Funny thing about US salaries: Based on my limited reasearch, freelance rates and hourly rates for employees seem pretty close there. For employees, there's also no particular job security, sick leave, vacations in any guaranteed way, it comes down to the benevolence of the company.
In Europe, freelance rates differ from hourly employee pay by a factor of 2-3. As an employee, it's pretty difficult for a company (except small companies, which are exempt) to get rid of you, and the common approach is that they just offer you a relatively high severance payment.
So all things considered, I would think being an employee in the US is pretty similar to being a freelancer in Europe. Pay-wise and security wise. The major difference is that you have to find clients. Realistically multiple, due to "fake freelancing" regulations.
oaiey
It matters very much where you get hired. The silicon valley/Seattle area companies pay double or triple what you get on the countryside. And yeah, freelancing in the US is very different compared to Europe.
In Europe, freelance rates differ from hourly employee pay by a factor of 2-3. As an employee, it's pretty difficult for a company (except small companies, which are exempt) to get rid of you, and the common approach is that they just offer you a relatively high severance payment.
So all things considered, I would think being an employee in the US is pretty similar to being a freelancer in Europe. Pay-wise and security wise. The major difference is that you have to find clients. Realistically multiple, due to "fake freelancing" regulations.