Hi, I am doing freelance work with another developer who only focuses on the look of websites and he contracts me to do all the back-end PHP/MySQL server side work (dynamic server-side tools, authentication systems, sessions, headers, cookies). He asked me how much I would like to be paid hourly, and I am unsure....
My quals are 2+ year developing PHP/MySQL for my university as pro-bono work, university graduate with a degree in electrical engineering with course work in databases/design and OO programming.

What do other developers ask for? Is there a going hourly rate I should charge?

Rates depend on experience, location, project size, etc.

You have effectively have 1-2 years experience which would put you in the Junior Developer role.  You can use something like Salary.com to see what the annual rates in your area are going at.  Break that down per hour, add on another 20-30% for taxes, insurance, etc and you've got your rate.

Withing knowing exactly where you are, and what your skills are I'd have to say that $40 is probably a fare rate (based on salary.com).

Denny
MVP
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / SQL 2008 Implementation and Maintenance / Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Configuration / Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: Configuration)
MCITP Database Admin (SQL 2005/2008) / Database Dev (SQL 2005)

My Blog

If you have no say in the price of the job, I would suggest go 50/50 with the guy who is contracting the work out. If he wants more, he will charge more for the job. If you work well as a team, then you will both get what you are worth. If you get in an argument about who does the most work, you are not working as a team.

Keith
www.studiosoft.co.uk

In a similar situation in my past we agreed to split the money we got as follows:

Selling the service => 20%
Design => 40%
Development => 40%

Not sure that helps in your circumstances, but might be worth thinking about.

Fee

"The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea." Isak Dinesen

Your pay should be based on what part of the projects you spend most on. You need to work out what you feel your time is worth. Then add in the costs of any research material such as mags/books/online time you need to do your part of the project.Then kick in any tax you need collect. (Govs do like their pay of your work too)