ApTask research · Rate index
IT Contractor Rate Index 2026
ApTask's IT Contractor Rate Index 2026 reports the advertised pay on 262 distinct roles ApTask posted between July 8, 2026 and October 2, 2026. Technology & IT contract roles had a median advertised pay of 66.50 US dollars an hour across 43 roles. Every figure comes from ApTask's own job feed, and the data is a free CSV download.
Data as of · By ApTask Editorial Team
What do ApTask contract roles pay per hour?
Median advertised hourly pay for contract roles, by the role family each posting names. All amounts are US dollars per hour; a dash means fewer than 5 roles, too few for a median.
| Role family (contract, per hour) | Roles | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Lowest – highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Operations | 93 | 29.00 | 52.50 | 65.12 | 17.50 – 93.50 |
| Technology & IT | 43 | 61.00 | 66.50 | 75.50 | 35.50 – 120.00 |
| Manufacturing & Industrial | 39 | 21.50 | 25.00 | 30.24 | 16.00 – 57.50 |
| Finance & Professional Services | 9 | 20.00 | 22.69 | 26.21 | 20.00 – 75.00 |
| Engineering | 2 | — | — | — | 70.00 – 70.50 |
| Legal | 2 | — | — | — | 31.50 – 37.50 |
| Healthcare & Life Sciences | 1 | — | — | — | 34.50 – 34.50 |
What do full-time roles pay per year?
Full-time Technology & IT roles had a median advertised salary of 150,000 US dollars a year across 21 roles. All amounts are US dollars per year; hourly and yearly pay are never mixed or converted.
| Role family (full-time, per year) | Roles | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Lowest – highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Operations | 32 | 130,000 | 162,500 | 190,000 | 97,500 – 250,000 |
| Technology & IT | 21 | 140,000 | 150,000 | 185,000 | 87,500 – 625,000 |
| Engineering | 3 | — | — | — | 85,000 – 95,000 |
| Finance & Professional Services | 2 | — | — | — | 41,600 – 180,000 |
| Executive Leadership | 1 | — | — | — | 200,000 – 200,000 |
| Manufacturing & Industrial | 1 | — | — | — | 210,000 – 210,000 |
How does hourly contract pay vary by state?
States with at least 5 distinct contract roles, all role families together, in US dollars per hour. 12 more states had fewer roles and are in the CSV only. Role mix differs by state, so compare like with like using the CSV.
| State | Roles | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Lowest – highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NY | 27 | 44.86 | 57.50 | 72.13 | 22.00 – 102.50 |
| FL | 15 | 24.00 | 27.23 | 57.50 | 23.50 – 73.00 |
| TX | 15 | 29.08 | 47.50 | 62.00 | 17.50 – 110.00 |
| NC | 13 | 48.21 | 52.50 | 57.50 | 17.35 – 77.50 |
| NJ | 9 | 61.00 | 69.72 | 80.00 | 57.50 – 85.00 |
| CA | 8 | 27.66 | 58.25 | 68.50 | 18.50 – 71.87 |
| AZ | 7 | 26.50 | 31.50 | 36.00 | 26.00 – 61.50 |
| CT | 7 | 62.25 | 66.50 | 85.25 | 40.00 – 96.50 |
| GA | 7 | 61.53 | 67.50 | 70.50 | 57.50 – 72.50 |
| OH | 7 | 63.75 | 65.00 | 70.00 | 42.50 – 86.75 |
| UT | 7 | 20.13 | 22.00 | 23.34 | 19.17 – 51.50 |
| MA | 6 | 18.98 | 21.40 | 24.73 | 18.00 – 48.43 |
| PA | 6 | 25.68 | 29.11 | 50.75 | 23.59 – 71.50 |
| WA | 6 | 29.25 | 35.08 | 43.47 | 23.00 – 93.50 |
| MD | 5 | 20.00 | 20.50 | 38.53 | 20.00 – 40.00 |
How was the index computed?
The index uses only ApTask’s own published job data, computed when the site is built. The steps, in order:
- Source. Every live posting on ApTask’s job board in the feed snapshot of October 3, 2026: 400 postings.
- Validation. A posting counts only when its pay passed the feed normaliser’s checks for a pay unit, a currency and a sensible range: 362 postings did. Excluded for a failed check: 11 with monthly-out-of-range; 4 with a yearly figure below 20,000 (likely a mislabelled unit); 2 with a daily rate (not comparable with hourly or yearly pay); 1 with an hourly figure above 300 (likely a mislabelled unit). 20 postings showed no pay.
- One figure per role. A posting’s figure is its stated rate, or the midpoint of its stated range (169 of 262 roles gave a range).
- De-duplication. The same title, pay and family posted for several locations counts once: 362 postings became 262 distinct roles, the sample size (the minimum to publish is 100).
- Grouping. Role family is the vertical each posting names (the same values as the job board’s Vertical filter); employment type is the posting’s own label. Hourly and yearly figures stay separate.
- Statistics. Median and quartiles use linear interpolation; a group with fewer than 5 roles shows its count and range only.
What the index is not: these are advertised pay figures, not client bill rates, invoiced amounts or a market survey, and the role mix reflects the roles ApTask happened to be filling. For the difference between pay and bill rates, see the staffing glossary and how staffing agencies make money.
Sample by pay unit and employment type
| Pay unit | Employment | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour | Contract | 189 |
| Per year | Full-time | 60 |
| Per hour | Full-time | 11 |
| Per month | Full-time | 1 |
| Per year | Contract | 1 |
How can I download and cite the data?
The CSV has one line per distinct role: job ID, title, role family, employment type, pay unit, currency, minimum, maximum and midpoint pay, state, country, posting date and the posting URL. Download the IT Contractor Rate Index 2026 CSV. Cite it as “ApTask IT Contractor Rate Index 2026, data as of October 3, 2026, aptask.com/reports/it-contractor-rate-index-2026”. For hiring-model choices behind these roles, see contract vs contract-to-hire vs direct hire and ApTask’s workforce staffing services.
Frequently asked questions
What do IT contract roles at ApTask pay per hour?
Across 43 distinct Technology & IT contract roles posted between July 8, 2026 and October 2, 2026, the median advertised pay was 66.50 US dollars an hour; the middle half ran from 61.00 to 75.50.
Is this the bill rate a client pays?
No. These are the pay figures shown on ApTask job postings. A client bill rate adds the staffing firm’s markup on top of pay; the glossary explains bill rate, pay rate and markup.
How often is the rate index updated?
It is recomputed from the live job feed each time the site is built. This edition uses the feed snapshot of October 3, 2026.
Can I use or cite the data?
Yes. Download the CSV, and cite “ApTask IT Contractor Rate Index 2026” with this page’s URL and the data date shown at the top.
Why are some ApTask jobs left out?
Only postings with a validated pay figure count: 362 of 400 live postings had one. Postings with no pay, or a figure that failed validation, are excluded, and a role posted for several locations counts once.
Pricing a contract role?
Talk to a strategist about the market for your role, or browse ApTask's open positions.