Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
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.
186,740 people do this job in the US. $104,300 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 93%
- 0%
- 6%
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, 26%. Today's estimate: 34%.
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 . 30 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 13% | 1.3 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | 4%Half by Dec 2027 | |
| Design or develop automated testing tools.Done more than yearly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 11% | 2.5 work days6.7 h to 1.7 work weeks | 0%Half by Jun 2028 | |
| Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 7% | 3.3 h1.3 h to 1.7 work days | 27%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.Done several times a day by most who do it. | 7% | 1.7 h25 min to 6.7 h | 43%Half by Nov 2026 | |
| Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance.Done yearly or less by most who do it. | 6% | 6.7 h3.3 h to 2.5 work days | Stays with people | |
| Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 1.7 h25 min to 5 h | 51%Half by now | |
| Coordinate user or third-party testing.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 4% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Modify existing software to correct errors, allow it to adapt to new hardware, or to improve its performance. AI observed on this task. | 4% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 3.3 work days | 7%Half by Nov 2027 | |
| Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.Done several times a day by most who do it. | 4% | 38 min13 min to 2.5 h | 86%Half by now | |
| Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 4% | 1.3 h25 min to 3.3 h | 77%Half by now | |
| Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 4% | 3.3 h50 min to 1.3 work days | 25%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Create or maintain databases of known test defects.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 1.3 h25 min to 2.5 h | 87%Half by now |
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).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).