Prevailing wage, wage year 2025-26
Network and Computer Systems Administrators prevailing wage in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Short answer
For network and computer systems administrators in New Orleans-Metairie, LA, the U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage runs from $30.28 an hour at Level 1 ($62,982 a year) to $55.77 an hour at Level 4 ($116,002 a year), wage year 2025-26. The Level 2 wage of $38.78 ranks 134 of 530 areas and is 8% above the median area ($35.86).
Wage by level
| Wage level | Per hour | Per year | Per month | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $30.28 | $62,982 | $5,249 | $1,211 |
| Level 2 | $38.78 | $80,662 | $6,722 | $1,551 |
| Level 3 | $47.27 | $98,322 | $8,194 | $1,891 |
| Level 4 | $55.77 | $116,002 | $9,667 | $2,231 |
| Published average | $47.36 | $98,509 | $8,209 | $1,894 |
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
$38.78/hr
Prevailing wage for network and computer systems administrators in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Cost with payroll costs
$41.75/hr
$38.78 plus 7.65%
Bill rate for the margin
$49.11/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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA compares
Across 530 areas, the Level 2 wage for network and computer systems administrators has a median of $35.86 an hour. New Orleans-Metairie, LA is at $38.78, which is 8% above that median and ranks 134 of 530. Inside LA, it ranks 2 of 13 areas. The gap between Level 1 and Level 4 here is 84% ($25.49 an hour), so the level a job is filed at changes the minimum pay by about $53,020 a year.
Other LA areas for the same occupation
| Area | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe, LA | $28.86 | $39.63 | $61.16 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $30.44 | $38.49 | $54.60 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $31.23 | $38.41 | $52.76 |
| Hammond, LA | $30.23 | $37.99 | $53.50 |
| Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $29.98 | $37.52 | $52.59 |
| Lafayette, LA | $28.81 | $37.18 | $53.93 |
Reading the four levels
In New Orleans-Metairie, LA, moving a network and computer systems administrators role from Level 1 to Level 2 adds $8.50 an hour (28%), from Level 2 to Level 3 adds $8.49 (22%), and from Level 3 to Level 4 adds $8.50 (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 $5,249 a month gross; at Level 4 it is $9,667.
Areas with a Level 2 wage close to $38.78
These are the 6 areas anywhere in the country whose network and computer systems administrators 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NC | $38.74 | -$0.04 |
| Rochester, NY | $38.83 | +$0.05 |
| Anchorage, AK | $38.85 | +$0.07 |
| Jackson, MI | $38.85 | +$0.07 |
| Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $38.86 | +$0.08 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $38.91 | +$0.13 |
LA and this occupation
LA has 13 areas in the data. The state median Level 2 wage for network and computer systems administrators is $37.18 an hour, and New Orleans-Metairie, LA is at or above it. The highest area in LA is Monroe, LA at $39.63, and the lowest is Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area at $32.92.
Among IT occupations here
In New Orleans-Metairie, LA, network and computer systems administrators ranks 6 of 16 IT occupations by Level 2 wage. The highest is database architects at $56.30 an hour and the lowest is software quality assurance analysts and testers at $21.88.
What this means for your desk
- At Level 2 the consultant must be paid at least $80,662 a year, or $6,722 a month gross, for work in New Orleans-Metairie, LA.
- Your bill rate must cover that wage plus payroll costs and margin: try $38.78 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA
| Occupation | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analysts | $28.84 | $38.48 | $57.75 |
| Information Security Analysts | $34.28 | $42.75 | $59.70 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $40.02 | $46.33 | $58.96 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $20.97 | $25.94 | $35.89 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $19.69 | $24.28 | $33.47 |
| Computer Network Architects | $38.13 | $48.70 | $69.83 |
| Database Administrators | $26.21 | $34.41 | $50.82 |
| Database Architects | $44.16 | $56.30 | $80.59 |
| Computer Programmers | $24.35 | $32.13 | $47.68 |
| Software Developers | $37.79 | $50.91 | $77.15 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $17.29 | $21.88 | $31.07 |
| Web Developers | $20.80 | $26.11 | $36.73 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $22.16 | $29.15 | $43.14 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $25.45 | $37.63 | $61.98 |
| Data Scientists | $25.52 | $31.65 | $43.92 |
Questions
What is the prevailing wage for network and computer systems administrators in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
$30.28, $38.78, $47.27 and $55.77 an hour for Levels 1 to 4, with a published average of $47.36, in wage year 2025-26. Multiply by 2080 hours for the annual figure.
How much more does Level 4 pay than Level 1 in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
$25.49 more an hour, or $53,020 more a year (84% above Level 1).
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