Hourly Wage for Intermediate Mainframe Programmer Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Intermediate Mainframe Programmer?

As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for an Intermediate Mainframe Programmer in the United States is $40, which translates to an annual salary of about $82,800.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $46 per hour
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36 to $43 per hour
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32 per hour

10% $32

50% (Median) $40

90% $46

Intermediate Mainframe Programmer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$89,400	$7,450	$1,719	$43
Average	$82,800	$6,900	$1,592	$40
25th Percentile	$74,800	$6,233	$1,438	$36

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Key Factors That Influence Intermediate Mainframe Programmer Salaries

An Intermediate Mainframe Programmer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Intermediate Mainframe Programmer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Intermediate Mainframe Programmer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $80,173
Early Career (1-2 years): $80,412
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $83,293
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $86,051
Expert (over 8 years): $86,248

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Intermediate Mainframe Programmer	$80,173
Intermediate Level Intermediate Mainframe Programmer	$80,412
Senior Level Intermediate Mainframe Programmer	$83,293
Specialist Level Intermediate Mainframe Programmer	$86,051
Expert Level Intermediate Mainframe Programmer	$86,248

View as Graph

How Do Intermediate Mainframe Programmer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Intermediate Mainframe Programmers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $91,700.
California: $91,300.
Massachusetts: $90,100.

District of Columbia $91,700 California $91,300 Massachusetts $90,100 Washington $89,800 New Jersey $89,700 Alaska $89,600 Connecticut $88,500 New York $88,000

Hawaii $86,500 Rhode Island $85,800 Maryland $85,400 Minnesota $84,700 Colorado $84,500 Illinois $84,400 Oregon $84,100 Delaware $83,800

New Hampshire $83,700 Virginia $83,400 Pennsylvania $82,400 Nevada $81,900 North Dakota $81,800 Michigan $81,500 Wisconsin $81,400 Vermont $81,300

Texas $80,800 Arizona $80,700 Maine $80,700 Ohio $80,600 Georgia $79,900 Indiana $79,500 Wyoming $79,400 Utah $79,300

Iowa $79,200 Kansas $78,800 Louisiana $78,700 North Carolina $78,700 Missouri $78,700 Florida $78,300 Montana $78,200 Nebraska $78,000

Kentucky $77,900 South Carolina $77,600 Tennessee $77,400 Idaho $77,300 New Mexico $76,700 Oklahoma $76,600 Alabama $76,100 South Dakota $75,200

Arkansas $74,800 West Virginia $74,600 Mississippi $73,800

Top Paying Cities for Intermediate Mainframe Programmers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $104,400
San Francisco: $103,300
Oakland: $101,100

