JOB REPORT / 15-1252 · 17 TASKS

Software Developers.

Can AI do the work of Software Developers?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

How does this fit your work?

How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

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The mark shows what’s typical for this job.

The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis…
Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it…
Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures…

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A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Software Developers work. It covers the 17 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

17 of 17 tasks reviewed

We went through all 17 core tasks in this job, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Software Developers actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

TASK 01
Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes and consequences of design.
AI DOES
Generates code, suggests architecture patterns, spots bugs, and runs models to test outcomes
YOU DO
Make the big design calls, weigh tradeoffs, and own the consequences of what gets built
TASK 02
Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
AI DOES
Suggests bug fixes, generates refactored code, and explains error messages
YOU DO
Understand the full system, weigh trade-offs, and own the final design
TASK 03
Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
AI DOES
Generates test cases, writes test scripts, drafts docs, and flags edge cases
YOU DO
Decide what risks matter most and sign off that the system truly works
TASK 04
Obtain and evaluate information on factors such as reporting formats required, costs, or security needs to determine hardware configuration.
AI DOES
Gathers hardware specs, compares costs, and drafts requirement summaries
YOU DO
Weigh real security constraints and organizational priorities before deciding
TASK 05
Monitor functioning of equipment to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
AI DOES
Scans system logs, detects anomalies, and sends alerts in real time
YOU DO
Decide how to respond when alerts fire and judge what truly matters
TASK 06
Coordinate installation of software system.
AI DOES
Drafts installation checklists, writes setup scripts, and spots config errors
YOU DO
Manage people, timing, and unexpected problems across teams
TASK 07
Determine system performance standards.
AI DOES
Suggests standard benchmarks, finds bottlenecks in data, and drafts performance requirement docs
YOU DO
Decide what tradeoffs fit your users, team, and business goals
TASK 08
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 DOES
Drafts agendas, summarizes discussions, and suggests design options
YOU DO
Lead the conversations and make judgment calls on complex trade-offs
TASK 09
Confer with data processing or project managers to obtain information on limitations or capabilities for data processing projects.
AI DOES
Drafts meeting agendas, suggests clarifying questions, and summarizes discussion notes
YOU DO
Lead the actual conversation and read people's unstated concerns
TASK 10
Train users to use new or modified equipment.
AI DOES
Drafts tutorials, FAQs, and step-by-step guides; powers chatbots that answer user questions
YOU DO
Read how learners are doing and adjust your teaching style on the fly
TASK 11
Supervise and assign work to programmers, designers, technologists, technicians, or other engineering or scientific personnel.
AI DOES
Drafts task assignments, summarizes team workloads, and flags bottlenecks in project tools
YOU DO
Read people, resolve conflicts, and make final calls on who does what
TASK 12
Supervise the work of programmers, technologists and technicians and other engineering and scientific personnel.
AI DOES
Summarizes code reviews, tracks task progress, and flags issues in project tools
YOU DO
Build trust, read team dynamics, and make calls that affect people's work and growth
TASK 13SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
AI DOES
Queries databases and formats data automatically
YOU DO
Define what questions to ask
About this analysis
36% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 14SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.
AI DOES
Drafts reports and updates from project data
YOU DO
Shape the story and key messages
About this analysis
33% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 15SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.
AI DOES
Generates system options and technical specifications
YOU DO
Weigh trade-offs and own the recommendation
About this analysis
27% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 16SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Consult with customers or other departments on project status, proposals, or technical issues, such as software system design or maintenance.
AI DOES
Prepares status reports and technical summaries
YOU DO
Build trust and navigate priorities
About this analysis
25% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 17SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
AI DOES
Analyzes requirements and estimates costs quickly
YOU DO
Judge trade-offs and make the call
About this analysis
24% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

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AT A GLANCE

Occupation: Software Developers
SOC code: 15-1252
Tasks reviewed: 17 of 17

How we assess

PAY & OUTLOOK

Compare pay by state

Median pay (national): $135,980 · BLS OEWS 2025
Median pay (Colorado): $138,390 · BLS OEWS 2025
Employed (national): 1,687,890
Employed in Colorado: 43,320
Job outlook: +15.8% by 2034 · ~115,200 openings/yr

Wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. National figures cover the United States. Job outlook is national.

How does this fit your work?

Earn a certificate in your job

Your job, task by task.

Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes and consequences of design.

Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.

Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.

Obtain and evaluate information on factors such as reporting formats required, costs, or security needs to determine hardware configuration.

Monitor functioning of equipment to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.

Coordinate installation of software system.

Determine system performance standards.

Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.

Confer with data processing or project managers to obtain information on limitations or capabilities for data processing projects.

Train users to use new or modified equipment.

Supervise and assign work to programmers, designers, technologists, technicians, or other engineering or scientific personnel.

Supervise the work of programmers, technologists and technicians and other engineering and scientific personnel.

Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.

Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.

Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.

Consult with customers or other departments on project status, proposals, or technical issues, such as software system design or maintenance.

Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.

Practice AI.Use your judgment.

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.