In 2022, COBOL programmers mostly maintain and update existing enterprise software that was developed using the COBOL scripting language. IBM, the Bank of America, Deloitte, Visa, UPS, American Express, and over 37,500 other companies still use applications deployed on a mainframe to process commercial data and manage cash operations. And all of them rely on experienced COBOL developers to assist in this process. So, how to find seasoned COBOL programmers today – and what are their remunerations in different countries?
In this article, I’ll answer these questions and share useful information about the COBOL international market size, the most important qualifications of COBOL developers, factors affecting the salary of these specialists, and an efficient way to hire COBOL programmers in Eastern Europe.
Global Market Capacity of COBOL Programmers
Even though the demand for COBOL skills was gradually decreasing from 1997 until 2012, it again surged after the COVID-19 pandemic. When over 9.5 million people lost their jobs in the USA due to the coronavirus, it overwhelmed American unemployment insurance systems. The government felt the urge to hire more COBOL developers, while IBM rushed to train new ones to address the COBOL system overloads.
Another reason why the COBOL language is still needed is that over $3 trillion of commerce runs through COBOL applications every day. Not to mention that on average 800 billion lines of COBOL code are in daily use in 2022. Moreover, 92% of business decision-makers in numerous industries like finance, auto, insurance, manufacturing, electrical, and government say that they see the applications built with COBOL as strategic.
But despite the need for COBOL skills, recruiting these developers is a challenge since most COBOL coders are currently either moving closer to retirement or have already retired. For instance, Reuters states that the average age of COBOL programmers is between 45 to 55 years. This also contributes to a relatively small talent pool of these coders – 2 million developers, with only 24,000 COBOL programmers working in the US.
Education and Expertise of Cobol Programmers among Worldwide Tech Companies
1. Education
COBOL programmers usually have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, software engineering or similar fields. Beginner COBOL developers may also take certification programs in COBOL programming or an internship or training at companies that use COBOL-powered applications.
2. Expertise
– Hard skills
What is more important, the most common hard skills of COBOL developers are COBOL, CICS, Visual Basic, JSL, mainframe development, knowledge of databases (SQL, DB2), experience with mainframe debugging tools (IBM Debug Tool), knowledge of other tools (ENDEVOR, XPEDITER), XML, as well as experience with unit testing tools (IBM zUnit).
– Soft skills
Regarding the soft skills of COBOL coders, they should have great concentration, focus, and troubleshooting skills to detect errors and debug legacy code for long periods of time. Self-education and curiosity must also be inherent in these developers to make it easier for them to update COBOL applications and integrate them with up-to-date technologies. Last but not least, a good COBOL developer needs to develop team management skills, since as they advance in their role they will be required to train junior and trainee COBOL developers.
4 Major Factors Affecting the Cobol Programmer Salary
1) The Location
The compensation of COBOL coders is the highest in the USA, Canada, and Australia – from $39,000 to $147,000 per year. The lowest COBOL programmer salary could be found in India, Argentina, and African countries – from $12,000 to $36,000 annually. And the best price-to-quality ratio is in Eastern Europe, where the average COBOL programmer salary is between $15,000 to $57,000.
2) Organization Size & Type
As a rule, COBOL developers who work in big tech product business earn more than their colleagues working in smaller software product companies or outsourcing/outstaffing firms. Beyond that, the COBOL programmer analyst salary and remuneration of COBOL developers are $20,000 higher in 2022 than they were a year ago.
3) Desired Skills & Knowledge
I have already mentioned the desired skills set of a COBOL developer. And I’d like to point out that the average salary of a COBOL programmer with this tech stack in the US is $42,000-$147,000 per year. However, COBOL programmers who know other programming languages like Java, Python, or C++ and are proficient in DevOps usually get paid more than their colleagues without such skills.
4) Experience Level
In terms of the experience of COBOL developers, a middle COBOL programmer with up to 5 years of experience in the development/maintenance of COBOL applications earns 43% more than a junior COBOL specialist in the United States. At the same time, a senior COBOL coder with 5+ years of working experience receives 22% more than a middle COBOL programmer.
Cobol Programmer Salary: Key Takeaways
I have already mentioned the countries with the highest and lowest COBOL developer salaries, as well as regions where you can find a balance between affordability and quality. Below you may look in detail at gross annual salaries of COBOL programmers in different regions as of October 2022:
|
Average base annual income, USD |
North America | South America | ||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $114,000 | $30,000 | ||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $60,000 | $84,000 | $102,000 | $18,000 | $24,000 | $30,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $42,000 | $78,000 | $90,000 | $15,000 | $21,000 | $24,000 |
|
Average base annual income, USD |
Western & Nordic Europe | Eastern Europe | ||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $96,000 | $45,000 | ||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $45,000 | $63,000 | $84,000 | $24,000 | $33,000 | $42,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $42,000 | $51,000 | $72,000 | $18,000 | $27,000 | $36,000 |
|
Average base annual income, USD |
Middle East | Africa | Eastern Asia | ||||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $48,000 | $30,000 | $60,000 | ||||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $27,000 | $36,000 | $42,000 | $15,000 | $21,000 | $27,000 | $42,000 | $51,000 | $60,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $21,000 | $27,000 | $33,000 | $12,000 | $15,000 | $18,000 | $30,000 | $39,000 | $48,000 |
Average Salary for a Cobol Programmer in North America
USA
|
Average base annual income, USD |
San Francisco | Los Angeles | New York City | ||||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $147,000 | $135,000 | $132,000 | ||||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $63,000 | $87,000 | $105,000 | $45,000 | $57,000 | $108,000 | $42,000 | $57,000 | $108,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $60,000 | $96,000 | $117,000 | $42,000 | $75,000 | $108,000 | $42,000 | $75,000 | $102,000 |
|
Average base annual income, USD |
Seattle | Boston | Washington, DC | ||||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $144,000 | 147,000 | $129,000 | ||||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $48,000 | $69,000 | $93,000 | $48,000 | $75,000 | $99,000 | $54,000 | $78,000 | $108,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $48,000 | $69,000 | $93,000 | $39,000 | $66,000 | $102,000 | $45,000 | $72,000 | $96,000 |
Canada
|
Average base annual income, USD |
Toronto | Montréal | Vancouver | ||||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $132,000 | $120,000 | $135,000 | ||||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $81,000 | $108,000 | $129,000 | $69,000 | $96,000 | $126,000 | $81,000 | $108,000 | $132,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $45,000 | $81,000 | $105,000 | $51,000 | $78,000 | $102,000 | $54,000 | $81,000 | $108,000 |
Mexico
In Mexico, the average salary for a COBOL programmer is $27,000 yearly, while the Mainframe specialist of the same level earns $30,000.
Brazil
The COBOL programmer starting salary in Brazil constitutes $18,000 per year.
Argentina
The COBOL developer salary of Argentinian coders is between $12,000 and $21,000 yearly.
|
Average base annual income, USD |
Mexico | Brazil | Argentina | ||||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $36,000 | $33,000 | $30,000 | ||||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $24,000 | $30,000 | $36,000 | $21,000 | $27,000 | $33,000 | $15,000 | $18,000 | $24,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $21,000 | $27,000 | $33,000 | $18,000 | $20,000 | $30,000 | $12,000 | $15,000 | $21,000 |
Salary of Cobol Programmer in Western & Nordic Europe
United Kingdom
|
Average base annual income, USD |
London | Edinburgh | Glasgow | Cardiff | ||||||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $108,000 | $90,000 | $81,000 | $81,000 | ||||||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $60,000 | $84,000 | $108,000 | $42,000 | $60,000 | $78,000 | $39,000 | $57,000 | $75,000 | $39,000 | $57,000 | $75,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $51,000 | $63,000 | $81,000 | $36,000 | $48,000 | $63,000 | $33,000 | $45,000 | $60,000 | $33,000 | $45,000 | $60,000 |
Germany
The entry-level COBOL developer salary in Germany is $42,000 per year, while the senior-level salary equals $78,000.
France
The app developer COBOL salary among French specialists is the same as in Germany.
Italy
Italian COBOL developers earn around $39,000-$63,000 per year on average.
Spain
In Spain, the Mainframe COBOL programmer salary is $63,000 annually for senior-level positions.
|
Average base annual income, USD |
Germany | France | Italy | Spain | ||||||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $105,000 | $96,000 | $84,000 | $72,000 | ||||||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $54,000 | $75,000 | $99,000 | $45,000 | $69,000 | $87,000 | $45,000 | $57,000 | $75,000 | $39,000 | $51,000 | $63,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $42,000 | $66,000 | $78,000 | $42,000 | $54,000 | $78,000 | $39,000 | $51,000 | $63,000 | $30,000 | $42,000 | $54,000 |
Norway
The COBOL developer average salary among lead Norwegian coders is $87,000 per annum.
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the same specialists earn $96,000 per year.
Sweden
The Swedish average salary for a COBOL developer ranges between $39,000 and $66,000 annually.
|
Average base annual income, USD |
Norway | Netherlands | Sweden | ||||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $87,000 | $96,000 | $84,000 | ||||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $48,000 | $63,000 | $81,000 | $42,000 | $66,000 | $90,000 | $42,000 | $54,000 | $78,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $42,000 | $60,000 | $72,000 | $45,000 | $54,000 | $78,000 | $39,000 | $54,000 | $66,000 |
Austria
The average COBOL software developer salary in Austria is $60,000, while Mainframe coders of the same level earn $54,000 per year.
Belgium
In Belgium, the annual senior COBOL programmer salary constitutes $84,000.
|
Average base annual income, USD |
Austria | Belgium | ||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $102,000 | $108,000 | ||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $42,000 | $54,000 | $78,000 | $54,000 | $72,000 | $84,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $45,000 | $60,000 | $72,000 | $54,000 | $66,000 | $84,000 |
Salary of Cobol Programmer in Eastern Europe
Poland
When it comes to average salaries in a Polish software team, COBOL programmers earn from $18,000 to $42,000.
