Mainframe System Programmer Salary in California
$20.7K - $33.6K
6% of jobs
$33.6K - $46.4K
0% of jobs
$46.4K - $59.2K
0% of jobs
$59.2K - $72K
0% of jobs
$72K - $84.9K
0% of jobs
$84.9K - $97.7K
5% of jobs
$107.5K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$97.7K - $110.5K
18% of jobs
The median wage is $121.6K / yr.
$110.5K - $123.4K
24% of jobs
$123.4K - $136.2K
21% of jobs
$136.4K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$136.2K - $149K
22% of jobs
$149K - $161.9K
3% of jobs
$20.7K
$122.4K
$160.9K
$119,422
/year
$57.41
/hour
Mainframe System Programmer Salary Comparison by Location
Nationwide
United States
$121,006
California
California
$119,422
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How much does a Mainframe System Programmer make in California?
As of Sep 5, 2026, the average annual pay for a Mainframe System Programmer in California is $119,422 a year.
Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $57.41 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,296/week or $9,951/month.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $160,866 and as low as $20,725, the majority of Mainframe System Programmer salaries currently range between $108,600 (25th percentile) to $138,200 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $146,061 annually in California. The average pay range for a Mainframe System Programmer varies greatly (by as much as 29600), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.
California ranks number 50 out of 50 states nationwide for Mainframe System Programmer salaries.
To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Mainframe System Programmer jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.
Find your next high paying job as a Mainframe System Programmer on ZipRecruiter today.
What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Mainframe System Programmer Jobs in California
We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Mainframe System Programmer job is above the average in California in California. Topping the list is Cupertino, , with Berkeley, and San Francisco, close behind in the second and third positions. San Francisco, beats the average in California by $23,145 (19.4%), and Cupertino, furthers that trend with another $29,869 (25.0%) above the $119,422 average.
With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for California, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Mainframe System Programmer appears to be exceedingly fruitful.
Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 7% between Cupertino, and Ashland, , reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Mainframe System Programmer role.
City | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
Cupertino | $149,291 | $71.77 |
Berkeley | $148,165 | $71.23 |
San Francisco | $142,567 | $68.54 |
Santa Clara | $142,115 | $68.32 |
Sunnyvale | $142,019 | $68.28 |
San Jose | $141,818 | $68.18 |
Daly City | $140,210 | $67.41 |
Santa Cruz | $139,722 | $67.17 |
Oakland | $138,973 | $66.81 |
Ashland | $138,722 | $66.69 |
What are Top 0 Best Paying Related Mainframe System Programmer Jobs in California
Analyzing similar jobs related to the Mainframe System Programmer job category in California, we found 0 that were relevant. However, none pay more than the $119422 state average for Mainframe System Programmer jobs.
Job Title | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|
About Our Data
ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.
