Assigning number values to text strings
 

Does anyone know whether it's possible in Excel to create a formula
that assigns a particular number value to a particular text string if
found? I'm trying to create a merge document in Word using an Excel
datasheet. The merged letters are bills for clients that should be
billed different based on level. So, for example:

Let's say these are the levels: Level 1= $45, Level 2= $295. There are
also some other fields that are simpler to add because they are all
already in number format. But if I want to calculate the total for
Client 1 who is at Level 2, what formula would I create in order to
return a dollar value if the information that indicates which level the
client is at says "Level 2" rather than $295?

Thanks!

Nick