Verdict
Web Developer is the safer bet: it scores 47/100 against 58/100 for Software Developer — 11 points less exposed to AI.
Technology
58 /100
Designs, builds and maintains software systems.
Full risk profile →| Metric | Software Developer | Web Developer |
|---|---|---|
| AI Fear Score | 58/100 | 47/100 |
| Risk band | At risk | Watch |
| Automation probability | 40% | 21% |
| LLM task exposure | 80% | 78% |
| Median pay (BLS) | $132,000 | $84,000 |
| US workers | 1,600,000 | 200,000 |
| Timeline | Augmented now; AI writes code but architecture and judgment scale up in value. | Augmented — AI scaffolds sites; integration and UX judgment remain. |
The usual pivots that reuse your experience while cutting exposure: Staff/principal engineer, Engineering manager. See the full plan →
Web Developer is safer. It scores 47/100 vs 58/100 — Web Developer keeps more tasks that need human judgment and context, while more of Software Developer's core tasks are automatable.
Software Developer pays more at the median: $132,000 vs $84,000 (BLS May 2024).
Scores are estimates, not predictions — two research anchors applied to task mixes, with BLS May-2024 wages and employment. Not career advice.