Software developers

United States AI Work IndexISCO 2512title_match

United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.

1,693.8 current · 1,961.4 projectedConfidence high

Why This Score

Tasks 100%

Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities

Wage $133K

Median annual wage

Demand 16%

Projected employment change over 10 years

Preparation Zone 4

Typical preparation needed for this occupation

Occupation profile

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

Task evidence

100% weighted task match · 37% effective coverage

Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works

United States Now

Median Wage

USD 133,080

Employment 2024

1693.8K

Projected Change (2024–34)

15.8%

Openings (2024–34)

115.2K

Wage distribution

Bottom 10%: USD 79,85025th pctl: USD 103,050Median: USD 133,08075th pctl: USD 169,000Top 10%: USD 211,450

Demand outlook

Overall employment of software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers is projected to grow 15 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Education: Bachelor's degree Experience: None

Role Profile

Computers and information technologyCritical and analytical thinkingWriting and reading

Tasks

1. Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints. AI use: 91%
2. Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation. AI use: 0%
3. Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces. AI use: 0%
4. Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system. AI use: 86%
5. Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance. AI use: 72%
6. Determine system performance standards. AI use: 0%

Technologies

Amazon Web Services AWS softwareApache KafkaAtlassian JIRACC#C++

Requirements

Telework: 77.2%Telework: 22.8%

Work context

Spend Time Sitting 5.0/5

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team 4.6/5

E-Mail 4.5/5

Freedom to Make Decisions 4.3/5

Importance of Being Exact or Accurate 4.3/5

Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals 4.2/5

Worker profile

Median age 38.6 · 2.3M employed

Under 25: 6% · 25–54: 82% · 55+: 12%

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