Prevailing wage, wage year 2025-26
Computer and Information Research Scientists prevailing wage in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Short answer
For computer and information research scientists in Lexington-Fayette, KY, the U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage runs from $35.47 an hour at Level 1 ($73,778 a year) to $52.67 an hour at Level 4 ($109,554 a year), wage year 2025-26. The Level 2 wage of $41.20 ranks 493 of 530 areas and is 24% below the median area ($53.89).
Wage by level
| Wage level | Per hour | Per year | Per month | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $35.47 | $73,778 | $6,148 | $1,419 |
| Level 2 | $41.20 | $85,696 | $7,141 | $1,648 |
| Level 3 | $46.94 | $97,635 | $8,136 | $1,878 |
| Level 4 | $52.67 | $109,554 | $9,130 | $2,107 |
| Published average | $46.99 | $97,739 | $8,145 | $1,880 |
Annual = hourly x 2080 hours, the convention DOL uses. Weekly = hourly x 40. Gross pay before tax. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC), prevailing wage data, wage year 2025-26.
Minimum bill rate calculator
Start from the prevailing wage for this area, add your payroll costs and a margin.
Minimum wage
$41.20/hr
Prevailing wage for computer and information research scientists in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Cost with payroll costs
$44.35/hr
$41.20 plus 7.65%
Bill rate for the margin
$52.18/hr
Cost divided by 0.85
Assumes the consultant is paid the prevailing wage for every billed hour, with no bench pay or other costs. Real pay is usually above the minimum. General information, not legal advice.
How Lexington-Fayette, KY compares
Across 530 areas, the Level 2 wage for computer and information research scientists has a median of $53.89 an hour. Lexington-Fayette, KY is at $41.20, which is 24% below that median and ranks 493 of 530. Inside KY, it ranks 5 of 13 areas. The gap between Level 1 and Level 4 here is 48% ($17.20 an hour), so the level a job is filed at changes the minimum pay by about $35,776 a year.
Other KY areas for the same occupation
| Area | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $47.80 | $68.75 | $110.64 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $38.58 | $46.55 | $62.50 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $38.46 | $44.77 | $57.38 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $37.82 | $44.70 | $58.47 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $34.58 | $40.79 | $53.21 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $34.40 | $39.81 | $50.62 |
Reading the four levels
In Lexington-Fayette, KY, moving a computer and information research scientists role from Level 1 to Level 2 adds $5.73 an hour (16%), from Level 2 to Level 3 adds $5.74 (14%), and from Level 3 to Level 4 adds $5.73 (12%). The steps are fairly even, so the level filed moves the minimum pay by a similar amount at each rung. At Level 1 the minimum is $6,148 a month gross; at Level 4 it is $9,130.
Areas with a Level 2 wage close to $41.20
These are the 6 areas anywhere in the country whose computer and information research scientists Level 2 wage is nearest to this one. Use them when a requirement could be worked from several places and you want the wage floor to stay about the same.
| Area | Level 2 per hour | Difference from here |
|---|---|---|
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $41.22 | +$0.02 |
| Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $40.97 | -$0.23 |
| Albany, GA | $41.47 | +$0.27 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $41.47 | +$0.27 |
| Dalton, GA | $41.47 | +$0.27 |
| Hinesville, GA | $41.47 | +$0.27 |
KY and this occupation
KY has 13 areas in the data. The state median Level 2 wage for computer and information research scientists is $39.81 an hour, and Lexington-Fayette, KY is at or above it. The highest area in KY is Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH at $68.75, and the lowest is East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area at $39.81.
Among IT occupations here
In Lexington-Fayette, KY, computer and information research scientists ranks 4 of 16 IT occupations by Level 2 wage. The highest is software developers at $48.95 an hour and the lowest is computer user support specialists at $23.83.
What this means for your desk
- At Level 2 the consultant must be paid at least $85,696 a year, or $7,141 a month gross, for work in Lexington-Fayette, KY.
- Your bill rate must cover that wage plus payroll costs and margin: try $41.20 an hour in the W2 burden rate calculator and the markup and margin calculator.
Which level applies, and what an LCA means, is explained on the prevailing wage guide. Not legal advice.
Other occupations in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Occupation | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analysts | $27.42 | $34.66 | $49.15 |
| Information Security Analysts | $32.12 | $40.79 | $58.13 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $22.74 | $28.33 | $39.51 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $19.74 | $23.83 | $32.00 |
| Computer Network Architects | $36.45 | $47.26 | $68.88 |
| Database Administrators | $24.60 | $34.30 | $53.69 |
| Database Architects | $28.76 | $37.51 | $55.00 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $29.68 | $35.64 | $47.57 |
| Computer Programmers | $35.17 | $43.64 | $60.59 |
| Software Developers | $38.43 | $48.95 | $70.00 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $16.44 | $24.63 | $41.02 |
| Web Developers | $26.53 | $33.39 | $47.12 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $21.44 | $27.74 | $40.33 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $25.19 | $38.12 | $63.99 |
| Data Scientists | $29.31 | $37.61 | $54.22 |
Questions
What is the prevailing wage for computer and information research scientists in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
$35.47, $41.20, $46.94 and $52.67 an hour for Levels 1 to 4, with a published average of $46.99, in wage year 2025-26. Multiply by 2080 hours for the annual figure.
How much more does Level 4 pay than Level 1 in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
$17.20 more an hour, or $35,776 more a year (48% above Level 1).
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