Mainframe Systems Programmer Salary in the United States
How much does a Mainframe Systems Programmer make in the United States?
As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Mainframe Systems Programmer in the United States is $82,988 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.
However, a Mainframe Systems Programmer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $95,851
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $75,229 to $89,721
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $68,166
10%$68,166
50% (Median)$82,988
90%$95,851
Mainframe Systems Programmer Salaries by Percentile
Key Factors That Influence Mainframe Systems Programmer Salaries
A Mainframe Systems 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 Mainframe Systems Programmer Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Mainframe Systems 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:
How Do Mainframe Systems 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 Mainframe Systems Programmers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $91,884.
California: $91,535.
Massachusetts: $90,315.
District of Columbia$91,884
California$91,535
Massachusetts$90,315
Washington$89,983
New Jersey$89,950
Alaska$89,834
Connecticut$88,689
New York$88,224
Hawaii$86,739
Rhode Island$86,041
Maryland$85,568
Minnesota$84,921
Colorado$84,672
Illinois$84,589
Oregon$84,274
Delaware$84,041
New Hampshire$83,895
Virginia$83,568
Pennsylvania$82,614
Nevada$82,133
North Dakota$81,975
Michigan$81,726
Wisconsin$81,635
Vermont$81,452
Texas$80,946
Maine$80,913
Arizona$80,863
Ohio$80,805
Georgia$80,041
Indiana$79,660
Wyoming$79,585
Utah$79,469
Iowa$79,419
Kansas$79,021
Louisiana$78,905
North Carolina$78,863
Missouri$78,846
Florida$78,523
Montana$78,348
Nebraska$78,183
Kentucky$78,091
South Carolina$77,759
Tennessee$77,552
Idaho$77,469
New Mexico$76,863
Oklahoma$76,730
Alabama$76,241
South Dakota$75,419
Arkansas$74,971
West Virginia$74,730
Mississippi$74,008
Top Paying Cities for Mainframe Systems 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: $104,672
San Francisco: $103,526
Oakland: $101,344
San Jose, CA$104,672
San Francisco, CA$103,526
Oakland, CA$101,344
New York, NY$95,551
Paramus, NJ$94,389
Queens Village, NY$94,385
Passaic, NJ$94,306
Bergenfield, NJ$94,299
Stamford, CT$94,116
Huntington, NY$94,082
Newark, NJ$93,469
Bridgeport, CT$93,294
Vallejo, CA$93,129
New Brunswick, NJ$93,095
Petaluma, CA$93,046
Middlesex, NJ$92,888
Somerset, NJ$92,830
Santa Cruz, CA$92,722
Boston, MA$92,216
Monterey, CA$91,924
Seattle, WA$91,734
Santa Rosa, CA$91,718
Los Angeles, CA$91,693
Juneau, AK$91,477
Washington, DC$91,386
Orange, CA$91,090
Santa Ana, CA$90,871
Long Beach, CA$90,788
Anaheim, CA$90,772
Anchorage, AK$90,730
Santa Maria, CA$90,481
Everett, WA$90,465
Danbury, CT$90,173
Bremerton, WA$90,058
Tacoma, WA$89,759
New Suffolk, NY$89,758
Sacramento, CA$89,734
Santa Barbara, CA$89,643
Trenton, NJ$89,552
