Basic question about remote jobs. Are salary contracts usually on hourly basis? And does that mean you don't get paid when there is little work at your company? What would be good hourly rate for a senior position (10+yrs experience)? I saw an opening which has asked about - "_What hourly rate (based on a full-time, hourly schedule) you would be comfortable with_".

Hey @sticky-breakfast-99649 - it depends. Usually, with what I have seen - US companies generally follow an hourly rate pattern and European companies usually do days (or months). I have, over time, strongly avoided hourly contracts as it is extremely stressful for the developer (us) - for the same reasons you mentioned. Also, if you time yourself strictly (for an hourly contract), an 8h stint on the computer is roughly 12 - 14h overall. You should atleast try to get the contract to be daily - if not weekly or monthly. For when I have done hourly rates, the hourly charges have been ~ 2 - 3x of my hourly rates - if I did a daily contract. For example, if you do a daily rate of $400 for an 8h day, the hourly rate could be between $100 - $150. Though my hourly rates have usually been for short term projects (6-8 weeks) and I have not been in a situation where work is less - but other folks could advise who have more experience in hourly rates. The previous company my wife worked with, she had a minimum billing hours per month - so minimum 80h / month in her contract which took care of times when there was no work. (You could adjust your hourly rate accordingly if they are willing to do a minimum hours thing). Hope this helps.

A lot of companies can be talked into a fixed minimum number of hours as a retainer.

Thanks a lot @loud-glass-33663 and @dry-monkey-93718. This info is very helpful indeed.