Who's on the clock?

What can computer programmers switch to?

The closest match is web developers, paying about 8% less at the median. 8 jobs in all use similar skills with less of the shift touched by AI or robots.

Time card for web developers: 4h 58m of an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robotsTime card: Web Developers →

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What can computer programmers switch to? AI or robots touch about 5h 48m of a typical 8-hour shift for computer programmers, nearly all of it on tasks AI or robots have done on their own somewhere. The jobs below use many of the same skills, and less of their day is touched today. The closest fit is web developers: 4h 58m touched, with median pay 8% lower.

Matches come from O*NET's ratings of the skills, knowledge and work activities each job uses. "To build up" lists the skills each option rates as clearly more important than computer programmers do today. "Touched" is time on tasks with documented AI use or robots working in real workplaces. Treat these as starting points: pay, openings and requirements differ by state.

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Same training or less

HumanWith AIAIRobot
  1. Web DevelopersClose skills · 4h 58m touched (vs 5h 48m) · $93k · +3.8% by 2035 · vocational school or associate's degreeShared skills: Programming, Technology Design, Operations AnalysisTo build up: Operations Analysis
  2. Database ArchitectsClose skills · 5h touched (vs 5h 48m) · $140k · +9.4% by 2035 · bachelor's degreeShared skills: Programming, Technology Design, Operations AnalysisTo build up: Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension
  3. Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersRelated skills · 3h 26m touched (vs 5h 48m) · $104k · +5.7% by 2035 · bachelor's degreeShared skills: Programming, Technology Design, Operations AnalysisTo build up: Speaking, Operations Monitoring, Reading Comprehension
  4. Software DevelopersRelated skills · 3h 20m touched (vs 5h 48m) · $136k · +10.2% by 2035 · bachelor's degreeShared skills: Programming, Technology Design, Operations AnalysisTo build up: Technology Design
  5. Database AdministratorsRelated skills · 3h 35m touched (vs 5h 48m) · $105k · -0.1% by 2035 · bachelor's degreeShared skills: Programming, Operations Analysis, Technology DesignTo build up: Learning Strategies, Instructing, Judgment and Decision Making
  6. Computer Systems AnalystsRelated skills · 3h 6m touched (vs 5h 48m) · $106k · +7.9% by 2035 · vocational school or associate's degreeShared skills: Programming, Technology Design, Operations AnalysisTo build up: Speaking, Troubleshooting, Service Orientation
  7. Computer Systems Engineers/ArchitectsRelated skills · 3h 7m touched (vs 5h 48m) · $117k · +5.1% by 2035 · vocational school or associate's degreeShared skills: Programming, Technology Design, Operations AnalysisTo build up: Speaking, Systems Evaluation, Service Orientation

With more training

  1. Computer and Information Research ScientistsRelated skills · 3h 33m touched (vs 5h 48m) · $140k · +21.8% by 2035 · graduate degreeShared skills: Programming, Technology Design, Operations AnalysisTo build up: Judgment and Decision Making, Learning Strategies, Instructing

Before you switch

See the full time card for computer programmers first: many tasks there still need a person, and learning AI tools for the rest can be its own way forward. For pay where you live, open any job above and pick your state.