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Best states for a mainframe developer
Quoted expert
Dr. Stephen Frezza Ph.D.
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It seems like mainframe developers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for mainframe developers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that Washington is the best state for mainframe developers, while Washington and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Washington has a median salary of $110,097 and Washington has the highest median salary among all 50 states for mainframe developers.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for mainframe developers.We found that Washington is the best state for mainframe developer jobs, whereas West Virginia is the worst.
10 best states for mainframe developers in 2025
1. Washington
Total mainframe developer jobs: 1,825 Average annual salary: $110,097 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
2. Rhode Island
Total mainframe developer jobs: 356 Average annual salary: $96,025 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
3. Oregon
Total mainframe developer jobs: 1,052 Average annual salary: $96,278 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
4. Idaho
Total mainframe developer jobs: 323 Average annual salary: $94,555 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
5. Nevada
Total mainframe developer jobs: 405 Average annual salary: $94,189 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
6. California
Total mainframe developer jobs: 6,900 Average annual salary: $105,541 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
7. Texas
Total mainframe developer jobs: 4,365 Average annual salary: $92,413 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
8. New Jersey
Total mainframe developer jobs: 1,851 Average annual salary: $94,231 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
9. Georgia
Total mainframe developer jobs: 1,798 Average annual salary: $94,641 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
10. District of Columbia
Total mainframe developer jobs: 769 Average annual salary: $94,647 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 2.3
Mainframe developer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a mainframe developer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a mainframe developer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $110,097 | $83,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,825 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $96,025 | $73,000 | 1,059,639 | 356 |
| 3 | Oregon | $96,278 | $72,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,052 |
| 4 | Idaho | $94,555 | $72,000 | 1,716,943 | 323 |
| 5 | Nevada | $94,189 | $71,000 | 2,998,039 | 405 |
| 6 | California | $105,541 | $78,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,900 |
| 7 | Texas | $92,413 | $71,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,365 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $94,231 | $72,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,851 |
| 9 | Georgia | $94,641 | $73,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,798 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $94,647 | $72,000 | 693,972 | 769 |
| 11 | Maine | $93,029 | $71,000 | 1,335,907 | 241 |
| 12 | Alaska | $100,183 | $82,000 | 739,795 | 132 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $92,301 | $71,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,701 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $89,639 | $70,000 | 755,393 | 190 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $90,451 | $69,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,261 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $94,393 | $72,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,764 |
| 17 | Utah | $89,680 | $68,000 | 3,101,833 | 803 |
| 18 | Arizona | $91,779 | $70,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,133 |
| 19 | Vermont | $89,648 | $68,000 | 623,657 | 208 |
| 20 | Maryland | $92,319 | $70,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,131 |
| 21 | Ohio | $88,828 | $68,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,896 |
| 22 | Virginia | $90,236 | $69,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,099 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $92,200 | $71,000 | 5,024,369 | 494 |
| 24 | Alabama | $90,119 | $69,000 | 4,874,747 | 673 |
| 25 | New York | $93,569 | $71,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,191 |
| 26 | Colorado | $89,761 | $69,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,218 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $85,871 | $67,000 | 869,666 | 192 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $87,041 | $68,000 | 5,795,483 | 847 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $86,066 | $67,000 | 6,715,984 | 770 |
| 30 | Kansas | $83,205 | $64,000 | 2,913,123 | 610 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $87,621 | $67,000 | 4,684,333 | 435 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $82,470 | $64,000 | 1,920,076 | 455 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $86,642 | $67,000 | 2,984,100 | 209 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $88,823 | $67,000 | 3,588,184 | 565 |
| 35 | Michigan | $83,808 | $65,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,276 |
| 36 | Indiana | $81,264 | $63,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,297 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $84,144 | $65,000 | 4,454,189 | 551 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $84,870 | $65,000 | 3,930,864 | 353 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $87,632 | $69,000 | 1,427,538 | 142 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $80,945 | $63,000 | 3,004,279 | 469 |
| 41 | Illinois | $84,059 | $65,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,076 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $82,457 | $63,000 | 1,342,795 | 305 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $79,416 | $61,000 | 579,315 | 120 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $82,614 | $64,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,239 |
| 45 | Delaware | $78,708 | $60,000 | 961,939 | 326 |
| 46 | Florida | $84,726 | $63,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,459 |
| 47 | Missouri | $82,042 | $64,000 | 6,113,532 | 946 |
| 48 | Montana | $77,839 | $60,000 | 1,050,493 | 240 |
| 49 | Iowa | $80,758 | $63,000 | 3,145,711 | 558 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $77,137 | $59,000 | 2,088,070 | 397 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $77,028 | $59,000 | 1,815,857 | 211 |
Highest paying states for mainframe developers
| Rank | State | Avg. Mainframe Developer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $110,097 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $96,025 |
| 3 | Oregon | $96,278 |
| 4 | Idaho | $94,555 |
| 5 | Nevada | $94,189 |
| 6 | California | $105,541 |
| 7 | Texas | $92,413 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $94,231 |
| 9 | Georgia | $94,641 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $94,647 |
| 11 | Maine | $93,029 |
| 12 | Alaska | $100,183 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $92,301 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $89,639 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $90,451 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $94,393 |
| 17 | Utah | $89,680 |
| 18 | Arizona | $91,779 |
| 19 | Vermont | $89,648 |
| 20 | Maryland | $92,319 |
| 21 | Ohio | $88,828 |
| 22 | Virginia | $90,236 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $92,200 |
| 24 | Alabama | $90,119 |
| 25 | New York | $93,569 |
| 26 | Colorado | $89,761 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $85,871 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $87,041 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $86,066 |
| 30 | Kansas | $83,205 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $87,621 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $82,470 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $86,642 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $88,823 |
| 35 | Michigan | $83,808 |
| 36 | Indiana | $81,264 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $84,144 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $84,870 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $87,632 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $80,945 |
| 41 | Illinois | $84,059 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $82,457 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $79,416 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $82,614 |
| 45 | Delaware | $78,708 |
| 46 | Florida | $84,726 |
| 47 | Missouri | $82,042 |
| 48 | Montana | $77,839 |
| 49 | Iowa | $80,758 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $77,137 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $77,028 |
Expert opinions on the best states for mainframe developers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for mainframe developers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Stephen Frezza Ph.D.
Chair, Professor of Software Engineering, Gannon University
Computing is ubiquitous, and with more industries moving to remote work, location is becoming less critical. If the internet reaches a place reliably, computing jobs can be located there.
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Updated January 8, 2025