What’s the Going Rate for a Junior AWS Cloud Engineer Freelancer in Europe?

Honestly, from a hiring manager's perspective, I wouldn't be inclined to hire someone with such little experience. Expecting €700 per day as a junior is unrealistic—more like €200 at best. It's harsh, but that's the reality in the job market right now.

The pay really depends on where you're based in Europe. Countries like Romania have lower rates compared to places like Switzerland. You might find that for long assignments, a junior rate should be around double the local salary. In the end, it's crucial to assess your own value and what the companies really need.

It might seem tough, but as a freelancer, you really need to present value. If you’re just starting out, landing a freelance gig might be challenging since companies often prefer candidates with more experience who can hit the ground running. Just sharing my thoughts!

Forget about the typical market rate for a moment. Think about what you need to live comfortably without employee benefits. As a freelancer, you should consider asking for at least double what an employee would make, just to cover things like holidays and sick leave.

The market has changed quite a bit. Cloud engineers, especially at the junior level, are becoming more common. Just one year of experience isn't really enough to command high rates anymore, but each region will have different salary standards.