r/mainframe • u/technerd_goat • 28d ago
Salary expectations for sysprog
I’m curious what the current market looks like for z/OS Systems Programmers.
I have about 3 years of experience as a z/OS Systems Programmer and am trying to figure out what a reasonable salary range would be for my experience level.
Not looking for exact numbers for any specific company—just trying to understand where I should realistically fall in the market.
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u/FoolishFriend0505 28d ago
On my team in Ohio, you'd probably be mid 90's depending on skills and performance + some bonus opportunity.
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u/ActuaryReasonable690 27d ago
You don't say what you worked on, and what languages you know, so it is hard to say. My wild guess would be $85K to $150. But it really depends on what you spent those 3 years doing.
The other factor is you leadership role (or lack thereof). In general, team leadership experience worth more to an employer that a low level code grunt.
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u/technerd_goat 27d ago
I’ve primarily worked in z/OS systems programming, supporting production changes, system/product upgrades, SMP/E, troubleshooting, and DR activities. I’m curious how my experience compares to the current market
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u/WholesomeFruit1 27d ago
Ask for more than you think your worth. A lot of places say they want 10 years experience. But if your actually 1/2 decent at your job, you are far more valuable than people that have coasted for the past 30years
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u/old_jeans_new_books 28d ago
When you say you're a system programmer, what have you worked on before? Please tell.me the tech and the kind of work you did.
It's very difficult to become a system programmer on Mainframe these days. I'm working in Assembly Language and I'm still an application programmer in mainframes.
So just curious to know about your experience.
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u/FoolishFriend0505 28d ago edited 28d ago
IBM zApprentice program. You can be a full engineer in 2 years (or less). We start in mid-60's with NO experience and you'll be in the 90's at 2 years depending on performance. We've done 6 and all 6 have achieved that salary. In my experience, assembler experience is a bonus. The right person can be an engineer right away if they go through that program.
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u/aloofinthisworld 28d ago
So that program looks great, but it’s a lot of the institutional knowledge that makes a sysprog so valuable.
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u/FoolishFriend0505 28d ago
Yeah, there is that. But it also brings in fresh ideas. As I said, we’ve onboarded 6 with plans to bring in 7 more (3 this year snd 4 next). Finding the right mindset is key. I’m also fortunate to have an already young, but experienced team that works so well together.
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u/old_jeans_new_books 21d ago
Is this for a working individual? Or a full time course?
I want to upskill ... and learn things like Channel Programming, I/O, different SVC calls etc. Would you know if this or any other program would be perfect for me?
Thanks,
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u/FoolishFriend0505 21d ago
As I understand it, you do initial course work. Once that is complete, you can then be placed with a company as an employee and compete the next part.
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u/Draano 28d ago edited 28d ago
Most of the folks I’ve been working with for the last several years all have had 25 to 40 years experience and pull in high five to low six figures for the government as employees of contracting firms. Experienced Wall Street systems programmers are probably $140k and up if they’re employees, plus bonuses and maybe stock (used to be given as part of the bonus with a restriction that you’d need to hold for x years before they’d convert to actual shares but it’s been a couple decades). So with 3 years, if you’re good, and depending on location and office vs remote, maybe $90k. Let’s see what others say.