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If you aspire to work in:
Business
Finance
Administrative systems
… then you should definitely look into COBOL jobs.
COBOL is one of the oldest programming languages.
However:
It’s still as important today as it was 20 years ago..
There is still demand for COBOL professionals today.
COBOL is used for 70% of the global business transactions.
Let’s start with the basics:
Is COBOL Still used in 2020?
Before we continue on, we need to make a few things clear about COBOL’s usage today.
It is true that most COBOL programming is used in order to maintain existing applications. Also, most of the experienced COBOL programmers have retired.
But worry not!
COBOL is not going anywhere.
Even though it is a 58-year old language, it powers over 80% of in-person transactions today. COBOL systems handle about $3 trillion in commerce. 220 billion lines of COBOL code are being used in production.
Some are concerned by the fact that 92 out of 100 banks are still using mainframe computers. Many think that these types of computers should have been replaced by smaller commodity servers and cloud computing by now. However, one programmer explained that it took a business more than four years to make a transition from COBOL to Java. We are not taking a jab at Java Developers here! We are simply saying that such a transfer may not be as cost-effective for businesses as one might think.
COBOL programmers jobs are still very much in demand in 2020. COBOL is still used by many financial organizations and other large businesses. According to the statistics offered by the Bureau of Labor, COBOL computer programmers are on the decline. H
But.
They are still very much in demand for companies that use COBOL for their daily operations. Programmers hired for these types of jobs usually need to maintain current operations or troubleshoot existing issues.
Sectors, where COBOL jobs are in demand, include government agencies, banks, finance, technology, consulting, transportation, etc. There are more than 26,000 companies today that use COBOL. The majority of them are found in the US and are related to the computer software industry.
Most Popular Companies that Use COBOL:
Compass Group PLC
United States Postal Service
Hon Hai Precision Industry
PDVSA
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV
Number of Companies that use COBOL by Industry:
Computer Software – 3,741
IT & Services – 2,270
Higher Education – 1,229
Financial Services – 938
Hospital & Healthcare – 935
Companies that Use COBOL by Country:
United States – 12,781
United Kingdom – 1,237
India – 958
Canada – 814
Italy – 676
Now when we know how much COBOL is used, it is time to address our next issue.
Why Should I Learn COBOL?
COBOL may be an old programming language but it is a legendary one nonetheless. There are 200 times more transactions processed using COBOL on a daily basis than there are YouTube or Google searches.
It gives people looking for a job plenty of reasons to start learning COBOL.
COBOL is Easy
If you are fluent or at least know English, you will have no trouble learning COBOL. The program uses an English-like structure that has components like verbs, sentences, and clauses. It is very easy to read and understand. So, it will not take you long to learn COBOL syntax.
It is Hardly Going to be Replaced
One thing that defines COBOL is its longevity. Replacing it is quite expensive, time-consuming and often risky. Some even agree that it is completely unnecessary to replace it as it works perfectly fine.
It Gets the Numbers Right
There is a reason why COBOL is the preferred programming language for financial software. It comes with the arithmetic accuracy of 31 digits. Due to its perfect numeric processing functions COBOL is the preferred choice for banking, fund management, insurance, payroll, pension systems, credit cards, and many other similar areas.
COBOL developer jobs now know where to look for a new job!
Get to Your Data Fast
COBOL has the capacity to process data from a whole range of sources, even almost any Relational Database Management System. Additionally, it provides direct language support for data files. It can even outperform database processing!
It’s Really Fast
With 50 years of optimizing experience under its belt, COBOL certainly has plenty to offer when it comes to data processing. COBOL uses Micro Focus as its code generator and it targets platform technology. The aim is the best possible performance. It also offers the creation of executable and fully portable code.
It Can be Used with your Favorite IDE
Some very cool COBOL features allow you to use Visual Studio or Eclipse. Meaning that you necessarily don’t have to learn a completely new toolset. There are plenty of tools that can be adapted here and it also makes programming a lot easier.
Run COBOL Anywhere you Like
COBOL has been written in almost any platform in existence today. When written, these types of mainframe languages can run anywhere. Businesses can use applications that were written ages ago and run them on modern platforms. This is because the language itself is used with data types and structures.
