通篇講contractor 指的就是承包商.
不要混淆了。Independent Contractor 是法律名詞。美國國家稅務局的定義:
Independent Contractor: People such as doctors, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers, accountants, contractors, subcontractors, public stenographers, or auctioneers who are in an independent trade, business, or profession in which they offer their services to the general public are generally independent contractors.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=179115,00.html