you have a point, and one I had to realize when I graduate from college right as the bubble burst and there was 0 work in the industry: If you can type >85wpm, you can easily make $12-14/hr starting out in an office temp position. It's not great money and the work is no fun, but it leaves you with open lunch breaks to read a book on programming and nights uncomplicated by deadlines. If software engineering doesn't pay for you, do something that does until you can land the job you want.
Come on, this a total false dichotomy. There is a range between an $80k / yr salary and $200 for a 2-week development project. I wouldn't blink if this story said that junior developers were taking gigs for $10 - 30 / hr. But $2 / hr? You either are a really poor developer or you have no idea how to find work.
In fact, I'll put my money where my mouth is. If anyone out there who can code well wants to make $5 / hr, email me and I'll give you all the work you can handle.
ryan at mightybrand dot com