Software Developers vs Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: AI exposure, pay and openings
AI use is higher in software quality assurance analysts and testers work: 52% of tasks (high) against 29% for software developers (some). Software Developers has the higher median pay, $135,980 a year against $104,300, a gap of $31,680.
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet.
Side by side
| Measure | Software Developers | Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers |
|---|---|---|
| Tasks that already see AI use | 29% (Some) | 52% (High) |
| Median pay a year | $135,980 | $104,300 |
Exposure: Anthropic Economic Index, March 2026. Pay, growth and openings: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The full check for each job
- Software Developers: tasks, related jobs and skills to build
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: tasks, related jobs and skills to build