Re: Two things
Exactly this. Particularly at the more senior levels a contractor is always cheaper than an employee.
We do it for the flexibility - my gross pay this last tax year was 20% lower than the salary the client was willing to pay for a permie with similar experience. I'd be hard pushed to get significantly more without moving into the finance sector but I don't want to. On the plus side I can take as much or as little time off as I like and if the agent mis-sells the role I find something else. I can duck out of the politics. Not worry about cultivating the 'right relationships' to ensure my next review, and my career in general, goes well. Focus on doing well what I enjoy doing well...