Romania
Romanian Mainframe COBOL developers have a yearly compensation of $27,000 on average.
Hungary
In Hungary, the starting salary for a COBOL developer is $18,000 per year, just like in Poland.
Czech Republic
At the same time, the COBOL programmer salary among Czech coders varies from $33,000 to $39,000.
|
Average base annual income, USD |
Poland | Romania | Hungary | Czech Republic | ||||||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $48,000 | $36,000 | $42,000 | $57,000 | ||||||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $27,000 | $36,000 | $48,000 | $18,000 | $27,000 | $36,000 | $21,000 | $30,000 | $39,000 | $30,000 | $39,000 | $48,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $18,000 | $30,000 | $42,000 | $15,000 | $21,000 | $30,000 | $18,000 | $27,000 | $33,000 | $21,000 | $33,000 | $39,000 |
Cobol Software Developer Salary in Eastern Asia
China
In China, the salary range for a COBOL developer looks like this: $24,000-$42,000.
Japan
The salary estimate for a COBOL developer in Japan is $48,000, while Mainframe specialists receive an annual remuneration of $60,000.
South Korea
The success salary or highest of South Korean COBOL coders is $60,000 among lead positions.
|
Average base annual income, USD |
China | Japan | South Korea | ||||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $54,000 | $66,000 | $60,000 | ||||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $36,000 | $45,000 | $54,000 | $48,000 | $60,000 | $72,000 | $39,000 | $48,000 | $57,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $24,000 | $30,000 | $42,000 | $39,000 | $48,000 | $57,000 | $27,000 | $36,000 | $45,000 |
Average Salary for a Cobol Programmer in India
|
Average base annual income, USD |
Mumbai | Delhi | Bangalore | ||||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $36,000 | $30,000 | $33,000 | ||||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $15,000 | $21,000 | $27,000 | $15,000 | $18,000 | $24,000 | $15,000 | $21,000 | $27,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $12,000 | $21,000 | $27,000 | $12,000 | $18,000 | $27,000 | $12,000 | $21,000 | $24,000 |
Average Salary for a Cobol Programmer in Israel
|
Average base annual income, USD |
Tel Aviv | Haifa | Jerusalem | ||||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $84,000 | $78,000 | $81,000 | ||||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $45,000 | $66,000 | $75,000 | $45,000 | $54,000 | $72,000 | $45,000 | $54,000 | $72,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $36,000 | $42,000 | $54,000 | $33,000 | $42,000 | $54,000 | $33,000 | $42,000 | $54,000 |
Average Salary for a Cobol Programmer in Australia
|
Average base annual income, USD |
Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | ||||||
| Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | Junior | Middle | Senior | |
| Lead Cobol Programmer | $141,000 | $135,000 | $132,000 | ||||||
| Mainframe Cobol Programmer | $63,000 | $90,000 | $111,000 | $60,000 | $84,000 | $105,000 | $54,000 | $78,000 | $96,000 |
| Cobol Software Developer | $48,000 | $84,000 | $111,000 | $45,000 | $75,000 | $108,000 | $45,000 | $72,000 | $102,000 |
Is it worth hiring a COBOL programmer in 2022?
In case the apps of your company were developed in COBOL and still faultlessly run on mainframes, you shouldn’t hesitate to recruit an experienced COBOL developer. And even if your software is accumulating technical debt and becoming hard to maintain, a COBOL developer who knows relevant scripting languages like Java can help you modernize your systems and reduce the number of legacy constraints.
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If you want to hire master COBOL developers in Eastern Europe, Alcor can help. We deliver full-cycle IT recruitment services for product companies in the tech industry, namely headhunting, RPO, candidate pre-screening, tech market analytics, weekly hiring reports, offer preparation, onboarding support, and recruitment marketing. Moreover, due to our 10-year experience in the Eastern European tech recruitment market, we make our clients scream WOW – since 4 out of 5 of our candidates receive invitations to interviews, while 98,6% pass the probation period.
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FAQ
1) Is there still a demand for COBOL programmers?
Yes, after the COVID-19 pandemic the need for COBOL developers increased. In the United States, unemployment insurance systems started failing because of overload and this is not the only reason why COBOL skills are in demand today…
2) How much do COBOL developers charge in different countries?
In the USA, junior COBOL developers earn from $39,000, while senior specialists have the salary of $117,000 per year. At the same time, COBOL coders charge 2-3 times less in Eastern Europe.
3) Should you hire COBOL developers in the future?
Yes, if your company actively uses mainframe applications built with COBOL and plans to keep maintaining/updating them.
4) What is the most efficient way to hire COBOL coders?
The process of hiring COBOL developers is more efficient if you cooperate with a professional tech recruitment services provider. This partner can consult you on hiring COBOL coders in the chosen location, help you create the perfect candidate profile and job description, and match you with candidates that meet your requirements.