Prevailing wage, wage year 2025-26
Computer and Information Research Scientists prevailing wage in Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area
Short answer
For computer and information research scientists in Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area, the U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage runs from $25.17 an hour at Level 1 ($52,354 a year) to $79.91 an hour at Level 4 ($166,213 a year), wage year 2025-26. The Level 2 wage of $43.42 ranks 433 of 530 areas and is 19% below the median area ($53.89).
Wage by level
| Wage level | Per hour | Per year | Per month | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $25.17 | $52,354 | $4,363 | $1,007 |
| Level 2 | $43.42 | $90,314 | $7,526 | $1,737 |
| Level 3 | $61.66 | $128,253 | $10,688 | $2,466 |
| Level 4 | $79.91 | $166,213 | $13,851 | $3,196 |
| Published average | $61.85 | $128,648 | $10,721 | $2,474 |
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
$43.42/hr
Prevailing wage for computer and information research scientists in Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area
Cost with payroll costs
$46.74/hr
$43.42 plus 7.65%
Bill rate for the margin
$54.99/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 Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area compares
Across 530 areas, the Level 2 wage for computer and information research scientists has a median of $53.89 an hour. Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area is at $43.42, which is 19% below that median and ranks 433 of 530. Inside IL, it ranks 9 of 16 areas. The gap between Level 1 and Level 4 here is 217% ($54.74 an hour), so the level a job is filed at changes the minimum pay by about $113,859 a year.
Other IL areas for the same occupation
| Area | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $42.64 | $57.86 | $88.29 |
| Springfield, IL | $38.89 | $51.35 | $76.27 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $38.80 | $51.11 | $75.72 |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $38.80 | $51.11 | $75.72 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $38.11 | $49.27 | $71.59 |
| East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $35.82 | $47.79 | $71.72 |
Reading the four levels
In Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area, moving a computer and information research scientists role from Level 1 to Level 2 adds $18.25 an hour (73%), from Level 2 to Level 3 adds $18.24 (42%), and from Level 3 to Level 4 adds $18.25 (30%). 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 $4,363 a month gross; at Level 4 it is $13,851.
Areas with a Level 2 wage close to $43.42
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $43.47 | +$0.05 |
| Rockford, IL | $43.37 | -$0.05 |
| Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $43.33 | -$0.09 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $43.53 | +$0.11 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $43.30 | -$0.12 |
| Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $43.56 | +$0.14 |
IL and this occupation
IL has 16 areas in the data. The state median Level 2 wage for computer and information research scientists is $44.51 an hour, and Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area is below it. The highest area in IL is Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL at $57.86, and the lowest is Bloomington, IL at $38.47.
Among IT occupations here
In Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area, computer and information research scientists ranks 5 of 16 IT occupations by Level 2 wage. The highest is database architects at $54.26 an hour and the lowest is computer user support specialists at $23.49.
What this means for your desk
- At Level 2 the consultant must be paid at least $90,314 a year, or $7,526 a month gross, for work in Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area.
- Your bill rate must cover that wage plus payroll costs and margin: try $43.42 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 Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area
| Occupation | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analysts | $30.48 | $37.29 | $50.92 |
| Information Security Analysts | $36.14 | $46.86 | $68.31 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $20.52 | $26.11 | $37.28 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $19.44 | $23.49 | $31.59 |
| Computer Network Architects | $37.70 | $47.24 | $66.31 |
| Database Administrators | $29.64 | $40.90 | $63.43 |
| Database Architects | $42.96 | $54.26 | $76.87 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $25.88 | $33.15 | $47.68 |
| Computer Programmers | $27.51 | $36.13 | $53.37 |
| Software Developers | $34.36 | $43.57 | $62.00 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $34.12 | $42.13 | $58.14 |
| Web Developers | $30.55 | $38.71 | $55.04 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $25.10 | $35.23 | $55.49 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $24.23 | $33.26 | $51.32 |
| Data Scientists | $29.92 | $38.45 | $55.52 |
Questions
What is the prevailing wage for computer and information research scientists in Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area?
$25.17, $43.42, $61.66 and $79.91 an hour for Levels 1 to 4, with a published average of $61.85, in wage year 2025-26. Multiply by 2080 hours for the annual figure.
How much more does Level 4 pay than Level 1 in Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area?
$54.74 more an hour, or $113,859 more a year (217% above Level 1).
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