Cobol Developer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
COBOL developer roles attract H-1B visa and EB-3 visa sponsorship from banks, insurers, and federal contractors who can't find enough qualified candidates domestically. Mainframe experience is the differentiator, employers move fast when you have it. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsADP is hiring a Lead Cobol Application Developer.
ADP is seeking an experienced mainframe developer who wants to learn and develop the core components of the flagship payroll system that pays over 25 million people every payday. We are seeking a self-learner who wants to be challenged. Do you enjoy exploring? This candidate must be curious, determined to understand how it all works and aspires to be a subject matter expert. If you have strong analytical skills, are an innovator, a problem solver and a self-motivator, this is your ideal job.
Like what you see? Apply now!
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
Here's what you can expect on a typical day:
- Develop and enhance payroll applications for ADP’s clients.
- Participate in all aspects of the software development lifecycle: planning, design, develop, test and implement on an Agile Kanban team delivering solutions consistent with business objectives.
- Deliver code under demanding deadlines throughout the project lifecycle.
- Utilize an efficient, clear, and concise communication style to regularly communicate ongoing status, milestones, and successes with team leaders and managers as well as others within the development team. Leverage direction set by architects and analysts to ensure consistency across multiple applications.
- In addition to documentation published by internal analysts, analyze statutory agency publications for necessary changes.
- Perform unit/functional and systems testing of applications/solutions!
- Develop thorough test cases and fully test applications using standard accepted practices for unit testing, system, integration and performance testing.
- Seek out learning opportunities to become proficient in business needs.
- Resolve all defects/issues reported.
- Troubleshoot and support solutions on an ongoing basis.
- Perform under regulatory and compliance-related deadlines.
- Keep up to date on technological changes, especially regarding job-related languages, operating systems, tools and methodologies.
- Stay current with skills required for projects and progression to further knowledge, skills and abilities.
- Work independently with minimal supervision.
TO SUCCEED IN THIS ROLE:
- You'll have a Bachelor's degree OR equivalent. (Computer Science, preferred)
- 5 - 10 years mainframe COBOL experience
- Proficient in COBOL, CICS, DB2, SQL, QMF, IBM utilities & INSYNC
- MVS, JCL, & TSO
- Java on z/OS
- ChangeMan & Github
- Working with all Agile Kanban or Waterfall methodologies
- Copilot/Chat GPT
- Strong Agile software development experience
- Unit testing experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Rational Developer / z Series (RD/z) development tool suite
- Payroll or AutoPay background
YOU'LL LOVE WORKING HERE BECAUSE YOU CAN:
- Have courageous team collaboration. Courage comes from how associates are willing to have difficult conversations, speak up, be an owner, and challenge one another's ideas to find the best solution.
- Deliver at epic scale. We deliver real user outcomes using strong judgment and good instincts. We're obsessed with the art of achieving simplicity with a focus on client happiness and productivity.
- Be surrounded by curious learners. We align ourselves with other smart people in an environment where we grow and elevate one another to the next level. We encourage our associates to listen, stay agile, and learn from mistakes.
- Act like an owner - doer. Mission-driven and committed to leading change, you will be encouraged to take on any challenge and solve complex problems. No tasks are beneath or too great for us. We are hands-on and willing to master our craft.
- Give back to others. Always do the right thing for our clients and our community and humbly give back to the community where we live and work. Support our associates in times of need through ADP's Philanthropic Foundation.
- Join a company committed to equality and equity. Our goal is to impact lasting change through our actions.
What are you waiting for? Apply today!
Base salary offers for this position may vary based on factors such as location, skills, and relevant experience. Some positions may include additional compensation in the form of bonus, equity or commissions. We offer the following benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Matched Retirement Savings, Wellness Program, Short-and Long-Term Disability, Charitable Contribution Match, Holidays, Personal Days & Vacation, Paid Volunteer Time Off, and more. The compensation for this role is USD $93,400.00 - USD $230,000.00 / Year*
- Actual compensation will not be less than the applicable minimum wage or minimum exempt salary requirement under federal, state and local laws.
A little about ADP: We are a comprehensive global provider of cloud-based human capital management (HCM) solutions that unite HR, payroll, talent, time, tax and benefits administration and a leader in business outsourcing services, analytics, and compliance expertise. We believe our people make all the difference in cultivating a down-to-earth culture that embraces our core values, welcomes ideas, encourages innovation, and values belonging. We've received recognition for our work by many esteemed organizations, learn more at ADP Awards and Recognition.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at ADP: ADP is committed to an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace, and is further committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristic including: race, color, genetic information, creed, national origin, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lawful alien status, ancestry, age, marital status, protected veteran status or disability. Hiring decisions are based upon ADP’s operating needs, and applicant merit including, but not limited to, qualifications, experience, ability, availability, cooperation, and job performance.