Now when we are equipped with the necessary knowledge about COBOL, we are going to go through job descriptions in more depth.
COBOL Job Description
A COBOL programmer is a person who understands the ins and outs of COBOL. The main area that they are active in is business data processing. COBOL programmers usually develop, design, and configure code for new programs. They also test these programs in order to make sure that they function properly on the aimed operating system. Additionally, they will make adjustments if there are any needed.
As we mentioned above, new COBOL-based programs are a rarity these days. Thus, the majority of COBOL programmers work on the already existing COBOL software. An experienced developer today is usually a veteran in the field as young people rarely decide to specialize in COBOL.
COBOL Responsibilities
There are several responsibilities that developers using COBOL need to think about.
They include:
Developing and maintaining COBOL.
Developing, coding, testing, designing and making changes to software applications.
Testing COBOL for errors and fix faulty lines of code.
Documenting systems and programs that are enhanced, implemented or developed.
Documenting and gathering system requirements.
Defining code standards for better code integrity.
Using code libraries collected from independent lines of code to simplify writing.
Taking care of technical analysis and design.
Unfortunately, there is not a lot of need for creating new COBOL applications. A developer will mostly work and maintain the existing ones.
However, in order to do that, some skills are needed.
COBOL Skills
In order to work with COBOL, a programmer will first and foremost require basic COBOL programming skills.
Some of the most important skills needed for a programmer are:
Excellent mainframe programming.
Vast knowledge of business processes in fields like the financial sector, banking, or healthcare.
Understanding project management and software development cycles.
Advanced knowledge of debugging tools.
Probably the most important skill to have is the ability to work with COBOL mainframe.
Additionally, there are certain technical skills that are very much necessary for COBOL development.
You must be proficient in using:
Databases: Access, MS SQL Server, and DB2.
Languages: Visual Basic, CICS, TSO, QMF, and JSL.
Platforms/Systems: Windows, UNIX, Linux, and IBM Mainframe.
Tools: XPEDITER, ENDEVOR, JES2, and Test Director.
But we would also like to add some soft skills to fully fortify the position of a COBOL developer.
These should include:
Analytical skills: Understanding complex instructions is absolutely necessary for creating computer code.
Detail orientated: Closely examining the code is important since one small error can disrupt the whole process.
Concentration: Programmers often spend long hours sitting in front of a computer writing code.
Relationship management: The ability to build constructive and effective relationships in a team or independently.
Troubleshooting skills: One of the most important parts of the job would be to check the code for errors.
These would, in fact, be the skills needed for most common business-oriented language jobs. But there are still some requirements as far as background goes that need to be met.
Here they are!
COBOL Jobs: Education Requirements
Employees who are in search of COBOL-related jobs need to have a certain educational background. Employers usually seek candidates that have a Bachelor’s degree in a field like Computer Science, Information Technology, or MIS. Fewer employers will require candidates with a Master’s degree.
However, certain employers will also accept workers with an associate’s degree. Even though a degree will give the candidate a certain advantage, most employers value the skills that a worker is capable of displaying. Also, a degree may not be required for remote COBOL jobs.
Unfortunately, many Computer Degrees today do not come with courses that include COBOL programming. This is why most COBOL professionals that exist now come from the older generations.
But since experts still believe that COBOL will continue to play an important role in the future, there are certain courses that people can take and get certified.
Some of the most prominent ones include:
Mainframe COBOL by GOGO Training.
Udemy COBOL Course.
Learning COBOL by Lynda.com.
But what about the money?
Relax.
We’ll explain that next.
COBOL Programmer Jobs Salary
Basically, with the number of really experienced COBOL experts declining, there is a greater need for them. The demand also increases salary rates.
Thus, an inexperienced or junior programmer will earn an annual salary of $49,000.
More experienced developers have an opportunity to get paid around $70,000 per year.
Finally, senior developers with loads of experience can be paid up to $90,000 a year.
COBOL remote jobs pay equally well and freelancers are able to earn a fee of $125 per hour. When calculated it amounts to $1,000 a day.
