How Much Does a Cobol Programmer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$100,390
COBOL programmers in the U.S. earn a median of $100,390 a year, or $48.26 an hour. Half of COBOL programmers earn more than $100,390 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $160,460.
Pay percentiles for COBOL programmers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27.74 | $57,710 |
| 25th | $36.47 | $75,850 |
| 50th (median) | $48.26 | $100,390 |
| 75th | $62.83 | $130,680 |
| 90th | $77.15 | $160,460 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Computer Programmers (SOC 15-1251). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for COBOL programmers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $133,820 | $64.34 | +33% |
| Massachusetts | $128,390 | $61.73 | +28% |
| Washington | $125,620 | $60.39 | +25% |
| Maryland | $125,570 | $60.37 | +25% |
| Virginia | $121,610 | $58.47 | +21% |
| Hawaii | $118,180 | $56.82 | +18% |
| California | $116,760 | $56.13 | +16% |
| Arkansas | $111,840 | $53.77 | +11% |
| Minnesota | $107,250 | $51.56 | +7% |
| New Jersey | $104,940 | $50.45 | +5% |
| United States | $100,390 | $48.26 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many COBOL programmers are there?
BLS counts about 92,230 COBOL programmers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Computer Programmers”. The most jobs are in California (11,340), Texas (7,620) and New York (7,020).
The mean (average) annual wage is $105,170, higher than the median of $100,390.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $8,366
- Biweekly
- $3,861
- Weekly
- $1,931
- Daily (8 hours)
- $386
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do COBOL programmers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for COBOL programmers is $48.26. The middle 50% earn between $36.47 and $62.83 an hour.
Which state pays COBOL programmers the most?
Connecticut has the highest median wage for COBOL programmers at $133,820, +33% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for COBOL programmers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of COBOL programmers earn less than $57,710 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.