Best cities for a mainframe developer
The best cities for mainframe developers are Durham, NC, Columbus, OH, and Sacramento, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for mainframe developers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for mainframe developers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a mainframe developer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for mainframe developers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for mainframe developers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a mainframe developer. While the absolute best city for mainframe developers is Durham, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for mainframe developers in 2024.
If you're looking for a mainframe developer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for mainframe developers in 2025
1. Durham, NC
Total mainframe developer jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $92,784 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 20.14 2. Columbus, OH
Total mainframe developer jobs: 81 Average annual salary: $88,759 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 17.02 3. Sacramento, CA
Total mainframe developer jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $117,098 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 6.73 4. Raleigh, NC
Total mainframe developer jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $92,910 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 3.95 5. San Antonio, TX
Total mainframe developer jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $92,769 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 14.98 6. Charlotte, NC
Total mainframe developer jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $91,657 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 4.42 7. Greensboro, NC
Total mainframe developer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $92,263 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 3.68 8. Glendale, AZ
Total mainframe developer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $91,936 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 13.59 9. Plano, TX
Total mainframe developer jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $91,932 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 4.84 10. Cincinnati, OH
Total mainframe developer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $88,056 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location quotient: 3.03
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Best cities for mainframe developers
- Durham, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Sacramento, CA
- Raleigh, NC
- San Antonio, TX
- Charlotte, NC
- Greensboro, NC
- Glendale, AZ
- Plano, TX
- Cincinnati, OH
- (35 mainframe developer jobs)
- (81 mainframe developer jobs)
- (15 mainframe developer jobs)
- (11 mainframe developer jobs)
- (47 mainframe developer jobs)
- (28 mainframe developer jobs)
- (3 mainframe developer jobs)
- (4 mainframe developer jobs)
- (17 mainframe developer jobs)
- (7 mainframe developer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a mainframe developer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham, NC | $92,784 | $71,000 | 263,016 | 35 |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $88,759 | $68,000 | 860,090 | 81 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $117,098 | $87,000 | 495,234 | 15 |
| 4 | Raleigh, NC | $92,910 | $71,000 | 458,880 | 11 |
| 5 | San Antonio, TX | $92,769 | $71,000 | 1,492,510 | 47 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $91,657 | $70,000 | 842,051 | 28 |
| 7 | Greensboro, NC | $92,263 | $71,000 | 287,027 | 3 |
| 8 | Glendale, AZ | $91,936 | $70,000 | 245,895 | 4 |
| 9 | Plano, TX | $91,932 | $70,000 | 286,057 | 17 |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH | $88,056 | $68,000 | 298,800 | 7 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $89,205 | $68,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $91,906 | $70,000 | 1,615,017 | 32 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh, PA | $88,946 | $68,000 | 303,625 | 39 |
| 14 | Irving, TX | $92,016 | $70,000 | 238,289 | 13 |
| 15 | Nashville, TN | $85,904 | $66,000 | 660,388 | 10 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $92,505 | $70,000 | 947,890 | 11 |
| 17 | Madison, WI | $86,916 | $67,000 | 252,551 | 70 |
| 18 | Milwaukee, WI | $87,087 | $68,000 | 595,047 | 14 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $90,893 | $69,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 20 | Louisville, KY | $84,033 | $65,000 | 597,337 | 25 |
| 21 | Seattle, WA | $110,872 | $83,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 22 | Scottsdale, AZ | $91,841 | $70,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
| 23 | Fort Worth, TX | $92,075 | $70,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 24 | Atlanta, GA | $94,503 | $73,000 | 472,522 | 22 |
| 25 | Dallas, TX | $92,019 | $70,000 | 1,317,929 | 8 |
| 26 | San Francisco, CA | $117,421 | $87,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 27 | Reno, NV | $103,379 | $77,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 28 | Toledo, OH | $88,637 | $68,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 29 | Houston, TX | $92,501 | $70,000 | 2,303,482 | 10 |
| 30 | Oakland, CA | $117,234 | $87,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 31 | Corpus Christi, TX | $93,097 | $70,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 32 | Memphis, TN | $86,197 | $67,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 33 | Winston-Salem, NC | $92,019 | $71,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 34 | Fremont, CA | $116,698 | $87,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 35 | Laredo, TX | $93,271 | $71,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 36 | Las Vegas, NV | $92,538 | $70,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 37 | Stockton, CA | $116,651 | $87,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 38 | North Las Vegas, NV | $92,383 | $70,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 39 | San Jose, CA | $116,260 | $87,000 | 1,025,350 | 3 |
| 40 | El Paso, TX | $93,186 | $71,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 41 | Jersey City, NJ | $94,337 | $71,000 | 264,152 | 14 |
| 42 | Detroit, MI | $83,914 | $64,000 | 672,795 | 8 |
| 43 | Indianapolis, IN | $81,291 | $63,000 | 855,164 | 20 |
| 44 | Chandler, AZ | $91,763 | $70,000 | 247,477 | 1 |
| 45 | Arlington, TX | $92,062 | $70,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 46 | Saint Louis, MO | $82,102 | $64,000 | 311,404 | 21 |
| 47 | Lubbock, TX | $92,447 | $71,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 48 | Omaha, NE | $82,317 | $64,000 | 446,970 | 8 |
| 49 | Newark, NJ | $94,296 | $71,000 | 281,764 | 3 |
| 50 | Garland, TX | $91,961 | $70,000 | 234,943 | - |
Highest paying cities for mainframe developers
| Rank | City | Avg. mainframe developer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $117,098 |
| 2 | Columbus, GA | $94,772 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $94,704 |
| 4 | Springfield, MA | $94,572 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $94,337 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $93,791 |
| 7 | Raleigh, NC | $92,910 |
| 8 | San Antonio, TX | $92,769 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $92,421 |
| 10 | Columbia, SC | $92,173 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $91,906 |
| 12 | McLean, VA | $90,227 |
| 13 | Salt Lake City, UT | $89,450 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $88,946 |
| 15 | Danbury, CT | $88,811 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $88,759 |
| 17 | Milwaukee, WI | $87,087 |
| 18 | Tampa, FL | $85,671 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $84,241 |
| 20 | Dearborn, MI | $83,897 |
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Updated January 8, 2025