Configuration Manager labor category
Configuration Manager is a government contracting labor category with levels I through IV. GSA ceiling rates run about $73–$191/hr depending on level. That's what the government pays the contractor, not your salary.
Updated Oct 21, 2026 · Data: GSA CALC+
What a Configuration Manager does
In a government contract environment, you will establish processes to track changes, document current configurations, and ensure that every modification is reviewed, approved, and recorded. This role is essential for systems engineering, software development, and large scale infrastructure projects where changes must be controlled to prevent operational failure. Professionals in this field generally start at Level I with a bachelor's degree and foundational knowledge of documentation standards, advancing to Levels III and IV as they take on enterprise-wide responsibility for large-scale portfolios and complex integration schedules. As you transition from the military, you will find that your experience in maintaining technical manuals, tracking equipment inventories, and adhering to strict change control procedures directly maps to the requirements of this career path.
Typical Configuration Manager duties
- Develop and maintain comprehensive configuration management plans that outline change control processes and audit protocols.
- Monitor system changes and ensure that all technical documentation remains accurate and reflects current operational baselines.
- Facilitate configuration control boards to review, evaluate, and approve proposed modifications to hardware and software baselines.
- Perform routine internal audits to verify that system configurations comply with contract requirements and government standards.
- Create and update technical reports and databases to provide stakeholders with clear visibility into system assets and change histories.
Configuration Manager levels, requirements, and GSA CALC+ rates
Levels map to years of relevant experience. A degree can substitute for years (about 2 years per step).
| Level | Experience | Most common education | GSA ceiling rate, 25th–75th ($/hr) | GSA ceiling rate, median ($/hr) | Rough salary estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | 0–3 yrs | Bachelors | $73/hr – $110/hr | $90/hr | $78k–$104k |
| Level II | 4–7 yrs | Bachelors | $94/hr – $137/hr | $111/hr | $96k–$128k |
| Level III | 8–12 yrs | Bachelors | $107/hr – $161/hr | $135/hr | $117k–$156k |
| Level IV | 13+ yrs | Bachelors | $122/hr – $191/hr | $152/hr | $131k–$175k |
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $73/hr – $110/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $90/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $78k–$104k
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $94/hr – $137/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $111/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $96k–$128k
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $107/hr – $161/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $135/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $117k–$156k
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $122/hr – $191/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $152/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $131k–$175k
GSA ceiling rate: what the government pays the contractor, not your salary. It includes overhead, benefits, and profit. Source: GSA CALC+, current contract year, synced Oct 25, 2026, 1,140 rates.
Common certifications: Certified Professional Logistician, Certified Supply Chain Professional, ITIL Foundation, Project Management Professional, Microsoft Office Specialist, FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) License, OSHA 30-Hour General Industry, Six Sigma Green Belt
Clearance for this labor category
About 9% of Configuration Manager GSA rates require a clearance. Put your clearance on the very first line of your resume, under your name and contact info. Level and status only. Never list program names, SCI caveats, or classified details. Use the free Clearance Formatter.
Military codes that map to Configuration Manager
Sample Configuration Manager resume bullets
Public-safe, quantified examples. Replace the numbers with your own.
- Managed configuration baselines for a $15M enterprise software suite, reducing deployment errors by 25% through rigorous change control documentation.
- Led configuration audits for a system supporting 500+ users, ensuring 100% compliance with federal security standards and contract deliverables.
- Administered a centralized configuration management database, tracking 2,000+ hardware components and improving inventory accuracy by 40% over two years.
What level Configuration Manager are you?
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level, the GSA rate range for that level, and what would move you up.
With 0 years of relevant experience and a no degree, your effective experience is about 0 years. Under the common GSA CALC+ rule that a degree step substitutes for roughly 2 years, that maps to Level I. Verify against the specific contract.
Move up · To reach Level II, add about 4 more years of relevant experience, or earn a certification the contract requires (e.g. Security+, PMP) that the contract requires.
GSA ceiling rate: what the government pays the contractor, not your salary. It includes overhead, benefits, and profit. Source: GSA CALC+, current contract year, synced Oct 25, 2026, 440 rates.
No account needed. Opens the free translator prefilled with Configuration Manager. Share link encodes only your selections, no names.
Configuration Manager labor category: quick answers
How does my military experience translate to Configuration Management?
Military experience in supply chain, maintenance records, technical manual updates, and systems tracking provides a strong foundation for this role. Many recruiters look for the discipline and attention to detail developed during your service.
Do I need a security clearance for these roles?
While not every role requires one, many federal contracts for Configuration Managers do. Only about 9% of roles listed in certain databases explicitly require it, but having an active clearance significantly increases your marketability.
What is the typical pay progression for this career?
Pay is structured by levels, with median rates typically ranging from $90.53 per hour for entry-level positions to over $150 per hour for senior or expert-level roles. Higher levels require more extensive experience and deeper expertise in specialized software tools.
Is a specific degree required to start?
Most government contracts require at least a bachelor's degree in a technical or business field. Equivalent professional experience is often accepted as a substitute, especially for candidates with extensive relevant military service.
Reviewed by the Good to Go team · Last updated 2026-10-21 · Sources: GSA CALC+, O*NET
More about this roleShow
In a government contract environment, you will establish processes to track changes, document current configurations, and ensure that every modification is reviewed, approved, and recorded. This role is essential for systems engineering, software development, and large scale infrastructure projects where changes must be controlled to prevent operational failure. Professionals in this field generally start at Level I with a bachelor's degree and foundational knowledge of documentation standards, advancing to Levels III and IV as they take on enterprise-wide responsibility for large-scale portfolios and complex integration schedules. As you transition from the military, you will find that your experience in maintaining technical manuals, tracking equipment inventories, and adhering to strict change control procedures directly maps to the requirements of this career path.
Each contract defines its own labor categories and levels, so confirm the fit against the posting. Pay figures here are estimates from GSA CALC+ ceiling rates, not a guarantee.
Find your Configuration Manager level
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level and the GSA rate range for it.
Open the Level Calculator