The first time someone wanted to hire me was even before I started college.
"so how much will you bill me?"
"Well right now I get 7€ (9.2$ at current rate) for unloding trucks ..." He interupted me before I could finish the sentence and demand 8€.
"I can not pay you 7€! taht is just to much!"
Sooooo I declined but someone took the job ... for under 8$ an hour.
This sadly still happens. I remember looking through Craigslist jobs and legit companies wanting someone with html/css/javascript/php experience for $8/hr, kid you not.
Part of the problem is, it's difficult to convince companies that (html/css/js/php) coding work is worth something, unless the company you're working for is actually a startup. Especially when they say "Can't you just do it in Wordpress, or Wix or something?"
Another part of the problem is, developers take that work. I probably would myself. I'd hate myself for it but if I have to take shit pay to make ends meet I'd rather do it coding than not.
Do they really allow hourly billing - I wonder if they realise it can cost less to get an experienced person at a higher hourly rate who'll do the job in less hours.
This seems analogous to "The Market for Lemons"* The proprietor of a small business has a very hard time judging the competence of a designer/developer even for simple jobs.
Sooooo I declined but someone took the job ... for under 8$ an hour.
How much quality can you expect for that price???