Rankings β†’ Will AI Replace…

Will AI Replace Software Developers?

34/100 β€” Moderate
SOC 15-1252

πŸ’‘ Software Developers have a composite risk score of 34/100 (Frey-Osborne probability: 13%, GenAI exposure: 80/100). With 1,654,440 workers in the US, this occupation faces moderate but manageable AI pressure. Full occupation profile β†’

🎯 The Verdict

Partially. Some tasks will be automated, but the core role will likely adapt and evolve.

With 1,654,440 workers and a median wage of $133K,software developers represent a significant portion of the US workforce. Their GenAI exposure index is 80%, meaning a majority of their core tasks overlap with current generative AI capabilities.

Risk Score

34/100

Employment

1,654,440

Median Wage

$133K

GenAI Exposure

80%

⚠️ Top Risk Factors

1.

Machine learning model auto-tuning displacing ML engineers

2.

AI-powered research and literature review tools

3.

AI-generated written content replacing manual drafting

πŸ›‘οΈ Tasks AI Can't Easily Replace

βœ“

Architecting novel systems requiring creative problem-solving

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Stakeholder negotiation and requirements elicitation

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Mentoring junior developers and team leadership

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Crisis debugging of complex production incidents

πŸ”„ Career Transition Paths

Related occupations with lower AI risk and high skills overlap:

Advertising, Marketing, Promotions, Public Relations, and Sales Managers

61% skills overlap Β· $145K median wage

16/100

Mathematicians

70% skills overlap Β· $122K median wage

24/100

Computer and Information Research Scientists

83% skills overlap Β· $141K median wage

30/100

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Will AI completely replace software developers?

Partially. Some tasks will be automated, but the core role will likely adapt and evolve.

What is the AI risk score for software developers?

Software Developers have a composite AI automation risk score of 34 out of 100, classified as "Moderate".

How many software developers are there in the US?

There are approximately 1,654,440 software developers employed in the United States.

What do software developers earn?

The median annual wage for software developers is $133K.

What skills should software developers develop?

Focus on tasks AI can't easily replicate: architecting novel systems requiring creative problem-solving, stakeholder negotiation and requirements elicitation, mentoring junior developers and team leadership, crisis debugging of complex production incidents. These human-centric skills will become more valuable as routine tasks are automated.