Software Developers
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.
1,687,890 people do this job in the US. $135,980 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 76%
- 24%
- 0%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 7%. Today's estimate: 11%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 17 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes and consequences of design.Done daily by most who do it. | 20% | 4.2 work days6.7 h to 3.3 work weeks | 0%Half by Apr 2029 | |
| Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.Done more than weekly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 13% | 4.2 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | 23%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.Done more than weekly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 13% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | 9%Half by Jul 2027 | |
| Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 11% | 6.7 h2.5 h to 2.5 work days | Stays with people | |
| Determine system performance standards.Done daily by most who do it. | 7% | 5 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 14%Half by Jul 2027 | |
| Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.Done more than weekly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 7% | 6.7 h2.5 h to 2.5 work days | 9%Half by Jul 2027 | |
| Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.Done daily by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 5% | 2.5 h50 min to 1 work day | 40%Half by Dec 2026 | |
| Supervise the work of programmers, technologists and technicians and other engineering and scientific personnel.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 3.3 h50 min to 1.7 work days | Stays with people | |
| Coordinate installation of software system.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 1.7 h50 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Obtain and evaluate information on factors such as reporting formats required, costs, or security needs to determine hardware configuration.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 3% | 5 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 14%Half by Jul 2027 | |
| Train users to use new or modified equipment.Done daily by most who do it. | 2% | 3.3 h50 min to 1.3 work days | Stays with people |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services515,410 people
- Software Publishers173,080 people
- Management of Companies and Enterprises103,450 people
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services77,260 people
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services55,330 people
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).