Simple, how much do you need to cover your expenses? How much do you want to earn? If you’re probably asking yourself this you’re just breaking into the market and don’t really have an idea how to evaluate the value of your own work. Pick up an interesting and engaging project that you will have fun working on and that you think will provide you with valuable experience, so money won’t be that much of a factor. While you are gaining experiences and building up your portfolio, try to break even and skim a little bit on top to provide yourself during this time.
Once you are more experienced and can move up to bigger and more complex projects, the sky is the limit! Find out just how much someone values you and take every factor into account. As a freelancer, your workload should be enough to get you through several months, as it is very fluctuating and unpredictable. What happens when you get sick or break your arm? You can be out of the game for months. If you are working for a company, similar rules apply, but less strict. Take some time to evaluate your goals and needs and then find out who will be able and willing to meet them.
