Prevailing wage, wage year 2025-26
Computer Programmers prevailing wage in Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area
Short answer
For computer programmers in Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area, the U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage runs from $28.75 an hour at Level 1 ($59,800 a year) to $52.80 an hour at Level 4 ($109,824 a year), wage year 2025-26. The Level 2 wage of $36.77 ranks 279 of 530 areas and is 1% below the median area ($36.98).
Wage by level
| Wage level | Per hour | Per year | Per month | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $28.75 | $59,800 | $4,983 | $1,150 |
| Level 2 | $36.77 | $76,482 | $6,374 | $1,471 |
| Level 3 | $44.78 | $93,142 | $7,762 | $1,791 |
| Level 4 | $52.80 | $109,824 | $9,152 | $2,112 |
| Published average | $44.86 | $93,309 | $7,776 | $1,794 |
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
$36.77/hr
Prevailing wage for computer programmers in Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area
Cost with payroll costs
$39.58/hr
$36.77 plus 7.65%
Bill rate for the margin
$46.57/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 Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area compares
Across 530 areas, the Level 2 wage for computer programmers has a median of $36.98 an hour. Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area is at $36.77, which is 1% below that median and ranks 279 of 530. Inside IA, it ranks 4 of 13 areas. The gap between Level 1 and Level 4 here is 84% ($24.05 an hour), so the level a job is filed at changes the minimum pay by about $50,024 a year.
Other IA areas for the same occupation
| Area | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | $34.07 | $40.52 | $53.43 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $30.95 | $37.95 | $51.95 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $28.41 | $37.35 | $55.23 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $30.95 | $36.30 | $46.99 |
| Ames, IA | $29.71 | $35.21 | $46.20 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $29.81 | $34.65 | $44.33 |
Reading the four levels
In Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area, moving a computer programmers role from Level 1 to Level 2 adds $8.02 an hour (28%), from Level 2 to Level 3 adds $8.01 (22%), and from Level 3 to Level 4 adds $8.02 (18%). 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 $4,983 a month gross; at Level 4 it is $9,152.
Areas with a Level 2 wage close to $36.77
These are the 6 areas anywhere in the country whose computer programmers 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kankakee, IL | $36.77 | +$0.00 |
| Grand Island, NE | $36.79 | +$0.02 |
| Dalton, GA | $36.80 | +$0.03 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $36.80 | +$0.03 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $36.81 | +$0.04 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $36.73 | -$0.04 |
IA and this occupation
IA has 13 areas in the data. The state median Level 2 wage for computer programmers is $34.65 an hour, and Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area is at or above it. The highest area in IA is Iowa City, IA at $40.52, and the lowest is Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area at $30.54.
Among IT occupations here
In Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area, computer programmers ranks 9 of 16 IT occupations by Level 2 wage. The highest is computer and information research scientists at $57.86 an hour and the lowest is computer user support specialists at $20.52.
What this means for your desk
- At Level 2 the consultant must be paid at least $76,482 a year, or $6,374 a month gross, for work in Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area.
- Your bill rate must cover that wage plus payroll costs and margin: try $36.77 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 Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area
| Occupation | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analysts | $28.07 | $33.50 | $44.37 |
| Information Security Analysts | $35.62 | $44.68 | $62.81 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $42.64 | $57.86 | $88.29 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $21.05 | $24.36 | $30.98 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $17.00 | $20.52 | $27.55 |
| Computer Network Architects | $38.20 | $47.40 | $65.79 |
| Database Administrators | $32.05 | $40.94 | $58.72 |
| Database Architects | $44.97 | $53.74 | $71.28 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $27.75 | $33.01 | $43.52 |
| Software Developers | $31.32 | $42.07 | $63.56 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $28.81 | $36.35 | $51.44 |
| Web Developers | $25.44 | $31.34 | $43.13 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $22.54 | $29.12 | $42.29 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $28.73 | $38.63 | $58.42 |
| Data Scientists | $32.04 | $39.96 | $55.80 |
Questions
What is the prevailing wage for computer programmers in Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area?
$28.75, $36.77, $44.78 and $52.80 an hour for Levels 1 to 4, with a published average of $44.86, in wage year 2025-26. Multiply by 2080 hours for the annual figure.
How much more does Level 4 pay than Level 1 in Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area?
$24.05 more an hour, or $50,024 more a year (84% above Level 1).
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