The Cost of Temping

When your friends all have full time jobs and you're a temp, some of the differences of those situations become glaring. While I'm always glad to be working, being a temp is more expensive than most people realize.

I get paid less money

A temp automatically makes less than a full time staff person for the same job because the company has to pay the temp as well as the staffing agency. The temp gets vetted, has access to a variety of organizations, and makes good contacts but we don't make as much as full-timers until we get hired. Clearly this has yet to happen to me.

I pay for my own health insurance

I opted for a PPO which is a little higher than an HMO but I have a relationship with my doctors. Most staffing agencies offer health insurance but some only offer it if you're working. I'm with ~7 agencies so I want to be able to choose the place that offers me work.

Most full time jobs either pay for some or all of your insurance. Your rates are usually discounted and your coverage is better. You're also not getting price gouged $50 a month for your weight despite the lack of any relevant medical condition.

No transit subsidy

All of my metro costs come out of my pocket. My current gig is under what I usually like to be making and the recent metro fare hikes took a big hit on my wallet. Since the service hasn't improved, I've tried to catch a few free rides to save money.

I don't get paid leave

If I'm sick, have a doctor's appointment, or take a trip, I don't get paid. If metro has a problem and I'm an hour late, it's an hour off my pay check. I try to take shorter lunch breaks just so I can get paid for that 30 minutes.

If you're on an assignment, no one will touch you

If I'm currently working, no one from any of the other agencies will offer me work. Ditching one assignment for another from a different agency wouldn't do wonders for my reputation either. The agency currently giving me the assignment doesn't work that hard to find me a future assignment until my current gig is basically over. I still apply for full time positions but, once again, that clearly hasn't come through for me.

I don't know when I'll work again

When an assignment ends, I apply like crazy and get in touch with all the other agencies. However, despite my best efforts,  I can't magically make work appear. When my current assignment is done in a couple of weeks, I don't know if and when I'll find another.

I can collect unemployment but that is always less than what I was making before. It never lessens the ever-present anxiety that comes with not working. You can't relax and enjoy it if you don't know if you'll be sitting around for a week or two months.

Being a temp is not easy financially or psychologically. I will have been doing it for a year this November. I am definitely ready for a full time job.