Okay, let’s tackle this. So Rich has a broad skill set, including proposal writing, technical writing, management, and business development. He also has experience with government proposals, proposal leadership, and information technology. Location is Silver Spring, MD, which is a suburb of Washington D.C. and a hub for federal contracting. Proposal writers and business developers in this area can command rates around $100–$200 per hour, depending on experience. Rich’s skills and location put him in the upper end of this range, so I’ll estimate around $125 per hour.