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Cobol Developer Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

System One

Senior Mainframe Engineer

Merrifield, VA · Remote

The position focuses on troubleshooting and fixing programming defects, supporting nightly batch processing, and maintaining core banking systems built on COBOL mainframe technologies. The ideal ...

TekCommands Inc

Sr Mainframe Developer / Support

Mclean, VA · On-site

$49.50 - $63.75/hr

Exposure to Job control language program execution Exposure to COBOL DB2 program coding, Application development using CICS Exposure to Processing VSAM datasets and Dataset allocation, ISPF/PDF

Pace solutions inc

Mainframe - HOGAN

Washington, DC · On-site

$55.50 - $71.25/hr

Mainframe - HOGAN Tech Lead Washington DC Good programming experience in COBOL, JCL, VSAM At least 3 years' experience on Hogan Core Banking Platform Design, code, new programs for online and batch ...

Pace solutions inc

Mainframe - HOGAN

Washington, DC · On-site

$55.50 - $71.25/hr

Company Description Mainframe - HOGAN Tech Lead Washington DC Good programming experience in COBOL, JCL, VSAM At least 3 years' experience on Hogan Core Banking Platform Design, code, new programs ...

Veredus - DC

Nomad Developer

Herndon, VA

$45/hr

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 ...

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Cobol Developer information

See Washington, DC salary details

$12

$62

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How much do cobol developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average hourly pay for cobol developer in Washington, DC is $62.64, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54.52 and $73.80 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 require expertise in Cobol for critical mainframe applications, and experienced developers with knowledge of mainframe environments and tools are sought after. However, the overall demand is stable but limited compared to newer programming languages.
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What job categories do people searching Cobol Developer jobs in Washington, DC look for?

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Cobol Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cobol Developer job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 6% Temporary, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 72% In-person, and 28% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,296 per year, or $62.6 per hour.

Senior Mainframe Engineer

System One

Merrifield, VA • Remote

Contractor

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted yesterday

Job description

Job Title: Senior Mainframe Engineer Location: remote Pay rate: open to W2 and established 1099s Position type: multiyear contract We are currently seeking a Senior Mainframe Programmer/Support Analyst with a minimum of 10 years of professional experience and extensive experience supporting enterprise banking applications in a production environment. The position focuses on troubleshooting and fixing programming defects, supporting nightly batch processing, and maintaining core banking systems built on COBOL mainframe technologies. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical and debugging skills, hands-on experience with CICS, DB2, and JCL, and the ability to provide production and lower-environment support. Experience with FIS/Systematics core banking applications is highly preferred. The role also includes participation in a rotating on-call schedule for overnight batch support. We are looking for an experienced programmer who has good research/analytical/troubleshooting skills and can fix programming bugs. The programmer must have a mainframe background and must have a minimum of 10 years of support experience with the following skill sets: - COBOL - CICS - DB2 - JCL - FIS/Systematics Core Banking application knowledge/background is highly preferred This position requires a mandatory rotational on-call nightly batch support after some initial training. The on-call rotation is for 1 week and occurs every 10 weeks. As part of the initial training and hands on experience, this person will be working with another team member and supporting the lower environments.

System One, and its subsidiaries including Joulé and Mountain Ltd., are leaders in delivering outsourced services and workforce solutions across North America. We help clients get work done more efficiently and economically, without compromising quality. System One not only serves as a valued partner for our clients, but we offer eligible employees health and welfare benefits coverage options including medical, dental, vision, spending accounts, life insurance, voluntary plans, as well as participation in a 401(k) plan.

System One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, family care or medical leave status, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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Ref: #851-Rockville-S1