SOC 15-1252
Software Developers
Risk Score
โ ๏ธ34/100
Moderate
US Employment
๐ฅ1,654,440
Total workers
Median Wage
๐ฐ$133K
$80K โ $211K
Projected Growth
๐+15.8%
2023-2033 (BLS)
GenAI Exposure
๐ค80/100
High exposure
๐ก Software Developers face a risk score of 34/100 โ 10 points below the national average of 44. With 80/100 GenAI exposure, this occupation faces significant pressure from AI tools despite strong projected growth. See our methodology โ
๐ก Workers in this field earn $133K ($87K above the national median). The 3 recommended career transitions all maintain competitive wages while reducing automation exposure. Explore transition paths โ
๐ AI Impact Analysis
With a risk score of 34/100, Software Developers faces moderate automation pressure. While tasks like machine learning model auto-tuning displacing ml engineers are increasingly handled by AI, the role retains significant human elements. The 1,654,440 workers in this occupation should focus on strengthening skills in architecting novel systems requiring creative problem-solving and stakeholder negotiation and requirements elicitation to stay ahead. The role will likely evolve rather than disappear.
Will AI Replace Software Developers?
Read our full analysis with verdict, risk factors, safe tasks, and career transition paths โ
โ ๏ธ Top Risk Factors
Machine learning model auto-tuning displacing ML engineers
AI-powered research and literature review tools
AI-generated written content replacing manual drafting
๐ก๏ธ Tasks Safe from Automation
Architecting novel systems requiring creative problem-solving
Stakeholder negotiation and requirements elicitation
Mentoring junior developers and team leadership
Crisis debugging of complex production incidents
๐ Task Automation Breakdown
Based on O*NET task analysis and GenAI exposure scoring. Shows the estimated proportion of this occupation's core tasks that are automatable by current AI, augmented by AI tools, or require essential human skills.
๐ O*NET Task Profile
Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.
Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
Confer with data processing or project managers to obtain information on limitations or capabilities for data processing projects.
Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
Consult with customers or other departments on project status, proposals, or technical issues, such as software system design or maintenance.
๐ป Technology Skills
Word processing software
Development environment software
Object or component oriented development software
Data base user interface and query software
Document management software
๐ vs National Average
National avg: $46K
National avg: 44/100
National avg: 38/100
National avg: 3.7%
๐ Career Transition Paths
| Occupation | Risk | Wage | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising, Marketing, Promotions, Public Relations, and Sales Managers | 16 | $145K | 61% |
| Mathematicians | 24 | $122K | 70% |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | 30 | $141K | 83% |