San Jose, CA $104,400

San Francisco, CA $103,300

Oakland, CA $101,100

New York, NY $95,300

Paramus, NJ $94,200

Queens Village, NY $94,200

Passaic, NJ $94,100

Bergenfield, NJ $94,100

Huntington, NY $93,900

Stamford, CT $93,900

Newark, NJ $93,200

Bridgeport, CT $93,100

Vallejo, CA $92,900

New Brunswick, NJ $92,900

Petaluma, CA $92,800

Middlesex, NJ $92,700

Somerset, NJ $92,600

Santa Cruz, CA $92,500

Boston, MA $92,000

Monterey, CA $91,700

Seattle, WA $91,500

Santa Rosa, CA $91,500

Los Angeles, CA $91,500

Juneau, AK $91,300

Washington, DC $91,200

Orange, CA $90,900

Santa Ana, CA $90,700

Long Beach, CA $90,600

Anaheim, CA $90,600

Anchorage, AK $90,500

Santa Maria, CA $90,300

Everett, WA $90,300

Danbury, CT $90,000

Bremerton, WA $89,800

Tacoma, WA $89,500

New Suffolk, NY $89,500

Sacramento, CA $89,500

Santa Barbara, CA $89,400

Brockton, MA $89,300

San Diego, CA $89,300

Trenton, NJ $89,300

Fairbanks, AK $89,000

Lompoc, CA $88,800

Lowell, MA $88,800

Ventura, CA $88,800

Nashua, NH $88,700

Stockton, CA $88,700

Modesto, CA $88,100

Poughkeepsie, NY $87,900

New Haven, CT $87,800

Olympia, WA $87,800

Kennewick, WA $87,800

Lawrence, MA $87,500

Hartford, CT $87,400

Riverside, CA $87,400

New Bedford, MA $87,300

Richland, WA $87,300

Bakersfield, CA $87,200

Norwich, CT $87,100

New London, CT $87,100

San Bernardino, CA $87,100

New Britain, CT $87,100

Atlantic City, NJ $87,100

Portsmouth, NH $87,000

Boulder, CO $86,900

Portland, OR $86,800

Worcester, MA $86,700

Minneapolis, MN $86,500

Philadelphia, PA $86,400

Honolulu, HI $86,100

Saint Paul, MN $86,100

Vineland, NJ $86,000

Providence, RI $85,800

Chicago, IL $85,600

Bellingham, WA $85,500

Baltimore, MD $85,400

Springfield, MA $85,400

Chico, CA $85,200

Pittsfield, MA $84,900

Manchester, NH $84,800

Spokane, WA $84,400

Denver, CO $84,400

Albany, NY $84,000

Troy, NY $84,000

Nassau, NY $83,900

Schenectady, NY $83,800

Wilmington, DE $83,700

Salem, OR $83,600

Burlington, VT $83,600

Portland, ME $83,300

Yakima, WA $83,300

Rochester, MN $83,000

Reno, NV $83,000

Fresno, CA $83,000

Milwaukee, WI $82,900

Ann Arbor, MI $82,800

Allentown, PA $82,800

Detroit, MI $82,800

Colorado Springs, CO $82,600

Syracuse, NY $82,600

Carson City, NV $82,600

Houston, TX $82,500

Eugene, OR $82,400

Bismarck, ND $82,300

Gary, IN $82,300

Springfield, OR $82,300

Galveston, TX $82,200

Medford, OR $82,100

Fort Collins, CO $82,000

Concord, NH $82,000

Austin, TX $82,000

Mesa, AZ $81,800

Reading, PA $81,800

Phoenix, AZ $81,800

Dallas, TX $81,800

Saint Cloud, MN $81,700

Madison, WI $81,600

Utica, NY $81,300

Rochester, NY $81,200

Des Moines, IA $81,200

Raleigh, NC $81,200

Atlanta, GA $81,100

Battle Creek, MI $81,100

Salt Lake City, UT $81,000

Lancaster, PA $80,900

Harrisburg, PA $80,800

Columbus, OH $80,700

Fort Worth, TX $80,700

Kansas City, MO $80,700

Kansas City, KS $80,700

Champaign, IL $80,700

Indianapolis, IN $80,600

Boca Raton, FL $80,600

Pittsburgh, PA $80,600

Richmond, VA $80,600

Cleveland, OH $80,600

Cincinnati, OH $80,500

Las Vegas, NV $80,500

Petersburg, VA $80,300

Huntsville, AL $80,200

Lansing, MI $80,200

Lebanon, PA $80,100

Pueblo, CO $80,100

Appleton, WI $80,100

Buffalo, NY $80,100

Racine, WI $80,000

Dayton, OH $80,000

Charlotte, NC $80,000

Saint Louis, MO $80,000

Lorain, OH $79,900

Beaumont, TX $79,900

Billings, MT $79,900

Benton Harbor, MI $79,900

Elkhart, IN $79,900

York, PA $79,900

Gastonia, NC $79,900

Rockford, IL $79,800

Rock Hill, SC $79,800

Binghamton, NY $79,800

Toledo, OH $79,800

Springfield, IL $79,700

Elyria, OH $79,700

Fargo, ND $79,700

Flagstaff, AZ $79,700

Fort Lauderdale, FL $79,600

Duluth, MN $79,600

Miami, FL $79,600

Cheyenne, WY $79,500

Grand Forks, ND $79,500

Bangor, ME $79,300

Cedar Rapids, IA $79,200

Durham, NC $79,200

Louisville, KY $79,200

Grand Rapids, MI $79,200

Hialeah, FL $79,200

Casper, WY $79,000

Akron, OH $78,900

Virginia Beach, VA $78,900

