There's no such thing as a "student developer". If they pay you, you're a pro. There are only good and bad pros. Get into the habit, right now, of thinking and acting like a consultant running your own business. If they're paying you money, they expect you to behave like a pro.<p>Setting a bill rate is the third most important skill a consultant can have. (#1 is ability to do work, #2 is ability to promote yourself). You have four goals:<p>1. To work steadily enough to make a good living, but not get overwhelmed by assignments.<p>2. To build a base of clients you enjoy working for-- who do not cheat you or drive you crazy.<p>3. To do interesting work that you enjoy, which also builds your skills.<p>4. To make the world a better place or become famous.<p>You use those factors to modify your standard bill rate. If you want the project, you reduce it. If you don't want it, you bump the rate.<p>Since I don't know WHERE you are (how much competition you have, or how much local businesses expect to pay), it's silly for me to give you a figure. SF or NYC means you charge one rate; Nashville or Pittsburgh means another.<p>A simple way to get a feel on the local market is to call up the 2-3 biggest body shops (technical temp agencies) in the area, say you're a project manager for a big local firm that wishes to remain confidential (so they're not overwhelmed with unsolicited offers) and are looking for 2-3 iOS developers-- a senior guy, an entry-level and a decent worker. Ask what the current rates are.<p>In less than an hour, you'll have enough information to give you local market rate-- low to high end. (This is not "dishonesty"-- it is "growth hacking" for your company.)<p>Your line when asked will be "It depends on the project. My rates run between [entry-level] to [high-end], but it depends on what the project is and how much time you want. If you're looking for a ballpark, let's say [average]."<p>Nine times out of 10, the client already has a budget and just wants some idea of whether you fit in it.<p>Some people will say "Great!"-- which means they're willing to pay you the midpoint you gave them.<p>Some will say "Well I can only pay you $$$$" (a dollar amount, not a rate). Now you know the budget and can immediately say "Tell me about the project" (so you can cost it and see if you can do it for a decent rate).<p>Big places will usually tell you what their standard rate is.<p>And when someone immediately begins haggling about money, run. You don't want them.<p>Once you have that, you use the following rules:<p>1. NEVER ever EVER do fixed-price jobs. The minute you do rework, you lose. Find out what the project is and figure out, based on your time estimate, if you can get a reasonable rate for that. If so take it. Otherwise, pass.<p>2. Discount for projects that require large blocks of time. 8-hour projects are hard to schedule and they often require as much pre-sale time and hand-holding as 40 or 500-hour projects. That's time you're not billing or learning, so give then no breaks.<p>3. Discount if the name of the company sounds like someone you'd want as a client or in a portfolio. (Not too much-- big places expect to pay market rate.)<p>4. Discount if the task sounds fun or like a good learning experience (if it's a learning experience, you charge less because you assume you'll blow stuff).<p>5. If you've you've heard bad things about the company or you don't really want the work, sock em.<p>Some of the other advice here is pretty good, but these are the basics that will take you through a career.