Technology occupation
Will AI replace Software Quality Assurance Analysts And Testers?
See how this occupation’s day-to-day work compares with other jobs in exposure to AI and automation, why it received this result, and where human skills remain essential.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts And Testers
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers · Technology
Higher AI & automation exposure than 98% of jobs we compare.
Exposure index: 98 / 100
This compares the type of work in this job with the work in hundreds of other jobs.
This is a comparison between jobs — not a 98% chance of job loss.
Why did this job get this result?
- Executing test scripts, logging software bugs, and verifying build artifacts take place entirely on computer systems.
- Regression testing, API verification, and test case documentation follow structured quality assurance methodologies.
- The occupation is conducted in digital office environments with zero physical automation exposure.
- QA analysts must anticipate unexpected user behaviors, design edge-case test scenarios, and evaluate product usability.
- Communicating defect severity constructively to software developers and product managers requires collaborative diplomacy.
How technology may change this work
Technology and human strengths
What AI & automation may affect
- Automated test execution frameworks can run thousands of regression, unit, and performance tests on every code commit.
- AI-powered visual testing tools can automatically identify layout shifts, broken links, and rendering regressions across devices.
Human strengths in this job
- Devising creative, unconventional user journeys and edge cases that automated test scripts fail to anticipate
- Evaluating subjective software qualities like intuitive usability, visual polish, and user satisfaction
- Advocating firmly for end-user experience and reliability when project deadlines tempt teams to cut corners
- Investigating elusive, non-reproducible race conditions and intermittent software defects through exploratory testing
How this result breaks down
These are model components, not percentages of the job or of how necessary people are.
How much the job involves information, data, writing, analysis or other digital work that AI and software may help with.
How much of the work follows regular, predictable or repeated steps.
How much of the physical work may be suitable for machines or robotics.
How much the job depends on judgment, creativity, communication and adapting to real situations.
How is the index calculated?
The Exposure Index is a percentile comparing this job's digital, routine, and physical tasks against all 897 occupations in the Model 2.1 dataset. A score of 98 means higher modeled exposure than approximately 98% of comparable jobs.
Your work may differ
How does your work compare?
Two people with the same job title can do very different work. Answer seven quick questions to see how your specific day-to-day tasks compare.
What people in this job commonly do
- 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.
- Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality.
How we compare jobs
We look at what people do in hundreds of occupations — including digital work, repeatable activities, physical automation and human skills — then compare the job with other occupations.
What this tool cannot predict
It cannot predict individual job loss, exact technology adoption timing or decisions by an individual employer.
Occupation and data details
O*NET-SOC: 15-1253.00
Career category: Technology
Typical education: Bachelor's degree
Data source: O*NET, U.S. Department of Labor.
This product includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Toolsyte has modified and scored some information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.