What's your time worth?

  

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Developers that work on open source software typically have day jobs that pay pretty well.  So they work on open source software for free and write code during the day for big bucks.

So if they are offered money for their time, do they weigh it against the $0/hour they make writing open source software or the $50/hour they make at work?  I'm assuming they think they are worth at least $50/hour and any work for pay you offer them will get evaluated against that.   (I would.)

So does that mean if I get paid $50/hour at work I'd rather help the local school set up their network for free rather than take a job setting it up for $10/hour?  As strange as it sounds, I think it's true.  As a volunteer doing it for free I get more control (I can leave at any time), more prestige (I'm helping!), and more recognition (I'm not a lowly flunky, I'm a cool volunteer.)  As cheap skilled labor all I've done is lower my hourly worth.  I've now said I'm only worth $10/hour - I'm working for peanuts instead of helping out someone who needs it. 

I'm not saying this makes sense at all or that it's a good thing but I think it's a reality.  What do you think?

(This is one of the reasons we worked hard to make sure our OpenLogic Expert Community compensates fairly.)