How Much Do Cobol Developer Make?
How much do cobol developer make? Discover the average salary, base salary, and compensation for cobol developer in the development & it category. Learn about cobol developer pay per hour, per week, per month, and per annum with detailed salary ranges from $60,000 to $90,000.
How Much Do Cobol Developer Make? Complete Salary Guide
How much do cobol developer make? This is one of the most common questions in career planning. Cobol Developer in the Development & IT field can expect to earn an average salary of $115,000 per year, with entry-level positions starting at $60,000 and experienced professionals earning up to $90,000 annually.
When breaking down the average salary of cobol developer by time periods, cobol developer typically make around $9,583.333 per month and approximately $2,211.538 per week. The basic salary of cobol developer varies significantly based on experience level, location, and industry specialization. Entry-level cobol developer typically start with a base salary of $60,000, while mid-career professionals earn an average of $85,000, and senior-level roles can command salaries exceeding $90,000.
The salary landscape for cobol developer is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, educational background, and specific industry demands. How much do cobol developer make in a week? On average, this translates to approximately $2,211.538 per week. How much do cobol developer make per annum? The annual salary range spans from $60,000 to $120,000, with the median salary sitting at $115,000. Additionally, many cobol developer receive bonuses averaging $10,000 annually, representing approximately 10.25% of their base salary.
How Much Do Cobol Developer Get Paid Per Annum? Cobol Developer Salary
Annual salary data for cobol developer across different experience levels, showing entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professional compensation ranges based on industry standards.
Entry Level Annual Salary
Mid-Career Annual Salary
Experienced Annual Salary
How Much Do Cobol Developer Get Paid in a Month? Cobol Developer Monthly Salary
Monthly salary breakdowns for cobol developer at different career stages, providing practical budgeting insights and compensation expectations for financial planning.
Entry Level Monthly Salary
Mid-Career Monthly Salary
Experienced Monthly Salary
How Much Do Cobol Developer Get Paid in Different Locations?
Geographic salary variations for cobol developer across different cities and regions, including cost of living adjustments and regional market demand factors that impact compensation.
Cobol Developer Salary Trends
Historical salary progression for cobol developer over the past years, showing year-over-year compensation growth and market trends in the industry.
Cobol Developer Salary Trends (2020 - 2025)
Bonus & Compensation Package
Additional compensation beyond base salary, including bonuses, commissions, and overtime opportunities that contribute to total annual earnings.
Bonus Percentage
of annual salary
Bonuses for COBOL developers are typically awarded based on performance, project completion, company profitability, and individual contributions to team success.
Average Bonus
annually
Commission
Cobol Developer roles generally focus on salary and benefits rather than commissions or incentives, as they are primarily technical positions without sales components.
Overtime
Overtime pay for COBOL developers is common, especially in industries with high demand, where project deadlines and workload often require extended hours.
Employee Benefits Package
Comprehensive benefits and perks provided to employees, including health coverage, retirement plans, time off policies, and professional development opportunities.
Comprehensive Benefits
Typical benefits for a COBOL Developer include health insurance, 401(k) retirement plans, paid time off (PTO), flexible work hours, professional development opportunities, and performance bonuses.
Cobol Developer Job Overview
Comprehensive details about the cobol developer role including daily responsibilities, work environment, physical demands, and key tasks that define this career path.
About This Role
A COBOL Developer specializes in designing, coding, and maintaining applications using the COBOL programming language. They play a crucial role in legacy system management, ensuring software reliability and performance in industries like banking and insurance. Their expertise helps organizations modernize systems while preserving critical business operations and data integrity.
Primary Responsibilities
Writing and maintaining COBOL code, debugging and troubleshooting applications, analyzing business requirements, designing system architecture, testing and validating software solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams, optimizing performance of existing applications, documenting technical specifications, ensuring compliance with industry standards, providing user support and training.
Day-to-Day Tasks
A COBOL developer typically writes and tests code, collaborates with team members, analyzes system requirements, troubleshoots issues, maintains legacy systems, and documents processes to ensure efficient software functionality.
Work Environment
Hybrid
Cobol Developers typically work in office environments, collaborating with teams, using computers, often on legacy systems and financial applications.
Physical Demands
Minimal
Cobol Developers typically work in office environments, requiring prolonged computer use, minimal physical demands, and occasional collaboration with teams or clients in meetings.