San Diego, CA$89,552
Brockton, MA$89,461
Fairbanks, AK$89,257
Lompoc, CA$89,046
Lowell, MA$88,978
Ventura, CA$88,963
Nashua, NH$88,946
Stockton, CA$88,938
Modesto, CA$88,332
Poughkeepsie, NY$88,149
Olympia, WA$87,992
Kennewick, WA$87,992
New Haven, CT$87,958
Lawrence, MA$87,660
Hartford, CT$87,577
Riverside, CA$87,560
New Bedford, MA$87,477
Richland, WA$87,477
Bakersfield, CA$87,361
San Bernardino, CA$87,328
New Britain, CT$87,319
Atlantic City, NJ$87,319
New London, CT$87,286
Norwich, CT$87,261
Portsmouth, NH$87,245
Boulder, CO$87,069
Portland, OR$86,954
Worcester, MA$86,946
Minneapolis, MN$86,689
Philadelphia, PA$86,573
Honolulu, HI$86,299
Saint Paul, MN$86,259
Vineland, NJ$86,241
Providence, RI$86,000
Chicago, IL$85,759
Bellingham, WA$85,660
Springfield, MA$85,593
Baltimore, MD$85,568
Chico, CA$85,361
Pittsfield, MA$85,137
Manchester, NH$84,979
Spokane, WA$84,614
Denver, CO$84,606
Albany, NY$84,216
Troy, NY$84,183
Nassau, NY$84,094
Schenectady, NY$84,008
Wilmington, DE$83,942
Burlington, VT$83,826
Salem, OR$83,792
Portland, ME$83,535
Yakima, WA$83,452
Rochester, MN$83,195
Reno, NV$83,153
Fresno, CA$83,153
Milwaukee, WI$83,079
Detroit, MI$82,996
Ann Arbor, MI$82,982
Allentown, PA$82,971
Colorado Springs, CO$82,830
Syracuse, NY$82,788
Carson City, NV$82,788
Houston, TX$82,672
Eugene, OR$82,631
Gary, IN$82,531
Springfield, OR$82,465
Bismarck, ND$82,448
Galveston, TX$82,390
Medford, OR$82,266
Fort Collins, CO$82,232
Concord, NH$82,191
Austin, TX$82,166
Mesa, AZ$81,992
Reading, PA$81,983
Phoenix, AZ$81,975
Dallas, TX$81,950
Saint Cloud, MN$81,870
Madison, WI$81,759
Utica, NY$81,535
Rochester, NY$81,402
Des Moines, IA$81,394
Raleigh, NC$81,386
Atlanta, GA$81,261
Battle Creek, MI$81,236
Salt Lake City, UT$81,212
Lancaster, PA$81,087
Harrisburg, PA$80,971
Kansas City, MO$80,888
Champaign, IL$80,871
Kansas City, KS$80,871
Fort Worth, TX$80,863
Columbus, OH$80,849
Boca Raton, FL$80,830
Pittsburgh, PA$80,797
Richmond, VA$80,763
Indianapolis, IN$80,747
Cleveland, OH$80,739
Las Vegas, NV$80,639
Cincinnati, OH$80,639
Petersburg, VA$80,514
Huntsville, AL$80,390
Lansing, MI$80,334
Lebanon, PA$80,324
Pueblo, CO$80,315
Appleton, WI$80,290
Buffalo, NY$80,257
Dayton, OH$80,232
Racine, WI$80,216
Charlotte, NC$80,207
Saint Louis, MO$80,183
York, PA$80,133
Elkhart, IN$80,133
Gastonia, NC$80,117
Billings, MT$80,097
Beaumont, TX$80,075
Lorain, OH$80,058
Benton Harbor, MI$80,041
Toledo, OH$80,025
Binghamton, NY$79,983
Rock Hill, SC$79,975
Rockford, IL$79,934
Springfield, IL$79,900
Elyria, OH$79,892
Fargo, ND$79,892
Flagstaff, AZ$79,834
Fort Lauderdale, FL$79,784
Duluth, MN$79,734
Miami, FL$79,734
Cheyenne, WY$79,676
Grand Forks, ND$79,676
Bangor, ME$79,494
Cedar Rapids, IA$79,402
Durham, NC$79,368
Louisville, KY$79,361
Grand Rapids, MI$79,344
Hialeah, FL$79,336
Casper, WY$79,220
Scranton, PA$79,120
New Orleans, LA$79,095
Virginia Beach, VA$79,087
Akron, OH$79,046
Peoria, IL$78,938
Sarasota, FL$78,921
