Will AI replace web administrators?

Parts of the job are being automated. About 2h 32m of an 8-hour shift goes to tasks that AI or robots already do largely on their own. The rest still needs a person. The other 5h 28m (68%) stays with people. Separately, BLS expects about 5.1% more of these jobs by 2035 (all jobs: +3.5%).

AI shows up regularly in 10 of 35 tasks, about 2h 32m of a typical shift. The biggest ones:

• Determine sources of Web page or server problems, and take action to correct such problems. (35m a shift, AI mostly does it alone)
• Review or update Web page content or links in a timely manner, using appropriate tools. (29m a shift, AI mostly does it alone)
• Monitor systems for intrusions or denial of service attacks, and report security breaches to appropriate personnel. (18m a shift, AI mostly does it alone)
• Track, compile, and analyze Web site usage data. (18m a shift, AI mostly does it alone)
• Identify, standardize, and communicate levels of access and security. (12m a shift, AI mostly does it alone)

5h 28m of a typical shift, or 68%, goes to tasks with no AI or robot evidence yet. No AI usage or robot deployment has shown up for these so far. The biggest:

• Correct testing-identified problems, or recommend actions for their resolution. (23m a shift)
• Implement updates, upgrades, and patches in a timely manner to limit loss of service. (23m a shift)
• Collaborate with development teams to discuss, analyze, or resolve usability issues. (23m a shift)
• Collaborate with Web developers to create and operate internal and external Web sites, or to manage projects, such as e-marketing campaigns. (23m a shift)
• Administer internet or intranet infrastructure, including Web, file, and mail servers. (23m a shift)

We track 1 sourced company move that affects this job. Most recent:

• Mar 21, 2026: WordPress.com lets AI agents publish and manage websites (Announced)

For the 10 tasks in this job where AI shows up and timing data exists, a typical request takes about 4h 41m for a person alone and about 39m with AI. These are Claude's own estimates from real conversations in April and May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index). They describe single requests, not whole workdays, and time saved on a task doesn't mean jobs are cut. The biggest gaps:

• Develop or implement procedures for ongoing Web site revision (about 9h 10m alone, 1h 9m with AI)
• Develop or document style guidelines for Web site content (about 8h 40m alone, 55m with AI)
• Implement Web site security measures, such as firewalls or message encryption (about 8h 25m alone, 1h with AI)

On Indeed, job postings in the IT Systems & Solutions sector are at 77% of their February 2020 level (all U.S. postings: 104%), up 10.8% from a year earlier, as of Oct 9, 2026. BLS separately expects about 27,000 openings a year in this job through 2035. Across all U.S. postings, 7.3% now mention AI skills. Sector postings cover more than this one job and move for many reasons besides AI.

The median pay is about $116,580 a year ($56.05 an hour), 129% above the median for all U.S. jobs ($50,980). Most people in this job earn between $55,940 and $188,470 a year; that range covers the middle 80%. Pay figures are from BLS, May 2025, and vary a lot by state and employer.

BLS projects growth of 5.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% growth for all jobs. That's about 495,000 jobs in 2035. It expects about 27,000 openings a year, mostly from people retiring or changing careers. These projections don't single out AI as a cause.

About 435,000 people in the U.S., roughly 0.28% of all workers (BLS, May 2025). That makes it the 94th largest of the 796 jobs on this site. BLS expects about 495,000 in 2035.

The most common requirement is a bachelor's degree: about 55% of people in the job said so in the official O*NET survey. O*NET rates the job at level 4 of 5 for preparation, which usually means: bachelor's degree. Requirements vary by state and employer, especially for licensed work.

These come from the job's official skill ratings and from the tasks that AI and robots touch least today. Building them keeps you strong in the parts of the work that still need a person:

• Skills that matter more here than in most jobs: Programming, Systems Evaluation, Quality Control Analysis, Complex Problem Solving
• Get strong at the parts of the job that stay with people (listed above), which take 5h 28m of a typical shift
• Tools employers list: WordPress, Structured query language SQL, PHP, Oracle Java, Microsoft SQL Server
• Learn to use AI well on the tasks where it already shows up in this job (listed above)

These use similar skills. Matches come from 109 official ratings of skills, knowledge and work activities, and each needs the same or less preparation unless the official list relates the jobs directly:

• Web Developers (4h 59m touched, $93k median pay)
• Information Security Engineers (17m touched, $117k median pay)
• Computer Systems Engineers/Architects (3h 8m touched, $117k median pay)
• Database Administrators (3h 35m touched, $105k median pay)
• Software Developers (3h 20m touched, $136k median pay)

Each task carries its own evidence label. For this job: 10 observed in real AI use, 25 with no AI or robot evidence found. The minutes per task are estimates, not measured hours, and "no evidence" doesn't prove a task is safe.