My rates are real market rates. To find a "capable professional" plays the rate a 2nd role.
As example when I go to extend my PHP team a basic requirement that I request is excellent knowledge of C or C++, this way I eliminate all the modeler... I give a "simple" test work (parser for a ini file mostly) which show me if this person knows what he/she does or not. And I hired many times excellent coders at hr rates below $20 who passed my test much better then the higher rated...
And one thing more, don't forget that behind most eastern programmers is a Pimp (they name it self Agency), who take the biggest amount of the money
Means direct contacts to developers help a lot.