Okay, let’s tackle this. So Juan has 8 years of experience as an engineer, which is a solid foundation. Location is the New York City Metropolitan Area, which is a hub for engineering talent and a competitive market. Salary benchmarks for engineers in this area suggest a rate around $100–$200 per hour for someone with Juan’s experience. Considering his skills and location, I’ll estimate around $125 per hour, which is on the lower end of the range but still a reasonable starting point.