Scranton, PA $78,900

New Orleans, LA $78,900

Peoria, IL $78,800

Sarasota, FL $78,700

Nashville, TN $78,700

Omaha, NE $78,700

Green Bay, WI $78,700

Davenport, IA $78,600

Baton Rouge, LA $78,600

Charleston, SC $78,600

Jamestown, NY $78,600

Tucson, AZ $78,500

Saint Petersburg, FL $78,500

Tampa, FL $78,500

Port Arthur, TX $78,400

Bradenton, FL $78,400

Evansville, IN $78,400

Santa Fe, NM $78,200

Clearwater, FL $78,100

Orlando, FL $78,100

La Crosse, WI $77,900

Canton, OH $77,900

Albuquerque, NM $77,800

Newport News, VA $77,800

High Point, NC $77,800

Ogden, UT $77,800

Norfolk, VA $77,700

Laramie, WY $77,700

Corpus Christi, TX $77,700

Rock Island, IL $77,600

Saginaw, MI $77,600

Jacksonville, FL $77,600

Salisbury, NC $77,600

Boise, ID $77,600

Memphis, TN $77,500

Moline, IL $77,500

Fort Myers, FL $77,500

Waterloo, IA $77,400

Tulsa, OK $77,400

Spartanburg, SC $77,300

Lincoln, NE $77,300

Fort Wayne, IN $77,200

Provo, UT $77,200

Cedar Falls, IA $77,100

San Antonio, TX $77,100

Greensboro, NC $77,100

South Bend, IN $77,100

Savannah, GA $77,000

Muskegon, MI $76,900

Birmingham, AL $76,900

Winston Salem, NC $76,900

Lake Charles, LA $76,700

Anderson, IN $76,700

Lexington, KY $76,600

Augusta, GA $76,600

Greenville, SC $76,600

Lima, OH $76,600

Springfield, OH $76,500

Columbia, SC $76,500

Tuscaloosa, AL $76,500

Wichita, KS $76,500

Asheville, NC $76,300

Bloomington, IN $76,300

Knoxville, TN $76,000

Shreveport, LA $76,000

Wilmington, NC $75,900

Roanoke, VA $75,900

Topeka, KS $75,700

Frankfort, KY $75,700

Melbourne, FL $75,600

Longview, TX $75,600

Oklahoma City, OK $75,600

Chillicothe, OH $75,600

Sioux Falls, SD $75,500

Mobile, AL $75,400

Terre Haute, IN $75,400

Altoona, PA $75,400

Killeen, TX $75,300

Amarillo, TX $75,300

Chattanooga, TN $75,200

Fayetteville, AR $75,200

Sioux City, IA $75,100

Idaho Falls, ID $75,100

Lynchburg, VA $75,000

Gainesville, FL $74,900

Portsmouth, OH $74,900

Little Rock, AR $74,900

Temple, TX $74,800

Pensacola, FL $74,800

Clarksville, TN $74,800

Daytona Beach, FL $74,800

Youngstown, OH $74,800

Lafayette, LA $74,800

Hopkinsville, KY $74,500

Erie, PA $74,500

Florence, SC $74,500

Charleston, WV $74,300

Great Falls, MT $74,300

Fayetteville, NC $74,200

Macon, GA $74,200

Tallahassee, FL $74,200

Waco, TX $74,100

Helena, MT $74,100

Pine Bluff, AR $74,100

Vincennes, IN $74,000

Lubbock, TX $73,900

Alamogordo, NM $73,900

Twin Falls, ID $73,800

Rapid City, SD $73,800

Greenville, MS $73,600

Jackson, MS $73,600

Huntington, WV $73,600

Parkersburg, WV $73,500

Montgomery, AL $73,500

Wichita Falls, TX $73,400

Springfield, MO $73,400

Biloxi, MS $73,400

Monroe, LA $73,300

Columbus, GA $73,200

Johnstown, PA $73,200

Sumter, SC $73,200

Pascagoula, MS $73,000

Abilene, TX $73,000

Kingsport, TN $72,800

Albany, GA $72,800

Gulfport, MS $72,800

Alexandria, LA $72,500

Fort Smith, AR $72,300

El Paso, TX $72,100

Las Cruces, NM $71,700

Harlingen, TX $71,500

Pocatello, ID $71,500

Florence, AL $71,400

Brownsville, TX $71,400

Mcallen, TX $71,200

Dothan, AL $71,100

Columbus, MS $70,600

Altus, OK $70,200

Lawton, OK $70,100

Pierre, SD $69,800

What Skills Can Increase an Intermediate Mainframe Programmer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Commitment (Mentioned in 28.74% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.72% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
