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Hmm... I worked for a temp agency while in grad school, this was back in 2004 but I was earning $14/hour. I had one part time job (for a semester) and one full time job (for a summer).
It was a couple years ago (2004) so the rate may have gone up a couple dollars since then. But I think it depends on what the temp agency charges the company... it could differ from job to job within the same temp agency. It's probably better to call a few and ask about the rate than to rely on my experience six years ago
I've worked with three different agencies over the past 7 years (during two separate job searches). I was also employed in-house at one temp agency for a little under a year.
For a run-of-the-mill administrative assignment -- receptionist, file clerk, secretary -- you can expect to make anywhere between $9 and $13 per hour. The company using your services then pays the temp agency a 50 to 100 percent mark-up on that amount for their services.
The client companies where temps work are usually trying to pay less for a temp than they would for full-time labor. Since FT entry-level admin. jobs usually pay between $35-50k/yr., you can see how this works out to be a really crummy deal for the temp who usually only gets 50 to 65 percent of that amount and no benefits. Agencies often try to lure in temps telling them that they could be hired permanently at a client company. Such gigs are rare, though. The client company usually has to pay 50% of your first-year salary to the temp agency if it wishes to retain you permanently. Even though finding good talent is challenging, it usually does not cost a company more than $25k in time and advertising. Often, companies are conducting their own search for a full-time employee while paying a temp. If one does get hired for a full-time position, there is a tremendous incentive on the part of the client company to offer a low salary.
If you have specific law or accounting experience, you can sometimes get a higher rate as a temp. Just be sure to go through an agency that specializes in those industries, such as Accountemps. Also, government contracting experience is a real plus. You can get yourself bumped up to around $20 per hour if you have proposal or grant writing experience. Such jobs are also likely to give you overtime if you are deadlining on a specific proposal. Graphic design, computer programming, and website programming will also earn you a premium. Those are the only jobs I've ever seen that will pay a temp over the $20/hr. mark. Here again, you want to go through a specialty agency.
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