Let’s see what some of the most popular job platforms say:
Location would also be a deciding factor for the amount of money a COBOL expert may earn. For now, Switzerland leads the race with the highest average COBOL programmer salary around the world.
Switzerland – $119,416
USA – $85,032
UK – $55,862
France – $41,285
Ukraine – $27,176
But since we are at the subject of location, we explore the topic more in the next part.
COBOL Job Location
Location is always an important factor when looking for a job. As far as COBOL goes, there are many options available. Even though some say that COBOL is out of date, it is still used by most banks. So wherever you have a bank there is a great possibility that many COBOL mainframe jobs are going to be offered.
A country like the US is probably the first one that comes to mind. However, mainframe jobs are sought all over the world. Besides the US, you will find these types of jobs available in countries like India, Canada, Australia, Germany, Singapore, and Switzerland. Although пost of the job openings are in America, you will be surprised how many there are in Europe. Ukraine, for example, is a place where these positions are on the rise.
As far as the US goes, COBOL programming jobs in New Jersey are some of the more interesting ones. But don’t underestimate New York nor Texas.
There are also many freelancers today and they are basically taking over the market. Many people prefer to work from home. A lot of job listings offer these types of working conditions and many employees prefer working remotely.
Remote COBOL Jobs
The remote positions don’t differ greatly in terms of work. However, there are certain differences as opposed to working in an office. Remote work may include programming and application development. One will also have the opportunity to develop mainframe software or adjust COBOL so they work on every system.
But, the majority of “home-office” jobs are about technical help and support. However, COBOL jobs remote may also require you to code in other common languages. Many of these remote workers research and integrate design strategies, resolve design interface problems, debug new software, or simply provide on-call support.
But be prepared to be on call for weekends and even holidays or big events.
The US is still your best chance to find this kind of position.
What are Remote Jobs that use COBOL?
There are tons of different job opportunities for a person who knows COBOL. Many of them are of course found in the business sectors. The versatility of remote jobs related to COBOL is great. If you look at any job platform, you will see that titles like programmers and developers are mostly tossed around.
But let’s not forget analysts or the position of a mainframe programmer as well. App programmers are also in demand.
All in all, remote jobs related to COBOL differ the same as regular full-time jobs do. The main point is that there will probably not be any need for further development. Mostly maintenance work. If you are capable of doing this line, then remote options like these are just for you.
Top Cities for Remote COBOL Jobs
Working remotely is basically the latest method that a lot of companies are applying today. Saving on office space and supplies is the aim here. But, at the same time, firms are looking for quality workers that can do a good job at a certain position.
We already know that COBOL developers are very sought after. However, developers that are willing to work remotely are on the rise now. Since COBOL is still in use, a lot of companies are outsourcing and looking for people that specify in it.
COBOL Remote Jobs in USA are on the rise. We can’t really point to a particular city where the concentration is the biggest. What you can determine is that larger companies still prefer having their employees close at their side. Meaning that smaller or developing companies are the ones that are looking for remote workers.
So if you are looking for top states for remote COBOL jobs, you can look pretty much everywhere.
That is the beauty of this type of employment – you can work from an entirely different country!
COBOL Contract Jobs
Another way to get a job involving COBOL is by being hired on a contract. This is by no means full-time employment and it can last as long as the employee needs you. But it usually ends when the job that you are hired to do is complete. Sometimes it can take six months and other times even more. It all depends on the duties and requirements of the employer.
Mainframe COBOL contract jobs are particularly popular these days. The main skill that you need to get hired here is, of course, possessing immense knowledge about mainframes. Most employers prefer these experts being knowledgeable about IDMS/Networks and CA-ADS. But it will still depend on the type of job that a person is hired for, which can be very versatile.
But it pays pretty well! COBOL developer contact jobs in USA come with an average yearly pay of $118,173, according to ZipRecruiter. Really good professionals will be able to get $185,000 for their efforts.
Let’s wrap up, guys:
What is COBOL?
COBOL is an English-like computer programming language for business use. It is described as procedural and imperative. Since 2002 it is also known for being an object-oriented computer programming language. COBOL is an acronym for Common Business-Orientated Language.
