I'm looking for some advice on setting an hourly rate for tech support at a small church where I've been volunteering for over 10 years. I'm located in central Pennsylvania, and the church has about 40-50 active members with one full-time pastor and one part-time secretary. Most of my support work has been reactive, primarily assisting a less tech-savvy older employee. Recently, the church has made efforts to upgrade their technology, but frankly, I'm ready to step back from this role. I plan to inform the church board that I'll offer my help for free until the end of March while I compile detailed documentation of their systems. After that, I'd like to suggest an appropriate hourly rate for ongoing support or encourage them to find another provider. I want the rate to be fair but also slightly on the higher side to indicate the value of the service they would need. I manage their Google Workspace account, domain registrations, Active Directory, network, and some troubleshooting. Any suggestions on a reasonable hourly rate?
5 Answers
It's important to remember that churches, like other organizations, need tech support too, but they often have budget limitations. I would suggest checking local IT providers' rates and proposing something similar. A rate of around $150 per hour seems reasonable for the level of support you provide, especially considering your extensive experience. However, for a church of this size, you might be able to get away with suggesting $100-$175 based on local norms—just make sure it reflects the effort you put in.
If you're really set on leaving this role, try setting a rate based on your current job's hourly wage multiplied by three. That makes it fair for you, but also check if the church can handle that cost or look into helping them find a new provider to take over.
That's a great way to ensure I'm valuing my time properly and also allowing them to see the financial side of relying on one person for support.
I get you want to step back, but charging a rate that feels a bit high can send mixed signals. If you're aiming for a higher rate just to make them find another provider, make sure to communicate why. Maybe start with $175/hr but be clear this is to help transition them to someone else. That way, it’s not all on you to train a new person if they go with someone else.
Exactly my thought! I want to make it clear I'm stepping back and not just taking on more work. Keeping it a bit higher might make them reconsider their dependency on me.
Walking away can feel tough, especially being connected through your wife. Instead of an hourly rate, could you limit your availability to certain hours each week? This way, you're still helping but on your terms, and that can gently push them to seek additional support from a provider too.
I love that idea! Setting specific office hours would make it more manageable for me and encourage them to explore other options.
Given inflation, I’d recommend charging at least $175 per hour, especially for tech support. But do keep in mind the church's budget; this may come down to how much they can realistically afford. You could always serve as a consultant to guide them through finding a new service provider after you step back.
That sounds right. It's good to maintain a relationship and offer guidance while also distancing yourself from the daily grind, especially if you've been doing it for free for so long.
That's a fair point. If you were to check local MSPs for their pricing, it would help solidify your suggestion. Even $150 might be steep for them, but if you pitch it as fair pricing for the services provided, they might understand.