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Mainframe Programmer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Mainframe Developer

Mclean, VA

$49.50 - $63.75/hr

Mainframe Developer (Banking Domain) Location: McLean, VA (Onsite, 5 days/week) Note: This position is open to local candidates in McLean, VA only. Face-to-face (F2F) interviews are mandatory, so ...

Mainframe Developer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$49.50 - $63.75/hr

Mainframe Developer (Banking Domain) Location: McLean, VA (Onsite, 5 days/week) Note: This position is open to local candidates in McLean, VA only. Face-to-face (F2F) interviews are mandatory, so ...

Mainframe Developer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$49.50 - $63.75/hr

Mainframe Developer (Banking Domain) Location: McLean, VA (Onsite, 5 days/week) Note: This position is open to local candidates in McLean, VA only. Face-to-face (F2F) interviews are mandatory, so ...

Mainframe Engineering

Mclean, VA · On-site

$40 - $45/hr

Mainframe Engineering Location : McLean, VA Required Knowledge * z/OS architectures and internals. * zSecure tool and Carla language (customization experience is a plus). * Mainframe security related ...

Mainframe Engineer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$49.50 - $63.75/hr

The Mainframe engineers responsibilities include: Technical Lead for Mainframe Platform (z/OS| Dell Storage| IMS| DB2| RACF| CA JobTrac) to govern operations| changes and sustainability upgrade ...

Mainframe developer

Mclean, VA

$49.50 - $63.75/hr

Mainframe developer Location: Mclean, VA Duration: contract or full time Skillset : Experience in Mainframe (COBOL/JCL/DB2/IMS/CICS) - must have. Must have - Mainframe and IMS Good in analysis ...

Mainframe Developer

Chantilly, VA

$50.25 - $64.50/hr

... engineers from their employers. We represent only high caliber technical professionals who have committed to making a change required by career. Skills: Hogan, COBOL, DB2, JCL, VSAM, Mainframe ...

Mainframe System Programmer

Mclean, VA

$120K - $140K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Programmer reviews all products and processes to verify the requirement of compatibility maintenance, schedule and implement changes as required and performs routine maintenance on mainframe systems.

Mainframe System Programmer

Mclean, VA · On-site +1

$120K - $140K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Programmer reviews all products and processes to verify the requirement of compatibility maintenance, schedule and implement changes as required and performs routine maintenance on mainframe systems.

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Mainframe Programmer information

See Virginia salary details

$38

$53

$66

How much do mainframe programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for mainframe programmer in Virginia is $53.65, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $46.73 and $62.69 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Mainframe Programmer, you need a solid understanding of COBOL, JCL, DB2, and general mainframe architecture, often supported by a degree in computer science or related experience. Familiarity with tools like IBM z/OS, TSO/ISPF, and source control systems such as Endevor or Changeman is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication set top performers apart in this role. These abilities are critical for maintaining legacy systems, ensuring data integrity, and supporting business-critical operations in large organizations.

What are some common challenges mainframe programmers face when working on legacy systems?

Mainframe Programmers often encounter challenges such as understanding complex, decades-old codebases written in languages like COBOL or Assembler, and integrating these systems with modern technologies. Documentation may be sparse or outdated, requiring strong problem-solving and analytical skills to decipher business logic. Additionally, coordinating with cross-functional teams—including business analysts, testers, and infrastructure specialists—is essential to ensure smooth system updates and migrations. Adaptability and effective communication are key to overcoming these obstacles and supporting mission-critical applications.

What is a mainframe programmer?

Mainframe Programmers are specialized software developers who design, write, test, and maintain code for mainframe computer systems. These professionals primarily work with legacy programming languages such as COBOL, JCL, and sometimes Assembler, to ensure critical business applications run smoothly and securely. They are often employed in industries like banking, insurance, and government where mainframe systems remain essential for processing large volumes of transactions. Mainframe Programmers also troubleshoot system issues, optimize performance, and may assist in system upgrades or migrations.

Is a mainframe programmer in demand?

Mainframe programmers are still in demand in industries such as finance, insurance, and government that rely on legacy systems. They typically need skills in COBOL, JCL, and mainframe environments, and demand remains steady due to the ongoing need to maintain and update existing mainframe applications.

What is the difference between Mainframe Programmer vs Mainframe Developer?

AspectMainframe ProgrammerMainframe Developer
Primary RoleWriting, testing, and maintaining mainframe codeDesigning and developing mainframe applications and systems
Skills & CertificationsCOBOL, JCL, DB2, certifications in mainframe technologiesSimilar skills, often with additional focus on system design and architecture
Work EnvironmentMainframe environments in banking, finance, governmentSame environments, with broader development responsibilities
Job FocusCode implementation and troubleshootingApplication development and system integration

While both roles work within mainframe environments and share skills like COBOL and JCL, Mainframe Programmers primarily focus on coding and maintenance, whereas Mainframe Developers are involved in designing and developing new applications and systems. The roles often overlap, but the developer role typically encompasses a broader scope in application lifecycle management.

What does a mainframe programmer do?

As a mainframe programmer, your job is to design and program applications for mainframe computers, which are powerful machines that help to run many commercial and industrial processes. In this role, you may conduct an analysis of existing software to ensure it is as error-free as possible, help test new software, and implement software in a way that makes it easy for users to access. Mainframe programmers often use coding languages like COBOL, C++, SQL, Java, and CLIST when programming software. Somewhat unusually, most companies prefer to stick with specific coding languages even when they are not necessarily the best language for the job in order to reduce complexity and the risk of errors.

What is a mainframe programmer's salary?

A mainframe programmer's salary typically ranges from $70,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and certifications. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in COBOL, JCL, or mainframe environments may earn higher compensation.

What are the most commonly searched types of Mainframe Programmer jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Mainframe Programmer jobs in Virginia are:

What job categories do people searching Mainframe Programmer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Mainframe Programmer jobs in Virginia are:

Infographic showing various Mainframe Programmer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 7% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,592 per year, or $53.6 per hour.

Contractor

Posted 17 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