The qualifications that you need to start a career as a COBOL developer include a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer programming, or a related field. Become proficient in the COBOL programming language and practice creating various business applications using it. You may practice on your own or complete a COBOL training course. Since companies use COBOL in different ways, most employers provide on-the-job training.

If you are interested in a job related to Cobol Developer, here are some popular related job searches with the most open positions on ZipRecruiter.

Top Types Of Cobol Developer Jobs

List of the top 10 highest paying Cobol Developer positions in 2026, with salary ranges, according to ZipRecruiter.

Freelance Ibm Mainframe Cobol
Salary range: $98,000 - $126,000
Freelance Ibm Mainframe Cobol is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Freelance Ibm Mainframe Cobol jobs pay between $98,000 (25th percentile) and $126,000 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Freelance Ibm Mainframe Cobol job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Cobol Language
Salary range: $100,500 - $136,000
Cobol Language is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Cobol Language jobs pay between $100,500 (25th percentile) and $136,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Cobol Language job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Mainframe Cobol Jcl
Salary range: $98,000 - $126,000
Mainframe Cobol Jcl is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Mainframe Cobol Jcl jobs pay between $98,000 (25th percentile) and $126,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Mainframe Cobol Jcl job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Cobol Db2
Salary range: $100,500 - $136,000
Cobol Db2 is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Cobol Db2 jobs pay between $100,500 (25th percentile) and $136,000 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Cobol Db2 job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Cobol Engineer
Salary range: $100,000 - $180,000
Cobol Engineer is a typical job search query Most salaries for Cobol Engineer jobs pay between $100,000 (25th percentile) and $180,000 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Cobol Engineer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Cobol Vsam
Salary range: $100,500 - $136,000
Cobol Vsam is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Cobol Vsam jobs pay between $100,500 (25th percentile) and $136,000 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Cobol Vsam job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Remote Cobol Developer
Salary range: $100,500 - $136,000
Remote Cobol Developer is a typical job search query Most salaries for Remote Cobol Developer jobs pay between $100,500 (25th percentile) and $136,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Remote Cobol Developer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Cobol Mainframe Developer
Salary range: $112,500 - $117,500
As a COBOL mainframe developer, your primary responsibilities include designing new computer programs using the COBOL programming language. Your duties are to design, develop, and configure code for new programs, test these programs to make sure they function on the intended operating system, and implement adjustments needed. Once that process is complete, you launch the program for public or private use and provide support and upgrades to the user. You should have extensive knowledge and experience working with software development, and if you are working in IT for a company, you should be able to troubleshoot their current mainframe. Teaching others about what you have developed and making sure they understand how to use it are also your responsibility.
Contract Cobol
Salary range: $100,500 - $136,000
Contract Cobol is a typical job search query Most salaries for Contract Cobol jobs pay between $100,500 (25th percentile) and $136,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Contract Cobol job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Freelance Mainframe Cobol Idms
Salary range: $98,000 - $126,000
Freelance Mainframe Cobol Idms is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Freelance Mainframe Cobol Idms jobs pay between $98,000 (25th percentile) and $126,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Freelance Mainframe Cobol Idms job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

All Jobs Cobol Developer Jobs 10 of the Most Popular Types of Cobol Developer Jobs in 2026