Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Computer and Mathematical Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 15-1253.00
Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Very high· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.520
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.49–0.55· 3 ISCO-08 groups
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
ILO value for each linked ISCO-08 group
- ISCO-08 2512Software Developers0.53
- ISCO-08 2519Software and Applications Developers and Analysts Not Elsewhere Classified0.55
- ISCO-08 2529Database and Network Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified0.49
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only30 rated tasks · 28 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (93.3%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 30.2) | Claude.aiRaw / share % | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|---|
Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.15-1253.00 | 0.910071.7 | 1.620069.2 |
Modify existing software to correct errors, allow it to adapt to new hardware, or to improve its performance.15-1253.00 | 0.190015.0 | 0.340014.5 |
Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality.15-1253.00 | 0.07005.5 | 0.02000.9 |
Collaborate with field staff or customers to evaluate or diagnose problems and recommend possible solutions.15-1253.00 | 0.04003.1 | 0.01000.4 |
Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations.15-1253.00 | 0.03002.4 | 0.20008.5 |
Identify program deviance from standards, and suggest modifications to ensure compliance.15-1253.00 | 0.02001.6 | 0.03001.3 |
Perform initial debugging procedures by reviewing configuration files, logs, or code pieces to determine breakdown source.15-1253.00 | 0.01000.8 | 0.07003.0 |
Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.15-1253.00 | 0.00000.0 | 0.02000.9 |
Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.15-1253.00 | 0.00000.0 | 0.01000.4 |
Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes.15-1253.00 | 0.00000.0 | 0.01000.4 |
Participate in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems.15-1253.00 | 0.00000.0 | 0.00000.0 |
Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.15-1253.00 | 0.00000.0 | 0.00000.0 |
Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness.15-1253.00 | 0.00000.0 | 0.00000.0 |
Investigate customer problems referred by technical support.15-1253.00 | 0.00000.0 | 0.00000.0 |
Install and configure recreations of software production environments to allow testing of software performance.15-1253.00 | 0.00000.0 | 0.00000.0 |
Evaluate or recommend software for testing or bug tracking.15-1253.00 | 0.00000.0 | 0.00000.0 |
Conduct historical analyses of test results.15-1253.00 | 0.00000.0 | —0 |
Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures. | —0 | 0.01000.4 |
Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability. | —0 | 0.00000.0 |
Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates. | —0 | 0.00000.0 |
Install, maintain, or use software testing programs. | —0 | 0.00000.0 |
Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments. | —0 | 0.00000.0 |
Coordinate user or third-party testing. | —0 | 0.00000.0 |
| Not observed on any surface — 7 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states. | ||
Create or maintain databases of known test defects. | —0 | —0 |
Review software documentation to ensure technical accuracy, compliance, or completeness, or to mitigate risks. | —0 | —0 |
Update automated test scripts to ensure currency. | —0 | —0 |
Design or develop automated testing tools. | —0 | —0 |
Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance. | —0 | —0 |
Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, or humidity in area of system installation. | —0 | —0 |
Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements. | —0 | —0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.O*NET Task ID 14638 | 1.0 |
Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.O*NET Task ID 14639 | 1.0 |
Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.O*NET Task ID 14640 | 1.0 |
Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.O*NET Task ID 14641 | 1.0 |
Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.O*NET Task ID 14642 | 1.0 |
Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes.O*NET Task ID 14643 | 1.0 |
Create or maintain databases of known test defects.O*NET Task ID 14644 | 1.0 |
Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates.O*NET Task ID 14645 | 1.0 |
Review software documentation to ensure technical accuracy, compliance, or completeness, or to mitigate risks.O*NET Task ID 14647 | 1.0 |
Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.O*NET Task ID 14648 | 1.0 |
Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness.O*NET Task ID 14649 | 1.0 |
Update automated test scripts to ensure currency.O*NET Task ID 14650 | 1.0 |
Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.O*NET Task ID 14652 | 1.0 |
Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality.O*NET Task ID 14653 | 1.0 |
Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations.O*NET Task ID 14654 | 1.0 |
Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments.O*NET Task ID 14655 | 1.0 |
Install and configure recreations of software production environments to allow testing of software performance.O*NET Task ID 14656 | 1.0 |
Identify program deviance from standards, and suggest modifications to ensure compliance.O*NET Task ID 14658 | 1.0 |
Design or develop automated testing tools.O*NET Task ID 14659 | 1.0 |
Perform initial debugging procedures by reviewing configuration files, logs, or code pieces to determine breakdown source.O*NET Task ID 14661 | 1.0 |
Evaluate or recommend software for testing or bug tracking.O*NET Task ID 14663 | 1.0 |
Conduct historical analyses of test results.O*NET Task ID 14664 | 1.0 |
Modify existing software to correct errors, allow it to adapt to new hardware, or to improve its performance.O*NET Task ID 21680 | 1.0 |
Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.O*NET Task ID 21682 | 1.0 |
Participate in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems.O*NET Task ID 14646 | 0.5 |
Investigate customer problems referred by technical support.O*NET Task ID 14651 | 0.5 |
Collaborate with field staff or customers to evaluate or diagnose problems and recommend possible solutions.O*NET Task ID 14657 | 0.5 |
Coordinate user or third-party testing.O*NET Task ID 14660 | 0.5 |
Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance.O*NET Task ID 14662 | 0.0 |
Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, or humidity in area of system installation.O*NET Task ID 21681 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (30)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures. | Core |
| Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. | Core |
| Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability. | Core |
| Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers. | Core |
| Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content. | Core |
| Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes. | Core |
| Create or maintain databases of known test defects. | Core |
| Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates. | Core |
| Participate in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems. | Core |
| Review software documentation to ensure technical accuracy, compliance, or completeness, or to mitigate risks. | Core |
| Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards. | Core |
| Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness. | Core |
| Update automated test scripts to ensure currency. | Core |
| Investigate customer problems referred by technical support. | Core |
| Install, maintain, or use software testing programs. | Core |
| Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality. | Core |
| Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations. | Core |
| Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments. | Core |
| Install and configure recreations of software production environments to allow testing of software performance. | Core |
| Collaborate with field staff or customers to evaluate or diagnose problems and recommend possible solutions. | Core |
| Identify program deviance from standards, and suggest modifications to ensure compliance. | Core |
| Design or develop automated testing tools. | Core |
| Coordinate user or third-party testing. | Core |
| Perform initial debugging procedures by reviewing configuration files, logs, or code pieces to determine breakdown source. | Core |
| Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance. | Core |
| Evaluate or recommend software for testing or bug tracking. | Core |
| Conduct historical analyses of test results. | Core |
| Modify existing software to correct errors, allow it to adapt to new hardware, or to improve its performance. | — |
| Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, or humidity in area of system installation. | — |
| Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements. | — |
0.00/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
None of this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks is classified as a physical task.
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 188K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 198K
- Change (2025–35)
- +5.7%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $104,300
- Typical education needed for entry
- Bachelor's degree
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22291 | 소프트웨어 품질관리 전문가 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 22299 | 그 외 컴퓨터 시스템 및 소프트웨어 전문가 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 2512Software Developers
- ISCO-08 2519Software and Applications Developers and Analysts Not Elsewhere Classified
- ISCO-08 2529Database and Network Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- software testerESCO 2519.6Same scope
Software testers perform software tests. They may also plan and design them. They may also debug and repair software although this mainly corresponds to designers and developers. They ensure that applications function properly before delivering them to internal and external clients.
- digital games testerESCO 2519.6.1This occupation is broader
Digital games testers review and test various genres of digital games by playing them in order to find bugs and glitches within the game's functionality or graphics. They may evaluate the capacity of attraction and playability of games. They may also debug the games themselves.
- ICT accessibility testerESCO 2519.6.2This occupation is broader
ICT accessibility testers evaluate websites, software applications, systems or user interface components with regards to friendliness, operability of the navigation and visibility to all types of users, especially including those with special needs or disabilities.
- ICT integration testerESCO 2519.6.3This occupation is broader
ICT integration testers perform tests in groups of system components, units or even applications. They group them in larger aggregates and apply integration test plans on them. They oversee the complexity of relations between different components.
- ICT system testerESCO 2519.6.4This occupation is broader
ICT system testers perform testing activities and some test planning activities. They may also debug and repair ICT systems and components although this mainly corresponds to designers and developers. They ensure that all systems and components function properly before delivering them to internal and external clients.
- ICT usability testerESCO 2519.6.5This occupation is broader
ICT usability testers ensure compliance with requirements and strive for optimal usability within the software engineering cycle phases (analysis, design, implementation, and deployment). They also work closely with users (analysts) to research for and document user profiles, analyse tasks, workflows, and user scenarios.
- ICT test analystESCO 2519.5Overlapping, not the same
ICT test analysts work in testing environments, assessing products, checking for quality and accuracy, or creating tests scripts. They design tests which are then implemented by testers.
- software developerESCO 2512.3Overlapping, not the same
Software developers implement or program all kinds of software systems based on specifications and designs by using programming languages, tools, and platforms.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| M1815 | Spécialiste test et validation logiciel ou application | Same scopeprovisional |
| M1820 | Expert / Experte méthodes et qualité informatique | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| M1832 | Homologateur / Homologatrice fonctionnel de logiciel | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| M1842 | Qualiticien / Qualiticienne logiciel en informatique | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 2719 | Analistas y diseñadores de software y multimedia no clasificados bajo otros epígrafes | This occupation is narrower |
| 2712 | Analistas y diseñadores de software | Related, not a match |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 43323 | Berufe in der IT-Koordination - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 104 | ソフトウェア作成者 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources