Career Explorer Computing and maths
Grows with AI
Software developers
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.
Among the careers AI is changing fastest: more resilient than 18% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is very high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by +10.2% by 2035, much faster than average. The work leans on creative vision.
AI can help with many of the tasks, and demand is still growing. Being fluent with AI is the edge here.
- Median pay (2025)
- $135,980
- Job growth to 2035
- +10.2%
- Openings a year
- 95,300
- People doing it (2025)
- 1.7 million
- Usual route in
- Bachelor's degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data
- Advise others on the design or use of technologies
- Design computer or information systems or applications
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Supervise personnel activities
- Direct scientific or technical activities
- Train others to use equipment or products
What the work looks like
- Monitor functioning of equipment to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
- Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
- Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
- Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
- Coordinate installation of software system.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- StatisticiansGrows with AI, Index 20, +11.0%
- Data scientistsGrows with AI, Index 22, +34.6%
- Operations research analystsGrows with AI, Index 23, +11.9%
- Market research analysts and marketing specialistsGrows with AI, Index 21, +7.0%
Also known as: Developer, Software Architect, Software Developer, Software Engineer, Application Developer, Application Integration Engineer, DevOps Engineer (Development Operations Engineer), Infrastructure Engineer.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.