Will AI replace Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
AI reaches most of this job’s work.
60/100
Very high exposure
More exposed to AI than 92% of US workers.
- AI already used in
- 38% of the work
- As AI tools mature: up to
- 90% of the work
What the job involves
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.
Where AI reaches the work
The job’s main tasks, heaviest first, by how far AI reaches them.
Already happening(12)
- Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
- Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality.
- Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes.
- Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.
- Modify existing software to correct errors, allow it to adapt to new hardware, or to improve its performance.
and 7 more
Within reach(16)
- Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
- 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.
- Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.
and 11 more
Out of reach(2)
- Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, or humidity in area of system installation.
- Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance.
Also called
Software Test Engineer · Automation Tester · Quality Assurance Engineer (QA Engineer) · Quality Engineer · Software Quality Engineer · QA Engineer · Information Technology Analyst (IT Analyst) · Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst)
Related jobs
- Software Developers48/100
- Computer Systems Analysts49/100
- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects57/100
- Penetration Testers59/100
- Validation Engineers51/100
What these numbers mean
The score is the share of this job’s work, weighted by how important and frequent each task is, that AI could do in half the time: tasks an AI model could do alone count in full, tasks that need software built on AI count half.
“AI already used” is the share of the work in tasks where people are recorded using AI today. “As AI tools mature” counts every task AI could halve, with or without extra software.
The percentile compares the score with every job’s, weighted by how many people in the US do each one. Exposure means AI could change how the work is done, not that the job goes away. These are estimates for the typical job, not predictions.
Sources
- O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
- GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs (task labels), Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), OpenAI and University of Pennsylvania
- Anthropic Economic Index: labor market impacts (task penetration), Anthropic
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national and metropolitan areas), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics