Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers
Develop and execute software test plans in order to identify software problems and their causes.
How AI Impacts Each Task
28 tasks analyzed
Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
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.
Participate in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems.
Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.
Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates.
Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.
Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments.
Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes.
Review software documentation to ensure technical accuracy, compliance, or completeness, or to mitigate risks.
Update automated test scripts to ensure currency.
Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality.
Create or maintain databases of known test defects.
Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.
Install and configure recreations of software production environments to allow testing of software performance.
Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations.
Identify program deviance from standards, and suggest modifications to ensure compliance.
Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness.
Design or develop automated testing tools.
Investigate customer problems referred by technical support.
Conduct historical analyses of test results.
Perform initial debugging procedures by reviewing configuration files, logs, or code pieces to determine breakdown source.
Evaluate or recommend software for testing or bug tracking.
Coordinate user or third-party testing.
Collaborate with field staff or customers to evaluate or diagnose problems and recommend possible solutions.
Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance.
Provide technical support during software installation or configuration.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 8% | |
| Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers. | 49.7Observed | 69.1% | 6% | |
| Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 7% | |
| Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 7% | |
| Participate in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 4% | |
| Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 4% | |
| Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. | 50.85Observed | 69.5% | 5% | |
| Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments. | 85Estimated | 83.2% | 4% | |
| Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes. | 39.65Observed | 65.1% | 3% | |
| Review software documentation to ensure technical accuracy, compliance, or completeness, or to mitigate risks. | 38.18Observed | 64.5% | 3% | |
| Update automated test scripts to ensure currency. | 56.5Observed | 71.8% | 4% | |
| Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality. | 52.48Observed | 36.0% | 3% | |
| Create or maintain databases of known test defects. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 2% | |
| Install, maintain, or use software testing programs. | 80Estimated | 81.2% | 3% | |
| Install and configure recreations of software production environments to allow testing of software performance. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 3% | |
| Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 3% | |
| Identify program deviance from standards, and suggest modifications to ensure compliance. | 80Estimated | 59.0% | 3% | |
| Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 3% | |
| Design or develop automated testing tools. | 59.08Observed | 50.6% | 4% | |
| Investigate customer problems referred by technical support. | 44.85Observed | 44.9% | 3% | |
| Conduct historical analyses of test results. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 2% | |
| Perform initial debugging procedures by reviewing configuration files, logs, or code pieces to determine breakdown source. | 49.3Observed | 46.7% | 3% | |
| Evaluate or recommend software for testing or bug tracking. | 56.5Observed | 49.6% | 2% | |
| Coordinate user or third-party testing. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 2% | |
| Collaborate with field staff or customers to evaluate or diagnose problems and recommend possible solutions. | 35Estimated | 29.0% | 2% | |
| Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 2% | |
| Provide technical support during software installation or configuration. | 42.05Observed | 31.8% | 2% |
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Programming is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
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Score History
Risk score over 3 scoring runs
overall change
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
Related News
Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation
AI coding agents are shipping bugs, creating new QA jobs
Anaconda's acquisition of Outerbounds highlights a growing problem: AI coding assistants are generating massive amounts of flawed code. This trend is shifting developer demand away from basic coding toward quality assurance.
AI code reviewers are now successfully debugging the Linux kernel
Automated tools are actively identifying and fixing bugs in complex open-source projects like the Linux kernel. The success of automated code review suggests entry-level debugging tasks are rapidly being outsourced to AI.
Sauce Labs Launches AI Agent to Automate Test Creation and Close the DevOps “Velocity Gap”
A new AI-driven agent translates business intent directly into executable code tests, bypassing traditional manual QA scripting. This automation tool aims to speed up DevOps pipelines by reducing the need for human test authoring.
Robots Testing Robots Hints at Fully Automated QA Roles
Developers are successfully using AI-driven robots to test and validate other robots, creating a closed-loop automation system. This milestone demonstrates how quality assurance and testing roles could soon be entirely removed from human hands.
The Emotional Toll of AI Safety Testing and Jailbreaking
Human testers tasked with breaking AI safety guardrails are experiencing severe emotional distress from exposure to toxic generated content. This highlights a dark new category of tech labor where workers bear the psychological burden of AI alignment.
Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis