Software Developers
Computer and Mathematical · SOC 15-1252
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
Decision card
Career Evidence Passport
SOC 15-1252 evidence across exposure, wages, projections, postings, certified LCAs, skills, and transitions.
- SOC exposure
- 28.8%
- High · Anthropic AEI
- Automation friction
- 27/100
- Low friction; broad SOC seed ORS job-requirements coverage.
- Wages
- $135,980
- H-1B offered wage $135,908; LCAs are filings.
- Projected openings
- —
- BLS EP 2024–2034; employment change +15.8%.
- Observed/proxy demand
- 171,678
- FY2025 certified LCAs; 35,625 postings in 2025.
Skill evidence
- H-1B values are certified Labor Condition Applications, not visa approvals.
- Job postings are seed-static / seed-derived; treat as provider-ready proxy coverage until observed provider data is wired in.
- Transition matches are directional skill-overlap context, not placement guarantees.
- This release is a FutureGrid broad-SOC seed derived from public BLS ORS requirement concepts and categories, not direct occupation-level ORS survey estimates. It describes job requirements, not worker ability, AI capability, or displacement probability. Automation friction is a FutureGrid derived score and should be read alongside exposure, demand, wage, and projection signals.
Best transitions from here
Explore all pathways→Lower AI-exposure roles that reuse your skills, ranked by a transition score (skills that transfer, safety gain, pay and retraining effort).
AI Exposure Analysis
Across AI measures
Multiple exposure lenses for this occupation.
AI could do ~86.8% of this role but only ~28.8% is currently done with AI — a large capability-vs-adoption gap.
Top Skills
H-1B Visa Sponsorship Demand
View full H-1B trends →Certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications naming this occupation, FY2016–FY2025. A descriptive high-skill labor-demand signal — employer filings, not visa approvals or individual outcomes. Note: one LCA can cover multiple worker positions.
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
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.
Common titles: Application Developer, Application Integration Engineer, Developer, DevOps Engineer (Development Operations Engineer), Infrastructure Engineer, Software Architect
Representative Tasks
- •Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
- •Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
- •Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
- •Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
- •Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Monitor computer system performance to ensure proper operation.
- •Analyze project data to determine specifications or requirements.
- •Develop testing routines or procedures.
- •Manage information technology projects or system activities.
- •Modify software programs to improve performance.
Tools & Technologies
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
Employment & Wage Trend
BLS OEWS, 2019–2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). See /sources.
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 28.8% | 35.3% |
| Outlook | Average | 19% Bright |
| Median Salary | $135,980 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 71/100 | N/A |