Nashville, TN$78,863
Omaha, NE$78,863
Green Bay, WI$78,863
Baton Rouge, LA$78,822
Charleston, SC$78,805
Jamestown, NY$78,763
Davenport, IA$78,763
Tucson, AZ$78,722
Saint Petersburg, FL$78,672
Tampa, FL$78,656
Evansville, IN$78,606
Port Arthur, TX$78,606
Bradenton, FL$78,573
Santa Fe, NM$78,423
Orlando, FL$78,274
Clearwater, FL$78,249
Canton, OH$78,075
La Crosse, WI$78,075
Albuquerque, NM$78,025
Newport News, VA$78,017
High Point, NC$77,992
Ogden, UT$77,958
Corpus Christi, TX$77,892
Norfolk, VA$77,842
Laramie, WY$77,842
Rock Island, IL$77,792
Saginaw, MI$77,776
Jacksonville, FL$77,768
Salisbury, NC$77,751
Boise, ID$77,734
Moline, IL$77,693
Fort Myers, FL$77,668
Memphis, TN$77,651
Tulsa, OK$77,610
Waterloo, IA$77,560
Spartanburg, SC$77,477
Lincoln, NE$77,436
Fort Wayne, IN$77,419
Provo, UT$77,411
Cedar Falls, IA$77,311
San Antonio, TX$77,278
Greensboro, NC$77,245
South Bend, IN$77,236
Savannah, GA$77,145
Muskegon, MI$77,112
Birmingham, AL$77,104
Winston Salem, NC$77,063
Lake Charles, LA$76,863
Anderson, IN$76,846
Lexington, KY$76,822
Augusta, GA$76,797
Greenville, SC$76,797
Lima, OH$76,730
Wichita, KS$76,722
Tuscaloosa, AL$76,722
Columbia, SC$76,647
Springfield, OH$76,631
Asheville, NC$76,498
Bloomington, IN$76,440
Knoxville, TN$76,141
Shreveport, LA$76,133
Wilmington, NC$76,025
Roanoke, VA$76,025
Topeka, KS$75,875
Frankfort, KY$75,866
Oklahoma City, OK$75,809
Chillicothe, OH$75,776
Longview, TX$75,768
Melbourne, FL$75,759
Sioux Falls, SD$75,627
Mobile, AL$75,618
Terre Haute, IN$75,585
Altoona, PA$75,535
Amarillo, TX$75,477
Killeen, TX$75,452
Fayetteville, AR$75,386
Chattanooga, TN$75,361
Sioux City, IA$75,286
Idaho Falls, ID$75,270
Lynchburg, VA$75,203
Gainesville, FL$75,095
Portsmouth, OH$75,054
Little Rock, AR$75,037
Lafayette, LA$75,004
Youngstown, OH$75,004
Daytona Beach, FL$74,954
Clarksville, TN$74,946
Pensacola, FL$74,938
Temple, TX$74,932
Hopkinsville, KY$74,689
Erie, PA$74,672
Florence, SC$74,639
Charleston, WV$74,506
Great Falls, MT$74,465
Macon, GA$74,349
Tallahassee, FL$74,340
Fayetteville, NC$74,324
Waco, TX$74,307
Helena, MT$74,249
Pine Bluff, AR$74,217
Vincennes, IN$74,116
Lubbock, TX$74,083
Alamogordo, NM$74,033
Twin Falls, ID$73,958
Rapid City, SD$73,934
Jackson, MS$73,784
Huntington, WV$73,778
Greenville, MS$73,776
Parkersburg, WV$73,691
Montgomery, AL$73,676
Wichita Falls, TX$73,593
Springfield, MO$73,593
Biloxi, MS$73,552
Monroe, LA$73,469
Johnstown, PA$73,411
Sumter, SC$73,378
Columbus, GA$73,369
Pascagoula, MS$73,212
Abilene, TX$73,212
Kingsport, TN$72,996
Albany, GA$72,996
Gulfport, MS$72,971
Alexandria, LA$72,697
Fort Smith, AR$72,490
El Paso, TX$72,266
Las Cruces, NM$71,892
Harlingen, TX$71,681
Pocatello, ID$71,668
Florence, AL$71,560
Brownsville, TX$71,544
Mcallen, TX$71,369
Dothan, AL$71,253
Columbus, MS$70,760
Altus, OK$70,373
Lawton, OK$70,216
Pierre, SD$69,917
What Skills Can Increase a Mainframe Systems 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.
