Software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers

$131k median pay1.9M US jobsBachelor's degree
9
out of 10
AI-Native

This occupation is fundamentally digital, with core tasks like coding, debugging, and test automation being primary use cases for Large Language Models. While high-level system architecture and complex stakeholder communication provide some insulation, AI is drastically increasing individual productivity, which will likely lead to significant restructuring of entry-level roles and QA functions.

Task breakdown

AI can do now34%
AI can assist31%
Human domain36%

Based on 15 O*NET work activities for this occupation

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Tools built for this work

1
Claude CodeNot on Free; Pro $17/mo billed annually ($20 monthly); Max from $100/mo; Team $20/seat/mo annually ($25 monthly), Premium seat $100/mo annually

Terminal-based coding agent that reads a repository, edits files across it, runs tests, and opens pull requests from a written instruction.

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2
OpenAI CodexIncluded with ChatGPT plans and sharing their usage limits: Free $0; Go $8/mo; Plus $20/mo; Pro from $100/mo (5x limits) or $200/mo (20x); Business $20/user/mo billed annually; Enterprise contact sales

Runs coding tasks from the terminal, an IDE extension, or the cloud — picking up a GitHub issue, writing the change, and opening a pull request for review.

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3
CursorFree (Hobby); $20/mo (Individual); $40/user/mo (Teams)

A code editor built around an agent that reads the whole repository and makes multi-file changes, rather than autocompleting a line at a time.

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4
GitHub CopilotFree tier; $10/user/mo (Pro); $39/user/mo (Pro+); $100/user/mo (Max)

Completion and agent assistance inside the IDE and on GitHub itself, including automated code review on pull requests.

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5
Google JulesFree tier: 15 tasks/day, 3 concurrent (Gemini 2.5 Pro); Pro: 100 tasks/day, 15 concurrent (Gemini 3 Pro); Ultra: 300 tasks/day, 60 concurrent

Takes a repository and a written task, plans the change with Gemini, and returns a diff and a pull request — asynchronously, so several tasks run at once without occupying the developer.

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6
ReplitStarter free with daily Agent credits; Core $20/mo billed annually ($25 monthly, 2 parallel agents); Pro $95/mo annually ($100 monthly, 10 parallel agents); Enterprise custom

Builds and deploys a working application from a plain-English description in the browser, with no local environment to set up.

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7
Amazon Q DeveloperFree tier $0 (50 agentic requests/mo, 1,000 lines/mo of code transformation); Pro $19/user/mo (4,000 lines/mo, IP indemnity, admin dashboard)

Answers questions and makes agentic code changes in the IDE and CLI, and does bulk language upgrades — the Java version migrations that otherwise consume quarters.

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8
mablPricing not public — quoted per organization; base includes 500 cloud test-run credits/mo with unlimited local runsEmployer-deployed

Generates web, mobile, and API tests, then repairs them itself when the interface changes — removing most of the maintenance that makes automated suites rot.

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3 ways to level up

1

Redesign your service offering around AI capabilities

Your role has maximum AI potential. Rethink what you deliver — AI handles the production, you provide the judgment, creativity, and relationships that AI cannot.

Transforms your value proposition
2

Build AI into your client-facing work

Offer AI-enhanced deliverables to clients: faster turnaround, deeper analysis, more scenarios explored. Position AI as a feature of your service, not a secret.

Premium positioning
3

Invest in the skills AI cannot replicate

Double down on relationship building, strategic thinking, creative direction, and ethical judgment. As AI handles more execution, these human skills become your moat.

Future-proofs your career

Estimated time savings

10.8hours per week

Conservative estimate based on AI exposure score and a 40-hour work week. Assumes 30% of exposed tasks produce real time savings today.

Personalized plan

Answer 3 quick questions and get a tailored action plan with specific tools, timelines, and next steps for your role.

AI Score measures how much AI opportunity your role has. Higher scores mean more potential for AI-assisted productivity gains. Scores are derived from O*NET task data across 342 occupations. This is a starting point, not a verdict. Tool recommendations are based on industry fit and are not endorsements.

Methodology · jobsdata.ai