Additional income for a programmer?

Question

Android

Hello.
I work as a C++ programmer in a stable office on the support of old software.
In general, everything suits, but I just want to develop in money.
I don’t see much point in jumping from place to place, because now I’m getting the average salary of a c ++ programmer in a non-rubber one.
Probably, you can somehow try to learn more in order to get more, but as far as I know, there will not be a lot of salary.
I have quite a lot of free time, so I'm considering the option of combining with freelancing.
You can’t freelance much with knowledge of C ++, so I’m looking aside to learn Android. There is a small experience of a couple of projects. English in the area is strong Intermediate.
Actually I wanted to know: what are the prospects for developing for Android on freelance now. It's just a popular direction, maybe, I don't know, the market is overflowing with developers and is being dumped. Are there any other freelancing areas that are more profitable?
And in general, other information, how long it will take to develop a profile. I read that the average rate per hour for a more or less experienced android developer is $20-30 per hour, is this true?
In general, if there is information about other ways of additional income in my situation, also write.
There is no need to write about communication with customers, the ability to sell, and so on.

Answer 1

With all due respect, but this approach is extremely destructive for life.
1) The principle, the more you cheat, the more you get - it has no prospects, because at some point there will be a feeling that your whole life is a cheat. Plus, if there is any disruption in the work schedule, then you will not be able to devote time to earning money - and you will lose your extra money.
2) Therefore, it will be rational to go in two ways:
- increase income at your current job (or when changing jobs)
- go into a semi-commercial scheme with your product.
Those. if you just find a way to sell yourself more expensively at work, then you will do all the same work (the same time), but at the same time it will become much more pleasant for you to live. Secondly, invest in the development of what can then be sold, both in time, and on the basis of this, make your own project (product), and already get completely different money, on completely different conditions.
ps I once had a job, supporting a number of clients in the IT infrastructure, a couple of clients supporting websites, plus contracts for website promotion. It's just that my whole life turned into work, as I was able to save up for an apartment, I immediately abandoned it all in favor of fat work and my own projects.

Answer 2

It's not easier to change jobs, our hundred thousand rubles is not enough for life

Answer 3

To increase your income, there are several options:
1. You can ask for a salary increase at your main job.
2. You can change jobs to work with a higher salary.
3. You can look for part-time jobs in your free time (freelance, etc.)
4. You can develop your resources / assets.
5. You can start investing and building your financial portfolio.
In the first option, as you were told above, you will do the same but for a lot of money, and most likely you will be given additional responsibilities. If that suits you, then ok. But there is an income cap for every position. Above which it is unrealistic to jump. For a developer in Moscow, this is about 300-500 thousand per month.
Changing jobs is also a good option. But the longer you work, the more you grow roots in the company. And move harder. In general, it is normal practice for a developer to change employer or position (career growth) every 2 years.
Part-time jobs will be ok for a year or two. Then there will be burnout. As an option to leave work and immerse yourself completely in freelancing. But if there is no experience in communicating with customers, then this is a bad option. In freelancing, sales skill is very important. Conditionally, different rates can be paid for the same work. For example, I know freelance android developers with rates of 25-30 and with rates of 70-90. The projects they do are about the same. The latter have a very pumped sales skill. Upsell, etc.
The development of their resources seems to me an ideal option. Because when you work for someone else, you are not working for yourself. You contribute to someone else's idea by getting paid and getting experience. Experience is certainly good as you grow as a specialist. But it's worth thinking about the future. At 35-40 years old, you will no longer grasp the information so quickly and your value in the market will fall. Your own resources are your assets. With proper "care" for them, they will bring income conditionally passive. By resources, I mean: a blog, a website, a telegram channel, a YouTube channel, an Instagram profile (yes, programmers in Europe and the USA actively post photos of how they work on Instagram. Such channels have hundreds of subscribers). Monetization is standard - advertising.
Investments. Financial literacy suffers for many. Upgrade this skill and start building a financial portfolio. Even with small savings, you can generate a good additional income.

Answer 4

If you work for less than 150k in c++, then you don't respect yourself..

Answer 5

I would look towards my own project / projects. If you see a niche in which you understand and understand that you can do something better than it is (even for the same workers of your projects), then you should make your own product and try to sell it. Just to start making a minimum viable product, get feedback and then look further - to develop it or not.

Answer 6

20 per hour is true, but there is more sense with C ++ on upwork