Will AI replace Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers?
The Stanford WORKBank study rates tasks, not whole jobs, so it cannot say whether any one job disappears. What it shows: AI experts rate 11 of the 17 studied Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers tasks as do-able by AI today, and 9 of those are tasks workers also want automated.
of tasks in the Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers role are ones AI can already do, per AI experts.
From a Stanford study where AI experts and software quality assurance analysts and testers workers rated each real task (O*NET). Not a guess from the job title.
Key statistics
Free to cite, with a link back to Automatable.
- AI can already do 65% of the 17 work tasks in the Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers role, according to AI experts in the Stanford WORKBank study (O*NET SOC 15-1253.00).
- Workers in the Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers role rate 88% of their tasks 3 or higher out of 5 for wanting them automated (Stanford WORKBank, 1,500 U.S. workers).
- 9 of 17 Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers tasks are Automation Green Light, wanted by workers and do-able by AI, that is 53% of the role (Stanford WORKBank).
- The typical Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers task scores 3.24/5 for worker desire to automate and 3.82/5 for AI capability today (Stanford WORKBank, 1-5 scale).
- The Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers role (O*NET SOC 15-1253.00) has a median U.S. wage of $110,260 and about 199,800 people employed (U.S. O*NET / BLS).
Top tasks to automate
Best fit for today’s tools first. Open one for the how-to and the tools to use.
- Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.
- Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments.
- Create or maintain databases of known test defects.
- Update automated test scripts to ensure currency.
- Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes.
- Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations.
Start automating
The quickest way to take these tasks off your plate:
Rather have it set up for you?
Leave your email and we’ll connect you with someone who automates Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers work.
What workers told Stanford
Of the 17 tasks studied for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers, 9 (53%) are in the Automation Green Light zone, AI can largely do them and workers want it. Across all tasks, workers rate 88% of their tasks 3 or higher out of 5 for wanting them automated. The typical task scores 3.24/5 for worker desire and 3.82/5 for AI capability.
All 17 tasks, most-wanted first
Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes.
Green Lightwant 4 · AI 4Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
R&D Opportunitywant 3.83 · AI 3.33Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations.
Green Lightwant 3.75 · AI 3.5Update automated test scripts to ensure currency.
Green Lightwant 3.67 · AI 4.5Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.
R&D Opportunitywant 3.5 · AI 3Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.
Green Lightwant 3.4 · AI 5Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments.
Green Lightwant 3.25 · AI 5Create or maintain databases of known test defects.
Green Lightwant 3.25 · AI 5Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.
Green Lightwant 3.25 · AI 3.67Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness.
R&D Opportunitywant 3.17 · AI 3Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates.
Green Lightwant 3 · AI 4Identify program deviance from standards, and suggest modifications to ensure compliance.
Green Lightwant 3 · AI 3.5Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
R&D Opportunitywant 3 · AI 3Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality.
R&D Opportunitywant 3 · AI 3Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.
R&D Opportunitywant 3 · AI 3Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
Red Lightwant 2.67 · AI 4Review software documentation to ensure technical accuracy, compliance, or completeness, or to mitigate risks.
Red Lightwant 2.33 · AI 4.5
Related occupations
Other Computer and Mathematical roles in the Stanford WORKBank study, closest AI-capability share first.
- StatisticiansAI can do 67% of tasks today · workers want 83% automated
- Computer User Support SpecialistsAI can do 71% of tasks today · workers want 43% automated
- Computer ProgrammersAI can do 73% of tasks today · workers want 55% automated
- Computer Network Support SpecialistsAI can do 56% of tasks today · workers want 33% automated
- Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsAI can do 50% of tasks today · workers want 100% automated
- BiostatisticiansAI can do 80% of tasks today · workers want 40% automated
Lower-automation alternatives
Less of these jobs is automatable today: AI experts rate a smaller share of their tasks as doable than the 65% for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers (Stanford WORKBank).
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers ranks #42 of 104 studied roles by the share of tasks AI experts rate as do-able today. See which roles top and bottom the list in the most automatable jobs in 2026.