Ethics at ADP: ADP has a long, proud history of conducting business with the highest ethical standards and full compliance with all applicable laws. We also expect our people to uphold our values with the highest level of integrity and behave in a manner that fosters an honest and respectful workplace.
ADP is hiring a Lead Cobol Application Developer.
ADP is seeking an experienced mainframe developer who wants to learn and develop the core components of the flagship payroll system that pays over 25 million people every payday. We are seeking a self-learner who wants to be challenged. Do you enjoy exploring? This candidate must be curious, determined to understand how it all works and aspires to be a subject matter expert. If you have strong analytical skills, are an innovator, a problem solver and a self-motivator, this is your ideal job.
Like what you see? Apply now!
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
Here's what you can expect on a typical day:
- Develop and enhance payroll applications for ADP’s clients.
- Participate in all aspects of the software development lifecycle: planning, design, develop, test and implement on an Agile Kanban team delivering solutions consistent with business objectives.
- Deliver code under demanding deadlines throughout the project lifecycle.
- Utilize an efficient, clear, and concise communication style to regularly communicate ongoing status, milestones, and successes with team leaders and managers as well as others within the development team. Leverage direction set by architects and analysts to ensure consistency across multiple applications.
- In addition to documentation published by internal analysts, analyze statutory agency publications for necessary changes.
- Perform unit/functional and systems testing of applications/solutions!
- Develop thorough test cases and fully test applications using standard accepted practices for unit testing, system, integration and performance testing.
- Seek out learning opportunities to become proficient in business needs.
- Resolve all defects/issues reported.
- Troubleshoot and support solutions on an ongoing basis.
- Perform under regulatory and compliance-related deadlines.
- Keep up to date on technological changes, especially regarding job-related languages, operating systems, tools and methodologies.
- Stay current with skills required for projects and progression to further knowledge, skills and abilities.
- Work independently with minimal supervision.
TO SUCCEED IN THIS ROLE:
- You'll have a Bachelor's degree OR equivalent. (Computer Science, preferred)
- 5 - 10 years mainframe COBOL experience
- Proficient in COBOL, CICS, DB2, SQL, QMF, IBM utilities & INSYNC
- MVS, JCL, & TSO
- Java on z/OS
- ChangeMan & Github
- Working with all Agile Kanban or Waterfall methodologies
- Copilot/Chat GPT
- Strong Agile software development experience
- Unit testing experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Rational Developer / z Series (RD/z) development tool suite
- Payroll or AutoPay background
YOU'LL LOVE WORKING HERE BECAUSE YOU CAN:
- Have courageous team collaboration. Courage comes from how associates are willing to have difficult conversations, speak up, be an owner, and challenge one another's ideas to find the best solution.
- Deliver at epic scale. We deliver real user outcomes using strong judgment and good instincts. We're obsessed with the art of achieving simplicity with a focus on client happiness and productivity.
- Be surrounded by curious learners. We align ourselves with other smart people in an environment where we grow and elevate one another to the next level. We encourage our associates to listen, stay agile, and learn from mistakes.
- Act like an owner - doer. Mission-driven and committed to leading change, you will be encouraged to take on any challenge and solve complex problems. No tasks are beneath or too great for us. We are hands-on and willing to master our craft.
- Give back to others. Always do the right thing for our clients and our community and humbly give back to the community where we live and work. Support our associates in times of need through ADP's Philanthropic Foundation.
- Join a company committed to equality and equity. Our goal is to impact lasting change through our actions.
What are you waiting for? Apply today!
Base salary offers for this position may vary based on factors such as location, skills, and relevant experience. Some positions may include additional compensation in the form of bonus, equity or commissions. We offer the following benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Matched Retirement Savings, Wellness Program, Short-and Long-Term Disability, Charitable Contribution Match, Holidays, Personal Days & Vacation, Paid Volunteer Time Off, and more. The compensation for this role is USD $93,400.00 - USD $230,000.00 / Year*
- Actual compensation will not be less than the applicable minimum wage or minimum exempt salary requirement under federal, state and local laws.