Cobol Developer Requirements & Prerequisites
Essential qualifications and credentials needed to pursue a career as a cobol developer, including educational background, certifications, and experience requirements.
Education
Bachelor’s degree.
Field: Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Computer Programming, Management Information Systems, Mathematics, Data Science.
Experience
3 years
Employers seek Cobol Developers with strong programming skills, experience in legacy systems, proficiency in database management, problem-solving abilities, and familiarity with software development methodologies to enhance operational efficiency.
Certifications
IBM Certified Application Developer – COBOL, Micro Focus Certified Professional – COBOL, CA Technologies Mainframe Certifications, Coursera COBOL Programming with IBM Z Certificate, Udacity Full Stack Web Developer Nanodegree (includes COBOL), AWS Certified Solutions Architect (for cloud integration), CompTIA IT Fundamentals.
Required Skills
COBOL programming, debugging and troubleshooting, database management, mainframe systems knowledge, analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, version control systems, communication skills.
Technical Skills
Soft Skills
Cobol Developer Career Path
Professional progression opportunities for cobol developer from entry-level to senior management, including typical career advancement timeline and role evolution.
Entry Level
Junior Programmer, Software Developer Intern, Systems Analyst.
Early-career COBOL developers write, test, and maintain legacy applications, troubleshoot issues, and collaborate with teams to enhance system performance in mainframe environments.
Mid-Career
Mainframe Developer, Software Engineer, Systems Analyst
Mid-career Cobol Developers design, maintain, and optimize legacy systems, collaborate with teams for software enhancements, troubleshoot issues, and ensure code quality and performance.
Senior Management
Lead Cobol Developer, Cobol Development Manager, Senior Systems Architect
Senior Cobol Developers manage complex legacy systems, optimize code performance, lead development teams, ensure compliance, mentor juniors, and collaborate on system integrations and enhancements.
Career Progression Timeline
Timeline: 5 years
A typical career path for a COBOL Developer includes progression from junior developer to senior roles, eventually moving into project management or systems architecture positions. Continuous learning and adapting to modern technologies enhance advancement opportunities.
Cobol Developer Industry & Growth
Market outlook and growth prospects for cobol developer, including industry trends, job market demand, and factors influencing career opportunities and advancement.
Job Outlook
Stable
Projected: 2024–2034
Industry Trends
1. Increasing demand for legacy system modernization, 2. Growth in cloud computing and integration with modern technologies, 3. Shortage of skilled Cobol developers leading to higher salaries and job security.
Growth Factors
Increased legacy system maintenance, rising demand for mainframe expertise, digital transformation initiatives, and a shortage of skilled developers drive Cobol Developer demand.
Future Opportunities
Emerging niches for COBOL developers include legacy system modernization, cloud migration, fintech integration, AI-driven analytics, and blockchain solutions in enterprise environments.
Cobol Developer Related Professions
Alternative career paths and similar roles for cobol developer, including career transitions, related positions, and advancement opportunities within the field.
Similar Roles
Career Alternatives
Upgrade Paths
Related Entry Roles
Cobol Developer Skills & Development
Essential skills and professional development resources for cobol developer, including technical abilities, soft skills, recommended courses, and ongoing learning opportunities.
Technical Skills
Soft Skills Needed
Recommended Certifications
Recommended Courses
Development Resources
Training Timeline
Estimated training time
Frequently Asked Questions About Cobol Developer Salary
Common questions and answers about pursuing a career as a cobol developer, covering qualifications, salary expectations, career prospects, and practical career guidance.
What qualifications are needed to become a COBOL developer?
A degree in computer science or related field, along with proficiency in COBOL programming and mainframe systems.
What is the average salary of a COBOL developer?
The average salary ranges from $70,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on experience and location.
Is prior experience necessary for entry-level COBOL developer positions?
While not always required, internships or coursework in COBOL can be beneficial for entry-level roles.
What industries commonly employ COBOL developers?
Industries such as banking, insurance, and government frequently hire COBOL developers due to legacy systems.
How can I advance my career as a COBOL developer?
Gaining additional certifications, learning modern programming languages, and taking on leadership roles can help advance your career.
How Much Others Make?
Explore salary data for other professions to compare compensation across different career paths and industries.