Best states for a mainframe programmer

Q: What is the best state for mainframe programmers?

The best state to be a mainframe programmer is Delaware based on mainframe programmer salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for mainframe programmers?

The highest paying state for mainframe programmers is Hawaii based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for mainframe programmers?

The worst state for mainframe programmers is Indiana, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Dr. Stephen Frezza Ph.D.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Mainframe programmer opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for mainframe programmers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for mainframe programmers.In order to help you decide which state is the best for mainframe programmers, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for mainframe programmer jobs.

In order to get you the best states for mainframe programmers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that Delaware is the best state for mainframe programmer jobs, whereas Indiana is the worst.

10 best states for mainframe programmers in 2025

1. Delaware
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 23
Average annual salary: $99,801
Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000
Location Quotient:
1.26
Mainframe programmer jobs in Delaware
2. Alaska
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 33
Average annual salary: $96,674
Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000
Location Quotient:
2.73
Mainframe programmer jobs in Alaska
3. Oregon
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 76
Average annual salary: $95,832
Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000
Location Quotient:
1.27
Mainframe programmer jobs in Oregon
4. Washington
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 100
Average annual salary: $108,985
Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000
Location Quotient:
0.94
Mainframe programmer jobs in Washington
5. Connecticut
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 64
Average annual salary: $94,592
Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000
Location Quotient:
1.33
Mainframe programmer jobs in Connecticut
6. New Hampshire
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 23
Average annual salary: $101,487
Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Mainframe programmer jobs in New Hampshire
7. Rhode Island
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 19
Average annual salary: $93,452
Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000
Location Quotient:
1.08
Mainframe programmer jobs in Rhode Island
8. Georgia
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 149
Average annual salary: $94,365
Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000
Location Quotient:
0.99
Mainframe programmer jobs in Georgia
9. Maine
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 25
Average annual salary: $87,395
Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000
Location Quotient:
1.3
Mainframe programmer jobs in Maine
10. Arizona
Total mainframe programmer jobs: 103
Average annual salary: $89,214
Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000
Location Quotient:
1.21
Mainframe programmer jobs in Arizona

Mainframe programmer jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a mainframe programmer

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a mainframe programmer

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Delaware	$99,801	$73,000	961,939	23
2	Alaska	$96,674	$78,000	739,795	33
3	Oregon	$95,832	$72,000	4,142,776	76
4	Washington	$108,985	$82,000	7,405,743	100
5	Connecticut	$94,592	$69,000	3,588,184	64
6	New Hampshire	$101,487	$75,000	1,342,795	23
7	Rhode Island	$93,452	$68,000	1,059,639	19
8	Georgia	$94,365	$69,000	10,429,379	149
9	Maine	$87,395	$65,000	1,335,907	25
10	Arizona	$89,214	$66,000	7,016,270	103
11	Vermont	$88,482	$65,000	623,657	22
12	District of Columbia	$98,825	$72,000	693,972	31
13	Maryland	$93,138	$68,000	6,052,177	159
14	California	$97,515	$72,000	39,536,653	443
15	Pennsylvania	$91,499	$67,000	12,805,537	132
16	North Dakota	$85,455	$66,000	755,393	14
17	South Carolina	$89,608	$65,000	5,024,369	53
18	South Dakota	$81,274	$62,000	869,666	20
19	Texas	$86,141	$63,000	28,304,596	300
20	Utah	$85,264	$63,000	3,101,833	50
21	Mississippi	$85,359	$62,000	2,984,100	31
22	Virginia	$88,431	$64,000	8,470,020	154
23	Illinois	$85,287	$65,000	12,802,023	197
24	New York	$93,028	$68,000	19,849,399	162
25	New Jersey	$87,894	$64,000	9,005,644	123
26	Alabama	$84,630	$62,000	4,874,747	50
27	North Carolina	$83,946	$61,000	10,273,419	135
28	Ohio	$81,490	$61,000	11,658,609	136
29	Massachusetts	$84,399	$62,000	6,859,819	144
30	Minnesota	$86,892	$67,000	5,576,606	63
31	Tennessee	$76,811	$57,000	6,715,984	110
32	Iowa	$81,641	$62,000	3,145,711	46
33	Michigan	$80,613	$61,000	9,962,311	109
34	West Virginia	$74,453	$55,000	1,815,857	29
35	Nevada	$82,176	$61,000	2,998,039	26
36	Idaho	$78,630	$58,000	1,716,943	28
37	Wyoming	$75,466	$57,000	579,315	15
38	Nebraska	$79,040	$60,000	1,920,076	32
39	Oklahoma	$82,133	$61,000	3,930,864	21
40	Louisiana	$81,820	$58,000	4,684,333	32
41	Kentucky	$75,283	$56,000	4,454,189	54
42	Montana	$75,014	$56,000	1,050,493	19
43	Kansas	$76,794	$58,000	2,913,123	36
44	Arkansas	$75,302	$56,000	3,004,279	28
45	Missouri	$77,230	$58,000	6,113,532	57
46	Florida	$66,144	$45,000	20,984,400	249
47	Wisconsin	$72,476	$55,000	5,795,483	77
48	Colorado	$76,873	$58,000	5,607,154	46
49	Hawaii	$66,026	$54,000	1,427,538	12
50	New Mexico	$73,839	$55,000	2,088,070	20
51	Indiana	$69,988	$53,000	6,666,818	61

