Grows with AI

Software quality assurance analysts and testers

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.

AI Resistance Index 8 of 99

Among the careers AI is changing fastest: more resilient than 8% 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 +5.7% by 2035, 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): $104,300
Job growth to 2035: +5.7%
Openings a year: 10,700
People doing it (2025): 188,000
Usual route in: Bachelor's degree

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Where people already use AI for this work

Develop operational or technical procedures or standards
Advise others on the design or use of technologies
Test performance of computer or information systems

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Maintain operational records
Analyze data to improve operations
Notify others of emergencies or problems

What the work looks like

Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.
Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

Fewer of these jobs, as some tasks move to software developers as companies increasingly integrate their testing into their software development processes, and as some testing tasks are automated by artificial intelligence (AI).

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Database architectsGrows with AI, Index 13, +9.4%
Data scientistsGrows with AI, Index 22, +34.6%
Software developersGrows with AI, Index 18, +10.2%
Environmental scientists and specialists, including healthGrows with AI, Index 34, +6.1%

Also known as: Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst), Software Quality Assurance Engineer (SQA Engineer), Software Quality Engineer, Software Test Engineer, Automation Tester, Information Technology Analyst (IT Analyst), Quality Assurance Engineer (QA Engineer), Quality 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.