Okay, let’s tackle this. So John has a mix of technical and management skills, which is valuable. System administration and software development are in-demand skills, especially for Windows and Microsoft technologies. However, his role is not as high-level as a software engineer or a senior system administrator. Considering his skills and experience, a rate of $125 per hour seems reasonable, which is below the average rate for a system administrator in the US ($150-$200 per hour) but still competitive for a junior or mid-level IT professional.