Best cities for a mainframe programmer
The best cities for mainframe programmers are Pittsburgh, PA, Phoenix, AZ, and Laredo, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for mainframe programmers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for mainframe programmers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a mainframe programmer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for mainframe programmers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for mainframe programmers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a mainframe programmer. While the absolute best city for mainframe programmers is Pittsburgh, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for mainframe programmers in 2024.
If you're looking for a mainframe programmer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for mainframe programmers in 2025
1. Pittsburgh, PA
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $89,167 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 75.55 2. Phoenix, AZ
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $89,355 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 91.51 3. Laredo, TX
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $87,485 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Seattle, WA
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $109,504 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Philadelphia, PA
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $92,127 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Durham, NC
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $84,746 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 561.55 7. Cleveland, OH
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $82,421 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Columbus, OH
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $81,348 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 76.91 9. Atlanta, GA
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $94,151 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Glendale, AZ
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $89,388 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for mainframe programmers
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Laredo, TX
- Seattle, WA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Durham, NC
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Atlanta, GA
- Glendale, AZ
- (2 mainframe programmer jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a mainframe programmer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh, PA | $89,167 | $66,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $89,355 | $66,000 | 1,615,017 | 5 |
| 3 | Laredo, TX | $87,485 | $62,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $109,504 | $82,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $92,127 | $67,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $84,746 | $62,000 | 263,016 | 8 |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $82,421 | $61,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $81,348 | $60,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $94,151 | $69,000 | 472,522 | - |
| 10 | Glendale, AZ | $89,388 | $66,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 11 | Anchorage, AK | $96,614 | $78,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 12 | Portland, OR | $95,505 | $71,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 13 | El Paso, TX | $87,804 | $65,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 14 | Reno, NV | $87,040 | $64,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 15 | Scottsdale, AZ | $89,282 | $66,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 16 | Corpus Christi, TX | $87,173 | $62,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 17 | Toledo, OH | $81,454 | $61,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 18 | Chandler, AZ | $89,191 | $66,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $87,510 | $63,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 20 | Mesa, AZ | $89,162 | $66,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 21 | Houston, TX | $86,832 | $62,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 22 | Gilbert, AZ | $89,153 | $66,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 23 | Raleigh, NC | $84,952 | $62,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 24 | Tucson, AZ | $88,566 | $66,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 25 | Fort Worth, TX | $85,085 | $62,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 26 | Austin, TX | $87,149 | $63,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 27 | Arlington, TX | $85,035 | $62,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 28 | Lubbock, TX | $86,076 | $64,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 29 | Cincinnati, OH | $80,014 | $60,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 30 | Oakland, CA | $104,495 | $77,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 31 | Dallas, TX | $84,822 | $62,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 32 | Irving, TX | $84,792 | $62,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 33 | Greensboro, NC | $84,009 | $61,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 34 | Oklahoma City, OK | $82,160 | $61,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 35 | Minneapolis, MN | $86,943 | $66,000 | 413,651 | 4 |
| 36 | Winston-Salem, NC | $83,610 | $61,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 37 | Garland, TX | $84,559 | $62,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 38 | Charlotte, NC | $82,901 | $60,000 | 842,051 | 4 |
| 39 | Sacramento, CA | $104,599 | $77,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 40 | Plano, TX | $84,441 | $62,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 41 | San Francisco, CA | $104,689 | $77,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 42 | Tulsa, OK | $81,739 | $61,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 43 | Detroit, MI | $80,867 | $60,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 44 | Saint Paul, MN | $86,944 | $66,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 45 | Stockton, CA | $103,992 | $76,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 46 | Fremont, CA | $103,846 | $76,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 47 | New Orleans, LA | $81,945 | $58,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 48 | Las Vegas, NV | $81,311 | $60,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 49 | San Jose, CA | $103,286 | $76,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 50 | North Las Vegas, NV | $81,265 | $60,000 | 238,702 | - |
Highest paying cities for mainframe programmers
| Rank | City | Avg. mainframe programmer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olympia, WA | $109,150 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $104,495 |
| 3 | Newark, DE | $99,774 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $98,904 |
| 5 | Alpharetta, GA | $94,316 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $93,280 |
| 7 | Columbia, SC | $89,699 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $89,355 |
| 9 | McLean, VA | $88,265 |
| 10 | Jersey City, NJ | $87,893 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $86,943 |
| 12 | Vernon Hills, IL | $85,568 |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $84,746 |
| 14 | Richardson, TX | $84,510 |
| 15 | Birmingham, AL | $84,196 |
| 16 | New Orleans, LA | $81,945 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $81,348 |
| 18 | Dearborn, MI | $80,821 |
| 19 | Maryland Heights, MO | $77,267 |
| 20 | Little Rock, AR | $75,360 |
Mainframe programmer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025