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 a Mainframe Systems 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%.
Mainframe Systems Programmer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Mainframe Systems 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, Mainframe Systems Programmer positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Mainframe Systems Programmer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Mainframe Systems Programmer
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense
$124,481
$60.0
50%
How Education impacts a Mainframe Systems Programmer's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Mainframe Systems 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 a Mainframe Systems Programmer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between
$76,470
and $82,246).
Mainframe Systems Programmer Salaries by Degree Level
$84,600
$83,400
$82,300
$81,100
$80,000
$78,800
$77,700
$76,500
No Diploma
High School
Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Typical Education for Mainframe Systems 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%
Typical Education for Mainframe Systems Programmer
Mainframe Systems Programmer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Mainframe Systems 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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$75,229
Average$82,988/year
$89,721
$6,269
Average$6,916/month
$7,477
$1,447
Average$1,596/week
$1,725
$36
Average$40/hour
$43
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$89,721
$7,477
$1,725
$43
Average
$82,988
$6,916
$1,596
$40
25th Percentile
$75,229
$6,269
$1,447
$36
Salaries of Jobs related to Mainframe Systems Programmer
Systems Programmer$121,860
CICS Systems Programmer$120,230
Mainframe Developer III$102,940
Senior Mainframe Programmer$102,935
Mainframe Cobol Programmer$95,871
Mainframe Systems Engineer$85,740
Mainframe Programmer Analyst$83,970
Intermediate Mainframe Programmer$82,800
Mainframe Developer II$82,790
Mainframe Programmer$82,724
Information Systems Programmer$80,424
Salary Trends for Mainframe Systems Programmer
Salaries for a Mainframe Systems Programmer can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $102,299 in 2023
to around $102,156 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Mainframe Systems Programmer salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Mainframe Systems Programmer Over Time
$???
$102,299
$103,270
$102,156
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$102,299
2024
$103,270
2025
$102,156
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Mainframe Systems Programmer
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Mainframe Systems Programmer
Here are companies hiring for Mainframe Systems Programmer and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$128,509/per year
C R Bard IncBiotechnologythe United States
H$124,697/per year
Henry Schein CanadaBiotechnologythe United States
N$123,899/per year
Nordex IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$120,416/per year
Nipro CorpBiotechnologythe United States
E$115,870/per year
EnovisBiotechnologythe United States
A$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyBiotechnologythe United States
M$112,110/per year
MiniMed IncBiotechnologythe United States
L$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug DevelopmentBiotechnologythe United States
L$110,229/per year
Life Technologies CorpBiotechnologythe United States
Z$106,224/per year
Zimmer BiometBiotechnologythe United States
P$103,077/per year
Promontory TherapeuticsBiotechnologythe United States
S$102,181/per year
Steris PLCBiotechnologythe United States
G$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty LtdBiotechnologythe United States
E$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicinesBiotechnologythe United States
R$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLCBiotechnologythe United States
P$94,235/per year
Pleno IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$93,666/per year
Simulaids IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CASBiotechnologythe United States
O$86,468/per year
Onward TechnologyBiotechnologythe United States
L$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics IncBiotechnologythe United States
E$84,682/per year
Eyeco LtdBiotechnologythe United States
P$84,523/per year
PaerosolBiotechnologythe United States
I$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$82,815/per year
Stateside PPEBiotechnologythe United States
D$82,041/per year
Digi BioBiotechnologythe United States
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FAQ about Mainframe Systems Programmer
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Mainframe Systems Programmer?
The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Mainframe Systems Programmer roles,
with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
