Working from home is a method that can save both you and your employer money. You do not have commuting costs and costs associated with apparel and eating out of the office. Employers do not typically pay for health insurance, sick days, paid time off, and 401 k contributions. In fact, some employers strictly hire telecommuters. This saves them even more money by having a smaller home base.

So what does this mean for you in terms of salary? The salary of a telecommuting job varies and can sometimes be negotiable. In most cases, you will be paid less to telecommute than you would by working in a traditional job. In some instances, however, telecommuters earn more than their office employee counterparts. The difference may be in how you negotiate your salary with a potential employer.

Employers are generally not eager to negotiate salaries. In most cases, they have a set salary in mind before they even start searching for employees. You do not want to be too forward when negotiating your salary, lest you ruin your chances of getting hired. The negotiation process should begin once you have been offered the job. Here are some things to mention to your potential employer:

• Your education. If you obtained higher education that can help you bring more knowledge to the job than other candidates?
• Your experience. The employer has already read your resume and seen your years of experience. This is the time to point out specifics and show how you have made a difference in terms of profit in other previous employers.
• The equipment you need. You likely have a basic computer and internet access. Are you expected to invest in other pieces of equipment for your computer to perform your job? If this is the case, you might need an increase in salary to help compensate.

Telecommuting is an alternative way for a company to hire personnel in an effort to decrease costs and increase productivity. Employees that telecommute are more likely to stick with a company than those who work at an office. Although the pay not be different, telecommuters do not have to deal with the everyday hassles of driving to work, paying for lunch, or even getting dressed in formal business wear.

Technology has made telecommuting possible in a variety of ways, the most obvious being internet access on computers. There is a misconception that employers cannot trust telecommuters to work from home. Thanks to technologies like cell phones and live chats on web cams, employers generally have an easy way to check whether you are working or not.

Although telecommuting seems glamorous, there are a few things you ought to consider before leaving the office for good:

• Many telecommuting jobs are contracting positions. You are still held accountable for the work you complete, but you do not necessarily have to work at certain hours. The flexibility in hours is a great way to work around other daily responsibilities you might have, such as children. However, being a contractor means you have to sacrifice other benefits such as health care and paid time off.
• Some telecommuting jobs do not supply equipment. This is one way that a company can reduce costs. Contracting jobs are the most likely to require that you have your own computer, cell phone, and other accessories.
• Telecommuting can be lonely. Technological advances have made it possible to make people’s lives easier so that you can spend more time with loved ones. The irony is that technology consumes all aspects of our lives that you end up spending more time working after all. Telecommuting decreases your chance of socializing with people through work or outings that are related to work.