Companies and governments use COBOL for business, finance, and administrative systems. Its main usage today may be credited to legacy applications deployed on mainframe computers. However, the COBOL programmer shortage has led to the declining popularity of this program. Many businesses are shifting to different platforms. Some of them are being rewritten in modern languages while others are replaced with software packages.
Nevertheless, there is still an enormous need for professionals with COBOL knowledge. Mainly, because it took some businesses more than five years to transfer to a modern platform. Some of them needed to endure enormous costs because of it. This is also why many companies have decided to continue to use COBOL.
The language is still currently present in about 85% of the world’s business applications.
COBOL History
COBOL was created in 1959 by CODASYL. It was designed as part of the US Department of Defense’s effort to provide a portable programming language for data processing. Originally, it was a stopgap at first but was pushed to computer manufacturers to provide it by the Department of Defense.
From 1968, COBOL has been standardized and has been revised four times since.
The most important expansions that were added included it becoming an object-orientated program and designed for structured programming.
One of the most important questions to ask upon mentioning COBOL is “Who is Grace Hopper?” She is considered the grandmother of the program. She was actually the inventor of the English-like data processing language, FLOW-MATIC, that COBOL was based on.
After starting the program, a meeting was held in the Pentagon with the topic of using it for business. The Department of Defense had great concerns if it was capable of running the same data processing programs in different computers. The only available mainstream language at the time, FORTRAN, was lacking certain features needed to write such programs.
To Summarize
COBOL is still going strong!
It may be the grumpy old grandpa of the programming world.
(Seriously, grandpa jokes?)
It’s wise, experienced and one you can rely on.
Veterans in the field are a necessity. This goes for any type of work today.
A sports team cannot develop young talent without a skillful player to show them the ropes.
All in all:
COBOL jobs are a great opportunity for a stable future.
Be sure to check out more job opportunities on Leftornic.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is COBOL?
COBOL (short for Common Business Oriented Language) is a top-notch programming language aimed at business applications. It was one of the first programming languages made to be an operating system. It is used mainly for financial and business applications today.
It does not take so much to learn COBOL as it is an English language-based program. Meaning that knowing English greatly increases one’s chances of becoming proficient in COBOL.
Is there a demand for COBOL programmers?
Even though many consider COBOL an ancient program, the program is still very much used today. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for computer programmers is on the decline. But COBOL programming jobs are still very much in need.
There are plenty of companies today that use COBOL for their daily operations. These usually include government agencies, business organizations, and banks. These programmers typically are not required to write a new code. Their main job usually involves them maintaining the existing ones.
How much do COBOL programmers make?
Since COBOL is a very old programming language, the number of real and veteran specialists is declining. So there are not so many really experienced programmers still available. However, with the lack of experts for COBOL jobs, the salary has increased during time.
An average salary for a person knowledgeable in COBOL amounts to $70,000 a year. People with less experience are able to earn about $49.000 a year. But the experts who really know what they are doing are looking at a figure of some $90,000 on a yearly basis.
What companies use COBOL?
First: “What is COBOL used for?” Its main purpose is found in the business and finance sector. And while it is pretty old, there is no better nor reliable program for this kind of purpose currently. Substituting it would also require a lot of effort and cost.
That is why the majority of companies that still use COBOL today are in banking, consulting, or financing companies. The most prominent companies to mention are BNY Mellon, Capital One, Morgan Stanley (banking), Deloitte, Accenture (consulting), IBM (technology), Norfolk Southern (transportation), Visa, Citi, (finance), etc.
Does COBOL have a future?
COBOL very much does have a future.
Many people are still wondering today – Do banks still use COBOL? Banks are probably the main users.
This greatly implies how much popular COBOL still is. It does not have a future in your traditional sense of the word, meaning that we are not expecting any new advancements to be made. However, since it is really hard to substitute the program we will only see its usage increase in the future.
More so, there are many COBOL programmer jobs work from home opportunities today available. These positions greatly expand one’s possibility when trying to get hired.
So, in conclusion, there’s plenty of opportunities for COBOL jobs.
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