Software Development (Mentioned in 1.19% Job Postings): Software development is the process of conceiving, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other software components. Software development is a process of writing and maintaining the source code, but in a broader sense, it includes all that is involved between the conception of the desired software through to the final manifestation of the software, sometimes in a planned and structured process. Therefore, software development may include research, new development, prototyping, modification, reuse, re-engineering, maintenance, or any other activities that result in software products. Software can be developed for a variety of purposes, the three most common being to meet specific needs of a specific client/business (the case with custom software), to meet a perceived need of some set of potential users (the case with commercial and open source software), or for personal use (e.g. a scientist may write software to automate a mundane task). Embedded software development, that is, the development of embedded software, such as used for controlling consumer products, requires the development process to be integrated with the development of the controlled physical product. System software underlies applications and the programming process itself, and is often developed separately.

Skills	Demand Percentage
Commitment	28.74%
Computer Science	2.72%
Software Development	1.19%

See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Intermediate Mainframe Programmer's salary.

Network Design: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
Process Management: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Network Design	$98,532	19%
Process Management	$92,736	12%
Project Management	$89,424	8%

Get Latest Data

Intermediate Mainframe Programmer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Intermediate Mainframe Programmer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $92,532. While startup companies pay approximate $78,273.

Intermediate Mainframe Programmer Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$78,273
Growth Stage	51~500	$82,782
Established	501~5000	$89,352
Enterprise	5000+	$92,532

Intermediate Mainframe Programmer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Intermediate Mainframe Programmer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Intermediate Mainframe Programmer positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Intermediate Mainframe Programmer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Intermediate Mainframe Programmer

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense	$124,200	$60.0	50%

How Education impacts an Intermediate Mainframe Programmer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Intermediate Mainframe Programmers enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Intermediate Mainframe Programmer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $76,222 and $81,948).

Intermediate Mainframe Programmer Salaries by Degree Level

$84,300
$83,100
$82,000
$80,800
$79,700
$78,600
$77,400
$76,300

Typical Education for Intermediate Mainframe Programmer
Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	16.1%
High School	16.1%
Associates	16.1%
Bachelors	51.6%
Masters	16.1%
Doctorate	0.0%

View as Graph

Intermediate Mainframe Programmer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Intermediate Mainframe Programmer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

$74,800

Average $82,800/year

$89,400

$6,233

Average $6,900/month

$7,450

$1,438

Average $1,592/week

$1,719

$36

Average $40/hour

$43

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$89,400	$7,450	$1,719	$43
Average	$82,800	$6,900	$1,592	$40
25th Percentile	$74,800	$6,233	$1,438	$36

Salary Trends for Intermediate Mainframe Programmer

Salaries for an Intermediate Mainframe Programmer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $102,587 in 2023 to around $102,443 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Intermediate Mainframe Programmer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Intermediate Mainframe Programmer Over Time

$???
$102,587
$103,560
$102,443
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$102,587
2024	$103,560
2025	$102,443
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Intermediate Mainframe Programmer

Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Intermediate Mainframe Programmer

Here are companies hiring for Intermediate Mainframe Programmer and their salaries, click below for more details.

