Just keep in mind that certification is no substitute for work experience. Self-Employed Developers Make the Big Bucks. On the other side of the spectrum, those of you working at educational institutions or government jobs probably aren't surprised that you earn the least. Although educators earn less, personal satisfaction sometimes makes up for the lower pay. The Joy of Consulting.
Independent consultants charge more by the hour than they have in our past salary surveys.
The languages you know and the type of development you do also make a salary difference. Performing more complex tasks also ups your salary. What You Know Counts. Our survey results show that relatively new or more complex areas command higher compensation. As VB developers, Web and database technology are your main focuses.