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Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Also filed here: QA, Tester, Quality assurance, Test engineer, Sdet, Automation tester
Heavily edited
AI already performs a large share of the work in this job. Even so, the BLS expects 5.7% more of these jobs by 2035, faster than the 3.5% average.
Programmers mostly use AI inside their coding tools, which consumer Copilot data does not see, so this file probably understates how much AI touches the job.
- Rank
- #75 of 785 jobs, by how much of the work AI does
- US jobs, 2025 to 2035
- +5.7% All jobs: +3.5%
- Median US pay
- $104,300 a year, 2025
- People doing it
- 187,600 in the US, with about 10,700 openings a year
The work, 21 activities
The job description, marked up.
Every activity in this job, the biggest first. Tap a line for the evidence.
- deleAI does this
- +AIAI helps
- stetStill yours
AI does this: Develop operational or technical procedures or standards15%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,089 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI helps with this: Test performance of computer or information systems13%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,825 conversations, and it got them there 90% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on the design or use of technologies9%
AI performed this in about 1 in 97 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
Still yours: Maintain operational records8%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Monitor operation of computer or information technologies6%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,040 conversations, and it got them there 88% of the time.
AI helps with this: Set up computer systems, networks, or other information systems5%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 871 conversations, and it got them there 92% of the time.
Still yours: Analyze data to improve operations5%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Resolve computer problems5%
AI performed this in about 1 in 587 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
AI does this: Compile records, documentation, or other data5%
AI performed this in about 1 in 301 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
Still yours: Notify others of emergencies or problems5%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Document technical designs, procedures, or activities3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 779 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
Still yours: Design databases3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Develop technical specifications for products or operations3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,901 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
AI does this: Plan work activities3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 720 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI does this: Communicate with others about specifications or project details3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 117 Copilot conversations and completed it 78% of the time.
AI does this: Provide information to guests, clients, or customers2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 9 Copilot conversations and completed it 87% of the time.
Still yours: Coordinate regulatory compliance activities2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Read documents or materials to inform work processes2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 214 Copilot conversations and completed it 87% of the time.
AI does this: Analyze scientific or applied data using mathematical principles2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 709 Copilot conversations and completed it 58% of the time.
AI does this: Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 237 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
AI helps with this: Coordinate with others to resolve problems2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 738 conversations, and it got them there 83% of the time.
2025 to 2035
Ten years from now.
For every 100 of these jobs in 2025, the BLS projects 106 in 2035. Across all US jobs, about 104.
About 10,700 openings a year, from growth and from people who retire or move on.
BLS on AITesting moves to developers and is increasingly automated by AI, reducing this occupation's share. Source ↗
Nearby
Where your skills travel.
Jobs that share the most work with this one, where AI does less of it.
- Shares 41% of the workComputer Network Architects36% AI does, against 52% here+7.7% by 2035 · $134,050 · Bachelor’s degree
- Shares 40% of the workInformation Security Analysts36% AI does, against 52% here+21% by 2035 · $129,180 · Bachelor’s degree
- Shares 36% of the workComputer Systems Analysts44% AI does, against 52% here+7.9% by 2035 · $105,850 · Bachelor’s degree
The wire
On the wire.
Nothing filed about this job yet. The latest from the Work front:
How to read this file.
deleAI does this. In US Bing Copilot conversations from January to September 2024, AI itself performed the activity, completed it and made a real difference often enough to count.
+AIAI helps. People brought the activity to AI as their own goal, and it usually got them there.
stetStill yours. It barely shows up in AI use, AI rarely finishes it, or in this job it needs hands.
Shares are weighted by how much each activity matters in the job, using O*NET. Microsoft’s own AI applicability score for this job is 0.33, higher than 93% of jobs.
Doing an activity is not doing a job. The researchers behind this data warn against reading it as job loss, and so do we. It is US data; the shape of the work travels.
Programmers mostly use AI inside their coding tools, which consumer Copilot data does not see, so this file probably understates how much AI touches the job.
Sources: Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025) · O*NET OnLine, 15-1253 · BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
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