A little about ADP: We are a comprehensive global provider of cloud-based human capital management (HCM) solutions that unite HR, payroll, talent, time, tax and benefits administration and a leader in business outsourcing services, analytics, and compliance expertise. We believe our people make all the difference in cultivating a down-to-earth culture that embraces our core values, welcomes ideas, encourages innovation, and values belonging. We've received recognition for our work by many esteemed organizations, learn more at ADP Awards and Recognition.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at ADP: ADP is committed to an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace, and is further committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristic including: race, color, genetic information, creed, national origin, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lawful alien status, ancestry, age, marital status, protected veteran status or disability. Hiring decisions are based upon ADP’s operating needs, and applicant merit including, but not limited to, qualifications, experience, ability, availability, cooperation, and job performance.
Ethics at ADP: ADP has a long, proud history of conducting business with the highest ethical standards and full compliance with all applicable laws. We also expect our people to uphold our values with the highest level of integrity and behave in a manner that fosters an honest and respectful workplace.
See all 14,468+ Cobol Developer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Cobol Developer
Target financial institutions and government contractors first
Banks, insurance companies, and federal contractors run the largest legacy COBOL systems in the U.S. and sponsor visas most consistently. These employers have established immigration pipelines and are accustomed to the H-1B and EB-3 processes.
Frame your degree as a match for the specialty occupation standard
USCIS requires a directly related bachelor's degree for H-1B eligibility. Computer science, information systems, or software engineering degrees map cleanly. If your degree is in another field, document how your coursework directly supports COBOL development work.
Emphasize mainframe-specific skills that domestic candidates lack
JCL, VSAM, CICS, DB2, and IMS expertise are genuinely scarce in the U.S. labor market. Highlighting these in your application strengthens the employer's case for sponsorship and reduces pushback during the prevailing wage and LCA filing stages.
Expect EB-3 green card sponsorship alongside H-1B
Many COBOL employers sponsor both H-1B status and EB-3 permanent residency because turnover is costly and institutional knowledge is hard to replace. Ask about green card timelines during the offer negotiation phase, not after you've already signed.
Understand that COBOL roles often qualify as specialty occupations without dispute
The DOL consistently recognizes software developer and programmer analyst roles as specialty occupations. A job posting that specifies a bachelor's degree in a computing field and relevant technical skills is well-positioned for approval without an RFE.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers actively filing for COBOL roles
Not every employer advertising a COBOL position is open to sponsorship. Migrate Mate filters for roles where sponsorship is explicitly offered, saving you from applying to positions that will stall at the offer stage due to immigration constraints.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do COBOL developer roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship?
Yes. COBOL developer positions qualify as specialty occupations under USCIS guidelines because they require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related field. Employers filing H-1B visa petitions for these roles rarely face challenges on the specialty occupation question, since the DOL's occupational classification for software developers and programmer analysts is well established. An RFE is more likely if your degree field doesn't closely match the role.
Which visa types are most common for sponsored COBOL developer jobs?
H-1B is the primary visa for COBOL developers already in the U.S. or coming from abroad through employer sponsorship. L-1B is an option if you're transferring within a multinational company with specialized COBOL knowledge. EB-3 is the most common green card pathway, and many large financial and government employers sponsor both H-1B status and EB-3 concurrently. Australians may also qualify for the E-3 visa, which has no lottery.
Does my degree need to be in computer science specifically to qualify?
Not strictly. USCIS accepts degrees in computer science, information systems, software engineering, mathematics, or closely related fields for COBOL developer roles. What matters is that the degree is in a specific specialty that's directly applicable to the position. A general business degree won't qualify, but a degree in management information systems typically will. If your degree is in a borderline field, a detailed employer support letter explaining the connection helps significantly.
Are COBOL developer sponsorship approvals higher than average?
COBOL and mainframe developer roles historically have strong approval rates because the specialty occupation standard is easy to meet and domestic labor market shortages are well documented. Employers who regularly sponsor these roles, particularly large banks and insurance companies, often have experienced immigration counsel who minimize RFE risk. The H-1B lottery remains the primary obstacle, not the petition itself. Browse sponsored openings on Migrate Mate to identify employers with active sponsorship programs.
Can I get sponsored as a COBOL developer if I only have work experience and no degree?
It's more difficult but not impossible. USCIS allows a combination of education and experience to satisfy specialty occupation requirements, with three years of specialized experience substituting for one year of formal education. For a four-year degree, you'd need 12 years of directly relevant COBOL experience. The employer would also need to document that the position normally requires a degree, which is a harder argument to make without one. An immigration attorney's assessment is strongly recommended before pursuing this route.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Cobol Developer jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.