Headline risk
39%
High RiskPlatform Engineer
AI displacement pressure score based on US employment data, wages, and demand signals. Built from 3 related occupations weighted by relevance.
Why this score
74% of tasks overlap with current AI
30% human advantage from judgment & presence
59% demand buffer from the local labour market
These factors interact with each other — the final score is not a simple sum of these bars.
Share of tasks AI can handle today
Work that requires human presence or coordination
How strong local hiring demand is for this role
How complete the underlying data is
Workflow profile
How this role's daily work breaks down across different dimensions.
Workflow dimensions (0 = low, 1 = high)
US employment data
Employment overview
Share of job tasks AI can currently perform
Annual median wage
Projected employment change 2024–2034
Education and training typically needed
Key metrics
Job zone
4The occupation usually needs substantial preparation and experience.
Median wage
USD 133,080USD 103,050 to USD 169,000
Openings
115.2K15.8% projected change
Median age
38.62.3M employed
What this job involves
Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.
Entry requirements: Moderate preparation
The occupation usually needs substantial preparation and experience.
Wage context
Median annual
USD 133,080
Mean annual
USD 144,570
10th percentile: USD 79,850
25th percentile: USD 103,050
75th percentile: USD 169,000
90th percentile: USD 211,450
Hourly median: USD 64
Employment: 1,654,440 workers
Demand outlook
Current employment
1693.8K
Projected employment
1961.4K
Openings: 115.2K
Projected change: 15.8%
Education: Bachelor's degree
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: None
Median wage: USD 133,080
Overall employment of software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers is projected to grow 15 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Workforce profile
Based on a survey of workers currently in this occupation.
Protects from AI displacement
- Can telework 77.2% of workers
Typical background
- No education requirement <10% of workers
- High school diploma 12.6% of workers
- Master's degree <5% of workers
- Bachelor's degree 75.8% of workers
- Associate's degree 5.9% of workers
- On-the-job training 36.75% of workers
- Prior work experience 76.0% of workers
Day-to-day work
Software developers design computer applications or programs. Software quality assurance analysts and testers identify problems with applications or programs and report defects.
Many software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers work in computer systems design and related services, in manufacturing, or for software publishers. They often work in offices and on teams with other software developers or quality assurance analysts and testers.
Software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology or a related field. Some employers prefer to hire developers who have a master’s degree.
Key tasks
- 1. Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints. · AI can do 91%
- 2. Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation. · AI can do 0%
- 3. Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces. · AI can do 0%
- 4. Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system. · AI can do 86%
- 5. Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance. · AI can do 72%
- 6. Determine system performance standards. · AI can do 0%
Tools commonly used
Work environment
- Spend Time Sitting 5.0/5
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team 4.6/5
- E-Mail 4.5/5
- Freedom to Make Decisions 4.3/5
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate 4.3/5
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals 4.2/5
Who does this work
Median age: 38.6
2.3M employed · Under 25: 6% · 25–54: 82% · 55+: 12%
Data sources: O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Component occupations
IT infrastructure specialist
n/a · 40% weight
IT infrastructure specialist
Cloud specialist
n/a · 40% weight
Cloud specialist
Software developers
15-1252 · 20% weight
Software developer
Support bundle: Moderate preparation
How this score works
The score measures how much this role's tasks overlap with current AI capabilities, adjusted for human-only requirements and local job market demand. This is a structural pressure estimate, not a prediction of job losses. Learn how scores work →