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Will AI replace Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. The percentage shown is a task-exposure model, not a prediction of certain job loss.

O*NET 30.3 · 15-1253.00 · modeled exposure, not guaranteed job loss
MODERATE TASK EXPOSURE
48%
Estimated share of representative tasks exposed to current AI capabilities.
Last updatedAugust 20, 2026
Evidence confidenceMedium
Browse this risk tierModerate exposure jobs →
Task automation shareⓘ
48%Automatable
Automatable48%
Augmentable26%
Hard to automate26%
Based on analysis of representative responsibilities and current AI capability maturity.
Category#
Tech
Engineering & Product
Modeled pay midpoint$
$63,500/yr
Directional estimate — verify locally
Time until impact⌁
2–4 years
Earliest 2027 · widespread 2029–2031
Task-level replaceability ⓘ
Representative tasks ranked from highest to lowest AI exposure.
◇Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.58%
⚙Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.50%
▥Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.41%
✦System accountability and architecture judgment18%
✦Handling ambiguous requirements and trade-offs14%
Impact timeline ⓘ
How AI assistance may move from early support to wider adoption.
2027Next2029–2031
Early impactAI begins supporting identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content..
Role reshapingRepeatable tasks become faster and more automated.
Wider adoptionThe role centers more on system accountability and architecture judgment.
2–4 yearsdirectional confidence window
HOW AI CHANGES THIS JOBtyping the logic in plain English
01>Start with the real work done by Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers.
02>AI can help with: Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
03>If a task is repetitive and easy to check, AI pressure goes up.
04>But a person is still needed for: System accountability and architecture judgment.
05>Likely result: AI is more likely to change this job than remove it.
06>Important: 48% is estimated task exposure—not a 48% chance of losing the job.
What AI can do
Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.MEDIUM
Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.MEDIUM
Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.LOW MATCH
How estimates work →
Your human moat
◆

System accountability and architecture judgment

MEDIUM-HIGH

Combined with handling ambiguous requirements and trade-offs, this keeps a human in the loop.

Strength7.8
Similar-role comparison
RoleRisk
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers48%
Data Engineer48%
Junior Frontend Developer47%
IT Help Desk (Tier 1)47%
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Why this score?

✓The model evaluates 3 representative core tasks.
✓The role mixes repeatable work with human judgment.
✓Occupation and task language comes from O*NET 30.3.
✓The strongest human advantage is system accountability and architecture judgment.
Research basis

O*NET 30.3 occupation tasks plus the ILO 2025 exposure framework. Scores are directional estimates.

Read ILO research →
Data: O*NET 30.3 · Model framework: ILO 2025O*NET 15-1253.00Share report
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Sources for this report

Official occupation tasks; timeline remains uncertain Scores are directional estimates and sources do not endorse this site’s exact percentage.

O*NET 15-1253.00 occupation profile ↗ILO Generative AI and Jobs 2025 ↗Scoring methodology →

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