Highest paying states for mainframe programmers

Rank	State	Avg. Mainframe Programmer Salary
1	Delaware	$99,801
2	Alaska	$96,674
3	Oregon	$95,832
4	Washington	$108,985
5	Connecticut	$94,592
6	New Hampshire	$101,487
7	Rhode Island	$93,452
8	Georgia	$94,365
9	Maine	$87,395
10	Arizona	$89,214
11	Vermont	$88,482
12	District of Columbia	$98,825
13	Maryland	$93,138
14	California	$97,515
15	Pennsylvania	$91,499
16	North Dakota	$85,455
17	South Carolina	$89,608
18	South Dakota	$81,274
19	Texas	$86,141
20	Utah	$85,264
21	Mississippi	$85,359
22	Virginia	$88,431
23	Illinois	$85,287
24	New York	$93,028
25	New Jersey	$87,894
26	Alabama	$84,630
27	North Carolina	$83,946
28	Ohio	$81,490
29	Massachusetts	$84,399
30	Minnesota	$86,892
31	Tennessee	$76,811
32	Iowa	$81,641
33	Michigan	$80,613
34	West Virginia	$74,453
35	Nevada	$82,176
36	Idaho	$78,630
37	Wyoming	$75,466
38	Nebraska	$79,040
39	Oklahoma	$82,133
40	Louisiana	$81,820
41	Kentucky	$75,283
42	Montana	$75,014
43	Kansas	$76,794
44	Arkansas	$75,302
45	Missouri	$77,230
46	Florida	$66,144
47	Wisconsin	$72,476
48	Colorado	$76,873
49	Hawaii	$66,026
50	New Mexico	$73,839
51	Indiana	$69,988

Expert opinions on the best states for mainframe programmers

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for mainframe programmers 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.

Mainframe programmer best states FAQs

What is the best state for mainframe programmers?

What is the highest paying state for mainframe programmers?

What is the worst state for mainframe programmers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.

Search for mainframe programmer jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse computer and mathematical jobs

Total mainframe programmer jobs:	23
Average annual salary:	$99,801
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$73,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$135,000
Location Quotient:	1.26

Best states for a mainframe programmer

10 best states for mainframe programmers in 2025

1. Delaware

2. Alaska

3. Oregon

4. Washington

5. Connecticut

6. New Hampshire

7. Rhode Island

8. Georgia

9. Maine

10. Arizona