How much does a Senior Mainframe Programmer make?

As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Senior Mainframe Programmer in the United States is $102,561. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $93,421 to $111,712, with most professionals earning between $85,100 and $120,044.

Senior Mainframe Programmer Salaries by Percentile
Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $111,712 $9,309 $2,148 $54
Average $102,561 $8,547 $1,972 $49
25th Percentile $93,421 $7,785 $1,797 $45

Average Salary

25% $93,421 10% $85,100 90% $120,044 75% $111,712 $102,561 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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How much does a Senior Mainframe Programmer make by hour, week, month, and year?

Salary.com provides you with accurate and diversified Senior Mainframe Programmer salary data based on specialized databases to help you get a fairer salary. Click the switch button below to see more details about Senior Mainframe Programmer hourly pay, weekly pay, monthly pay and so on.

Last Updated on March 01, 2025
Last Updated on March 01, 2025

How Does Experience Level Affect a Senior Mainframe Programmer's Salary?

An entry-level Senior Mainframe Programmer with less than 1 year of experience earns about $98,468. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $99,151. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $100,515. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $105,293, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $107,751.

Levels Salary
Entry Level Senior Mainframe Programmer $98,468
Intermediate Level Senior Mainframe Programmer $99,151
Senior Level Senior Mainframe Programmer $100,515
Specialist Level Senior Mainframe Programmer $105,293
Expert Level Senior Mainframe Programmer $107,751
$98,468 0 yr
$99,151 < 2 yrs
$100,515 2-4 yrs
$105,293 5-8 yrs
$107,751 > 8 yrs
Last Updated on March 01, 2025
Entry Level 4%
Mid Level 3%
Senior Level 2%
Top Level 3%
Experienced 5%
View as graph
Last Updated on March 01, 2025

How much does salary of Senior Mainframe Programmer vary from city to city?

Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.

For example, as of March 01, 2025:
  • In San Francisco, CA, the average yearly salary for a Senior Mainframe Programmer is $128,201.
  • In New York, NY, the average annual salary is $119,791.
  • In Boston, MA, a Senior Mainframe Programmer earns $114,971 per year.

What is the salary trend of Senior Mainframe Programmer?

As of March 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Senior Mainframe Programmer compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $117,743 in 2023 to approximately $117,167 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Senior Mainframe Programmer salary trends, click here.)

Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.

Average Annual Salary of Senior Mainframe Programmer Over Time

2020
$???
2021
$???
2022
$???
$117,743
2023
$117,167
2024
$115,927
2025
2026
$???
Last Updated on March 01, 2025
2020
$???
2021
$???
2022
$???
2023
$117,743
2024
$117,167
2025
$115,927
2026
$???
Last Updated on March 01, 2025

Senior Mainframe Programmer Salary by Year

Year Average Annual Salary
2020 View More
2021 View More
2022 View More
2023 $117,743
2024 $117,167
2025 $115,927
2026 View More
Last Updated on March 01, 2025

Job Openings of Senior Mainframe Programmer

Salary.com job board provides millions of Senior Mainframe Programmer information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Senior Mainframe Programmer job openings or enter a new job title here.

Most Common Benefits for Senior Mainframe Programmer

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Base Salary 71.6%
Bonuses 0.0%
Social Security 5.5%
401k/403b 3.0%
Disability 1.4%
Healthcare 5.8%
Pension 3.9%
Time Off 8.8%
Core Compensation
Core Compensation Median % of Total
Base Salary $102,561 71.6%
Bonus $0 0.0%
Value of Benefits
Core Compensation Median % of Total
Social Security $7,846 5.5%
401K/403B $4,308 3.0%
Disability $2,051 1.4%
Healthcare $8,352 5.8%
Pension $5,538 3.9%
Time Off $12,623 8.8%
Total Compensation $143,279 100%
Core Compensation is based on averages for this job and does not reflect personal factors used to determine your projected salary range.
Value of Benefits indicates the employer's expected contribution and paid time off.
Last Updated on March 01, 2025

What are the salaries of a Senior Mainframe Programmer with different levels of education?

Salaries for Senior Mainframe Programmer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate

According to our 100% employer reported salary sources the median salary for a Senior Mainframe Programmer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is $96,065 - $102,049. Please try our salary wizard to explore how other factors like location, Years of experience and number of direct reports can impact your base pay and bonus.

Senior Mainframe Programmer Salaries by Degree Level

Last Updated on March 01, 2025
Typical Education for Senior Mainframe Programmer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
High School 9.1%
Associates 16.4%
Bachelors 58.2%
Masters 16.4%
Typical Education for Senior Mainframe Programmer
High School 9.1%
Associates 16.4%
Bachelors 58.2%
Masters 16.4%
view as table

Senior Mainframe Programmer Salaries by Degree Level

Last Updated on March 01, 2025

What Am I Worth?

FAQ about Senior Mainframe Programmer

1. What is the average salary of a Senior Mainframe Programmer?

The average annual salary of Senior Mainframe Programmer is $102,561. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Senior Mainframe Programmer is $49; the average weekly pay of Senior Mainframe Programmer is $1,972; the average monthly pay of Senior Mainframe Programmer is $8,547.

2. Where can a Senior Mainframe Programmer earn the most?

A Senior Mainframe Programmer's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Senior Mainframe Programmer earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Senior Mainframe Programmer is $128,714.

3. What is the highest pay for Senior Mainframe Programmer?

The highest pay for Senior Mainframe Programmer is $120,044.

4. What is the lowest pay for Senior Mainframe Programmer?

The lowest pay for Senior Mainframe Programmer is $85,100.

5. What are the responsibilities of Senior Mainframe Programmer?

Reviews, analyzes, and modifies programming systems including encoding, testing, debugging and installing for a large-scale mainframe computer system. Maintains and develops online and batch application programs. Develops and implements a disaster recovery plan. Works with project members to develop specifications, diagrams and flowcharts. May require a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a project leader or manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4 -7 years of related experience.

6. What are the skills of Senior Mainframe Programmer

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.

2.)

Computer Science: 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.

3.)

Code Review: Code reviews are methodical assessments of code designed to identify bugs, increase code quality, and help developers learn the source code.

About Our Data

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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The average salary for a Senior Mainframe Programmer is $102,561 per year in the United States, updated at March 01, 2025.
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