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Best states for a cobol programmer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like cobol programmers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for cobol programmers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for cobol programmers. We found that Washington is the best state in the nation for cobol programmers, and people in Carson City earn the most in the field.
Washington is the best state for jobs for cobol programmers, and Hawaii is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $98,500, while the median pay in Hawaii is $64,363.Washington is the best state, and Carson City is the city with the highest pay for cobol programmers.
10 best states for cobol programmers in 2025
1. Washington
Total cobol programmer jobs: 2,074 Average annual salary: $98,500 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 1.522. New Jersey
Total cobol programmer jobs: 1,882 Average annual salary: $97,527 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 1.273. Rhode Island
Total cobol programmer jobs: 359 Average annual salary: $86,930 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 1.584. Nevada
Total cobol programmer jobs: 311 Average annual salary: $103,573 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 0.85. Oregon
Total cobol programmer jobs: 1,073 Average annual salary: $89,903 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.396. Maryland
Total cobol programmer jobs: 2,002 Average annual salary: $93,611 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 1.697. California
Total cobol programmer jobs: 7,349 Average annual salary: $94,104 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 1.348. North Carolina
Total cobol programmer jobs: 1,716 Average annual salary: $83,977 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 0.969. Connecticut
Total cobol programmer jobs: 570 Average annual salary: $89,685 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 0.9210. Utah
Total cobol programmer jobs: 746 Average annual salary: $82,379 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
Cobol programmer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a cobol programmer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a cobol programmer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $98,500 | $71,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,074 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $97,527 | $72,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,882 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $86,930 | $64,000 | 1,059,639 | 359 |
| 4 | Nevada | $103,573 | $73,000 | 2,998,039 | 311 |
| 5 | Oregon | $89,903 | $65,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,073 |
| 6 | Maryland | $93,611 | $69,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,002 |
| 7 | California | $94,104 | $67,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,349 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $83,977 | $62,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,716 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $89,685 | $66,000 | 3,588,184 | 570 |
| 10 | Utah | $82,379 | $58,000 | 3,101,833 | 746 |
| 11 | Alaska | $90,625 | $71,000 | 739,795 | 117 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $89,736 | $66,000 | 693,972 | 655 |
| 13 | Virginia | $84,175 | $62,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,958 |
| 14 | Alabama | $83,535 | $62,000 | 4,874,747 | 632 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $80,288 | $59,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,251 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $84,247 | $62,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,872 |
| 17 | Ohio | $81,635 | $60,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,525 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $84,085 | $62,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,047 |
| 19 | New York | $85,813 | $63,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,279 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $84,529 | $62,000 | 2,984,100 | 178 |
| 21 | Vermont | $80,401 | $59,000 | 623,657 | 188 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $85,001 | $63,000 | 5,024,369 | 395 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $79,239 | $59,000 | 755,393 | 151 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $79,910 | $59,000 | 1,342,795 | 310 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $80,018 | $59,000 | 6,715,984 | 647 |
| 26 | Indiana | $78,165 | $58,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,090 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $80,906 | $58,000 | 4,684,333 | 356 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $78,802 | $58,000 | 4,454,189 | 435 |
| 29 | Illinois | $78,537 | $58,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,033 |
| 30 | Maine | $78,671 | $58,000 | 1,335,907 | 191 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $79,412 | $58,000 | 3,930,864 | 280 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $76,728 | $56,000 | 1,920,076 | 371 |
| 33 | Delaware | $76,537 | $56,000 | 961,939 | 326 |
| 34 | Colorado | $78,088 | $57,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,035 |
| 35 | Florida | $77,441 | $56,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,496 |
| 36 | Kansas | $75,564 | $56,000 | 2,913,123 | 489 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $75,626 | $56,000 | 869,666 | 142 |
| 38 | Idaho | $74,108 | $53,000 | 1,716,943 | 323 |
| 39 | Iowa | $76,845 | $57,000 | 3,145,711 | 439 |
| 40 | Georgia | $76,115 | $56,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,497 |
| 41 | Arizona | $73,898 | $53,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,016 |
| 42 | Texas | $71,947 | $52,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,637 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $72,807 | $54,000 | 3,004,279 | 375 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $69,703 | $50,000 | 579,315 | 111 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $72,492 | $53,000 | 1,815,857 | 166 |
| 46 | Montana | $69,299 | $50,000 | 1,050,493 | 238 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $72,321 | $52,000 | 2,088,070 | 303 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $72,621 | $54,000 | 5,795,483 | 693 |
| 49 | Missouri | $74,299 | $55,000 | 6,113,532 | 745 |
| 50 | Michigan | $69,164 | $51,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,208 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $64,363 | $51,000 | 1,427,538 | 107 |
Highest paying states for cobol programmers
| Rank | State | Avg. Cobol Programmer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $98,500 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $97,527 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $86,930 |
| 4 | Nevada | $103,573 |
| 5 | Oregon | $89,903 |
| 6 | Maryland | $93,611 |
| 7 | California | $94,104 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $83,977 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $89,685 |
| 10 | Utah | $82,379 |
| 11 | Alaska | $90,625 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $89,736 |
| 13 | Virginia | $84,175 |
| 14 | Alabama | $83,535 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $80,288 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $84,247 |
| 17 | Ohio | $81,635 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $84,085 |
| 19 | New York | $85,813 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $84,529 |
| 21 | Vermont | $80,401 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $85,001 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $79,239 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $79,910 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $80,018 |
| 26 | Indiana | $78,165 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $80,906 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $78,802 |
| 29 | Illinois | $78,537 |
| 30 | Maine | $78,671 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $79,412 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $76,728 |
| 33 | Delaware | $76,537 |
| 34 | Colorado | $78,088 |
| 35 | Florida | $77,441 |
| 36 | Kansas | $75,564 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $75,626 |
| 38 | Idaho | $74,108 |
| 39 | Iowa | $76,845 |
| 40 | Georgia | $76,115 |
| 41 | Arizona | $73,898 |
| 42 | Texas | $71,947 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $72,807 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $69,703 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $72,492 |
| 46 | Montana | $69,299 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $72,321 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $72,621 |
| 49 | Missouri | $74,299 |
| 50 | Michigan | $69,164 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $64,363 |
Expert opinions on the best states for cobol programmers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for cobol programmers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
Associate Professor of Engineering, John Brown University
Due to COVID-19, people have more choices on location as more companies allow their employees to work remotely.
Cobol programmer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025