C $128,509/per year

C R Bard Inc Biotechnology the United States

H $124,697/per year

Henry Schein Canada Biotechnology the United States

N $123,899/per year

Nordex Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $120,416/per year

Nipro Corp Biotechnology the United States

E $115,870/per year

Enovis Biotechnology the United States

A $114,553/per year

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy Biotechnology the United States

M $112,110/per year

MiniMed Inc Biotechnology the United States

L $111,500/per year

Labcorp Drug Development Biotechnology the United States

L $110,229/per year

Life Technologies Corp Biotechnology the United States

Z $106,224/per year

Zimmer Biomet Biotechnology the United States

P $103,077/per year

Promontory Therapeutics Biotechnology the United States

S $102,181/per year

Steris PLC Biotechnology the United States

G $97,274/per year

Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd Biotechnology the United States

E $94,764/per year

Endeavor BioMedicines Biotechnology the United States

R $94,402/per year

Replay Holdings LLC Biotechnology the United States

P $94,235/per year

Pleno Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $93,666/per year

Simulaids Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $88,880/per year

NOIRLab/CAS Biotechnology the United States

O $86,468/per year

Onward Technology Biotechnology the United States

L $84,895/per year

LED Medical Diagnostics Inc Biotechnology the United States

E $84,682/per year

Eyeco Ltd Biotechnology the United States

P $84,523/per year

Paerosol Biotechnology the United States

I $83,525/per year

IONIQ Sciences Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $82,815/per year

Stateside PPE Biotechnology the United States

D $82,041/per year

Digi Bio Biotechnology the United States

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FAQ about Intermediate Mainframe Programmer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Intermediate Mainframe Programmer?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Intermediate Mainframe Programmer roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

2. What is the salary of 2 year experience in mainframe?

The salary for an Intermediate Mainframe Programmer with 2 years of experience typically ranges from ₹72,000 to ₹94,700, with a mid-salary of ₹81,900. This reflects the competitive compensation in the field, aligning with industry standards for similar experience levels.

3. Are mainframe programmers still in demand?

Yes, mainframe programmers are still in demand due to the critical role they play in maintaining legacy systems for many large organizations. With a salary range from $72,000 to $94,700, these professionals are essential for ensuring the stability and efficiency of mainframe operations, making their skills highly sought after in the job market.

4. What is the salary of mainframe developer for 10 years experience?

The salary for an Intermediate Mainframe Programmer with around 10 years of experience typically ranges from ₹72,000 to ₹94,700 annually. This reflects the growing demand and expertise in the field, with a mid-salary of approximately ₹81,900.

5. How much does a mainframe developer at US Bank make?

A mainframe developer at US Bank typically earns between $72,000 and $94,700 annually, with a median salary of around $81,900. This range reflects the competitive nature of the field, influenced by factors such as experience and location.

6. Which developer has highest salary in US?

Intermediate Mainframe Programmers in the US earn a salary range of $72,000 to $94,700, with a median salary of $81,900. While this is competitive, it is lower than the average salaries for Python software engineers, who can earn between $104,000 and $200,000 due to high demand for their skills in various applications.

7. Does mainframe pay well?

Yes, mainframe programmers can earn a competitive salary. The salary data indicates that the minimum salary is $72,000, the mid-range salary is $81,900, and the maximum salary reaches $94,700. This range reflects the specialized skills required in this field, making it a lucrative career choice.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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