Prevailing wage, wage year 2025-26
Software Developers prevailing wage in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
Short answer
For software developers in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO, the U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage runs from $41.39 an hour at Level 1 ($86,091 a year) to $76.57 an hour at Level 4 ($159,266 a year), wage year 2025-26. The Level 2 wage of $53.12 ranks 68 of 530 areas and is 17% above the median area ($45.35).
Wage by level
| Wage level | Per hour | Per year | Per month | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $41.39 | $86,091 | $7,174 | $1,656 |
| Level 2 | $53.12 | $110,490 | $9,208 | $2,125 |
| Level 3 | $64.84 | $134,867 | $11,239 | $2,594 |
| Level 4 | $76.57 | $159,266 | $13,272 | $3,063 |
| Published average | $64.96 | $135,117 | $11,260 | $2,598 |
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
$53.12/hr
Prevailing wage for software developers in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
Cost with payroll costs
$57.18/hr
$53.12 plus 7.65%
Bill rate for the margin
$67.27/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 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO compares
Across 530 areas, the Level 2 wage for software developers has a median of $45.35 an hour. Fort Collins-Loveland, CO is at $53.12, which is 17% above that median and ranks 68 of 530. Inside CO, it ranks 6 of 10 areas. The gap between Level 1 and Level 4 here is 85% ($35.18 an hour), so the level a job is filed at changes the minimum pay by about $73,175 a year.
Other CO areas for the same occupation
| Area | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | $51.08 | $70.22 | $108.50 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $47.47 | $57.95 | $78.90 |
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $44.91 | $55.88 | $77.81 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $45.18 | $54.83 | $74.12 |
| Greeley, CO | $42.19 | $54.03 | $77.71 |
| Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $40.92 | $52.78 | $76.51 |
Reading the four levels
In Fort Collins-Loveland, CO, moving a software developers role from Level 1 to Level 2 adds $11.73 an hour (28%), from Level 2 to Level 3 adds $11.72 (22%), and from Level 3 to Level 4 adds $11.73 (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 $7,174 a month gross; at Level 4 it is $13,272.
Areas with a Level 2 wage close to $53.12
These are the 6 areas anywhere in the country whose software developers 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $53.20 | +$0.08 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $53.20 | +$0.08 |
| Reno, NV | $52.99 | -$0.13 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $53.27 | +$0.15 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $53.34 | +$0.22 |
| Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $53.36 | +$0.24 |
CO and this occupation
CO has 10 areas in the data. The state median Level 2 wage for software developers is $53.58 an hour, and Fort Collins-Loveland, CO is below it. The highest area in CO is Boulder, CO at $70.22, and the lowest is Pueblo, CO at $42.40.
Among IT occupations here
In Fort Collins-Loveland, CO, software developers ranks 6 of 16 IT occupations by Level 2 wage. The highest is computer and information research scientists at $64.03 an hour and the lowest is computer user support specialists at $31.30.
What this means for your desk
- At Level 2 the consultant must be paid at least $110,490 a year, or $9,208 a month gross, for work in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO.
- Your bill rate must cover that wage plus payroll costs and margin: try $53.12 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 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
| Occupation | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analysts | $39.47 | $49.03 | $68.14 |
| Information Security Analysts | $42.22 | $53.40 | $75.75 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $50.34 | $64.03 | $91.41 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $26.05 | $33.80 | $49.30 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $23.41 | $31.30 | $47.09 |
| Computer Network Architects | $46.62 | $56.80 | $77.17 |
| Database Administrators | $31.27 | $42.80 | $65.86 |
| Database Architects | $50.37 | $61.89 | $84.93 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $39.81 | $46.40 | $59.58 |
| Computer Programmers | $50.75 | $57.35 | $70.55 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $34.92 | $43.49 | $60.63 |
| Web Developers | $29.36 | $35.86 | $48.87 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $25.41 | $37.56 | $61.85 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $38.43 | $48.31 | $68.06 |
| Data Scientists | $31.50 | $42.83 | $65.48 |
Questions
What is the prevailing wage for software developers in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?
$41.39, $53.12, $64.84 and $76.57 an hour for Levels 1 to 4, with a published average of $64.96, in wage year 2025-26. Multiply by 2080 hours for the annual figure.
How much more does Level 4 pay than Level 1 in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?
$35.18 more an hour, or $73,175 more a year (85% above Level 1).
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