Prevailing wage, wage year 2025-26
Computer Network Architects prevailing wage in Madison, WI
Short answer
For computer network architects in Madison, WI, the U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage runs from $39.77 an hour at Level 1 ($82,722 a year) to $66.89 an hour at Level 4 ($139,131 a year), wage year 2025-26. The Level 2 wage of $48.81 ranks 215 of 530 areas and is 3% above the median area ($47.24).
Wage by level
| Wage level | Per hour | Per year | Per month | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $39.77 | $82,722 | $6,894 | $1,591 |
| Level 2 | $48.81 | $101,525 | $8,460 | $1,952 |
| Level 3 | $57.85 | $120,328 | $10,027 | $2,314 |
| Level 4 | $66.89 | $139,131 | $11,594 | $2,676 |
| Published average | $57.94 | $120,515 | $10,043 | $2,318 |
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
$48.81/hr
Prevailing wage for computer network architects in Madison, WI
Cost with payroll costs
$52.54/hr
$48.81 plus 7.65%
Bill rate for the margin
$61.82/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 Madison, WI compares
Across 530 areas, the Level 2 wage for computer network architects has a median of $47.24 an hour. Madison, WI is at $48.81, which is 3% above that median and ranks 215 of 530. Inside WI, it ranks 10 of 19 areas. The gap between Level 1 and Level 4 here is 68% ($27.12 an hour), so the level a job is filed at changes the minimum pay by about $56,409 a year.
Other WI areas for the same occupation
| Area | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan, WI | $47.79 | $56.32 | $73.37 |
| Kenosha, WI | $45.70 | $55.43 | $74.90 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $45.09 | $54.12 | $72.17 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $41.66 | $51.59 | $71.44 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $41.21 | $50.76 | $69.85 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $40.85 | $50.13 | $68.70 |
Reading the four levels
In Madison, WI, moving a computer network architects role from Level 1 to Level 2 adds $9.04 an hour (23%), from Level 2 to Level 3 adds $9.04 (19%), and from Level 3 to Level 4 adds $9.04 (16%). 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 $6,894 a month gross; at Level 4 it is $11,594.
Areas with a Level 2 wage close to $48.81
These are the 6 areas anywhere in the country whose computer network architects 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $48.81 | +$0.00 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $48.85 | +$0.04 |
| Ithaca, NY | $48.77 | -$0.04 |
| Hinesville, GA | $48.73 | -$0.08 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $48.90 | +$0.09 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $48.70 | -$0.11 |
WI and this occupation
WI has 19 areas in the data. The state median Level 2 wage for computer network architects is $48.81 an hour, and Madison, WI is at or above it. The highest area in WI is Sheboygan, WI at $56.32, and the lowest is Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area at $39.99.
Among IT occupations here
In Madison, WI, computer network architects ranks 3 of 16 IT occupations by Level 2 wage. The highest is database architects at $66.42 an hour and the lowest is computer user support specialists at $26.10.
What this means for your desk
- At Level 2 the consultant must be paid at least $101,525 a year, or $8,460 a month gross, for work in Madison, WI.
- Your bill rate must cover that wage plus payroll costs and margin: try $48.81 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 Madison, WI
| Occupation | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analysts | $32.49 | $39.23 | $52.72 |
| Information Security Analysts | $34.28 | $43.15 | $60.88 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $45.57 | $63.83 | $100.36 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $32.99 | $37.37 | $46.13 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $22.42 | $26.10 | $33.45 |
| Database Administrators | $32.22 | $39.90 | $55.25 |
| Database Architects | $59.73 | $66.42 | $79.80 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $28.26 | $35.07 | $48.68 |
| Computer Programmers | $30.53 | $36.43 | $48.24 |
| Software Developers | $39.28 | $47.16 | $62.93 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $30.28 | $35.81 | $46.87 |
| Web Developers | $23.81 | $31.02 | $45.44 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $28.25 | $34.54 | $47.12 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $31.28 | $38.25 | $52.18 |
| Data Scientists | $37.49 | $43.52 | $55.58 |
Questions
What is the prevailing wage for computer network architects in Madison, WI?
$39.77, $48.81, $57.85 and $66.89 an hour for Levels 1 to 4, with a published average of $57.94, in wage year 2025-26. Multiply by 2080 hours for the annual figure.
How much more does Level 4 pay than Level 1 in Madison, WI?
$27.12 more an hour, or $56,409 more a year (68% above Level 1).
Find open jobs that fit your consultants
Send two consultants and get back the real matches from current open IT jobs, with the rule behind each one.