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Cobol Developer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Must be US Citizen** 6 month contract $45/hr plus medical benefits Herndon, Va The project is a 6 month contract where the candidate will convert Nomad online reports and batch programs to COBOL, SAS ...

C# Developer

Richmond, VA · On-site

$60 - $65/hr

C# Developer/Programmer Analyst 3 Richmond VA Hybrid Role, Candidate must be able to work on site ... languages (COBOL, PHP, C+, Java, Python, Coldfusion, etc.) would be a plus. · Ability to write ...

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Cobol Developer information

See Virginia salary details

$10

$55

$72

How much do cobol developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for cobol developer in Virginia is $55.04, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $47.88 and $64.81 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Cobol developer?

A COBOL Developer is a software programmer who specializes in using the COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) programming language to design, develop, maintain, and troubleshoot business applications. COBOL is a legacy language primarily used in mainframe computing environments, common in industries like banking, insurance, and government. COBOL Developers often work on updating, maintaining, or migrating older systems that are critical to business operations. Their responsibilities may also include analyzing existing code, optimizing performance, and ensuring systems comply with current regulatory and security standards.

What does a Cobol developer do?

COBOL stands for Common Business-Oriented Language. It is a programming language used in business applications. A COBOL developer works on developing applications using this programming language that operate on an organization's mainframe computers. Businesses use COBOL for large tasks, such as transaction and batch processing. As a COBOL developer, your responsibilities include coding new programs using COBOL or assessing and upgrading existing programs and applications to meet business needs and objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Cobol developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cobol Developer, you need strong programming skills in COBOL, a solid understanding of mainframe environments, and experience with legacy systems, often supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with tools like IBM z/OS, JCL, DB2, and transaction processing systems is typically required, along with knowledge of version control systems. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication help developers troubleshoot issues and collaborate with teams maintaining critical enterprise applications. These skills and qualities are essential to ensure the reliability and modernization of core business systems that depend on COBOL.

What are some of the common challenges Cobol developers face when working with legacy systems?

Cobol Developers often encounter challenges related to maintaining and upgrading legacy systems, such as limited documentation, outdated hardware, and code that was written decades ago by other programmers. Integrating Cobol-based applications with modern technologies and platforms can also require creative problem-solving and strong analytical skills. Collaboration with business analysts and IT teams is essential to accurately translate current business needs into the existing codebase while ensuring system stability and data integrity.

What is the difference between Cobol Developer vs Mainframe Developer?

AspectCobol DeveloperMainframe Developer
Required CredentialsProficiency in COBOL, JCL, DB2Proficiency in COBOL, JCL, DB2, and mainframe tools
Work EnvironmentLegacy systems, mainframe environmentsMainframe systems, enterprise IT infrastructure
Employer & Industry UsageFinancial, insurance, government sectorsFinancial institutions, government agencies, large enterprises
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for mainframe roles involving COBOLBroader role including system administration and maintenance

While both roles involve working with mainframe systems and COBOL, a Cobol Developer primarily focuses on coding and maintaining COBOL applications. A Mainframe Developer may handle a wider range of tasks, including system setup, maintenance, and integration within mainframe environments. The roles often overlap, but Cobol Developers are more specialized in application development.

Is there a demand for Cobol developers?

Cobol developers are still in demand for maintaining and updating legacy systems in industries such as banking, finance, and government. Many organizations seek experienced professionals with knowledge of mainframe environments, often requiring skills in COBOL programming, JCL, and related tools. While new development is limited, the need for maintenance and modernization keeps demand steady for qualified Cobol developers.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cobol Developer jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Cobol Developer jobs in Virginia are:

What job categories do people searching Cobol Developer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Cobol Developer jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Cobol Developer jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Cobol Developer job openings:

Infographic showing various Cobol Developer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 33% Full Time, and 67% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $114,485 per year, or $55 per hour.

Contractor

Posted 20 days ago


Job description

An International consulting firm is seeking a Mainframe Developer for a 6+ month contract to hire role based in Midvale, UT. This role is onsite.
Are you an experienced Mainframe Developer (COBOL, CICS, DB2) looking to work on mission critical enterprise systems that support some of the nation's largest organizations. Do you enjoy solving complex technical challenges while modernizing and maintaining high performance applications?
Location: This position is based onsite at a client location in the Salt Lake City, UT area.
In this role, you'll be responsible for developing, maintaining, and supporting enterprise mainframe applications that are essential to our clients' daily operations

You'll work alongside experienced architects, developers, business analysts, QA teams, and client stakeholders to deliver secure, scalable, and reliable technology solutions.
This is an excellent opportunity to expand your technical expertise, collaborate with high performing teams, and contribute to meaningful projects at one of the world's leading IT and business consulting firms.
Your future duties and responsibilities
How you'll make an impact: You will play a critical role in maintaining the stability, reliability, and continuous enhancement of enterprise applications supporting business critical operations.
. Design, develop, maintain, and enhance enterprise mainframe applications using COBOL, JCL, CICS, DB2, VSAM, and related technologies
. Collaborate with Product Managers, Business Analysts, Solution Architects, and development teams to deliver scalable, high quality software solutions that meet evolving business needs

Research, analyze, and recommend technical solutions, enhancements, and best practices to improve application performance, reliability, and maintainability.
. Provide technical support for mainframe applications by troubleshooting application, batch processing, database, and testing environment issues
. Develop and maintain technical documentation, operational procedures, user guides, and knowledge base articles to support long term application sustainability

Manage and maintain non production environments, including environment refreshes, deployments, configuration updates, and post migration validation activities
. Monitor and support Control M batch processing workflows to ensure reliable job execution, scheduling accuracy, and operational efficiency
. Partner with release management, change management, QA, infrastructure, and offshore development teams to coordinate deployments, environment readiness, and production implementations
.

Support data integrity, automation initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts by identifying opportunities to improve operational processes and system performance
. Serve as the technical subject matter expert (SME) for supported applications, providing guidance during enhancements, production support, audits, and release activities
. Investigate, debug, and resolve production issues while implementing long term corrective solutions
.

Mentor junior developers through knowledge sharing, cross training, and technical coaching
. Participate in Agile ceremonies, technical design discussions, code reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives
. Provide on call production support as needed to ensure the availability and reliability of mission critical applications
Required qualifications to be successful in this role
What you'll bring: We're looking for a collaborative problem solver who enjoys working in complex enterprise environments and takes pride in delivering reliable, high quality software solutions.

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent practical experience)
. 5+ years of experience designing, developing, maintaining, and supporting enterprise mainframe applications
. Strong hands on experience with: COBOL JCL CICS DB2 VSAM
.

Experience supporting enterprise batch processing, production support, troubleshooting, and application maintenance
. Experience working with source control and deployment tools such as Endevor
. Experience with Control M scheduling, batch workflow management, and production job monitoring
.

Experience using Easytrieve (EZtrieve) and other enterprise mainframe utilities is preferred
. Experience with mainframe debugging and performance analysis tools
. Proven ability to support multiple applications while working within large, cross functional teams
.

Experience collaborating with offshore development and support teams
. Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem solving skills
. Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to work effectively with technical and non technical stakeholders
.

Demonstrated ability to make sound technical decisions, prioritize competing work, and deliver high quality solutions in fast paced enterprise environments
. Ability to mentor junior developers and contribute to continuous process improvement initiatives
Education:Employment Type: CONTRACTOR