UK AI Job-Risk Index · SOC 2010 2136
Ranks #35 of 293 for AI exposure (1 = most exposed)
How exposed to AI are programmers and software development professionals?
90/100
AI exposure score (percentile across all 365 occupations DfE scored)
Very high#35
of 293 UK occupations (1 = most exposed)
£43,981
median full-time pay (ONS ASHE 2020) · 247,000 employee jobs
Programmers and software development professionals sits in the very high exposure band: its abilities overlap with current AI applications more than about 90% of the 365 UK occupations the Department for Education scored. High exposure usually means AI can help with many of the tasks involved, such as drafting, analysis or information handling. That can change how the job is done, but it is not a forecast that the job will disappear.
Underlying scores: AIOE (all AI) 1.24, LLM exposure 1.01 (standardised; 0 is the average occupation). Skill level: Level 4. Pay and job counts are 2020 figures, so use them to compare occupations rather than as current salaries.
Advertisement
Job titles in this occupation
Titles the ONS SOC 2010 coding index places in unit group 2136 (30 of 43 shown). If your job title is here, this page uses the right figures for you.
it analyst · programmer · it developer · ui developer · ios developer · net developer · shader writer · sql developer · games developer · scala developer · software author · software writer · database analyst · games programmer · mobile developer · python developer · software analyst · android developer · software designer · software engineer · systems developer · xamarin developer · analyst-programmer · computer developer · database developer · programmer-analyst · software architect · software developer · systems programmer · technology analyst
Reader poll: do you think AI will change your job in the next 5 years?
Reader opinion, not science. Anyone can vote once per job; results show once at least 10 people have voted. Your IP address is hashed for rate-limiting and never stored.
Worried about this score? Get a plan
Seen your job's AI exposure? Our free 90-day plan shows practical steps to stay ahead.
One weekly email on AI and UK jobs, plus a free 90-day AI-proof career plan (PDF). No spam, unsubscribe any time.
Is your job safer than your friend's?
Send a friend this challenge. They add their job and see whose is more exposed to AI.
Embed this score on your site
Free for blogs, schools and careers sites. Please keep the credit link.
Next steps
- Related article on this occupation
- Role scanner: which of your tasks AI is likely to touch
- Salary-risk check and Career pathways tool
- Course checker and Parent briefing
- Careers articles
- All professional occupations · all 293 occupations A–Z
- Personal task score: tick the tasks you actually do
- Free weekly email + 90-day AI-proof career plan (PDF)
Lower-risk related jobs
Occupations in the same SOC 2010 sub-major group with a lower AI exposure score, highest-paid first. Pay difference is against £43,981 (ONS ASHE 2020 median, full-time). Switching usually needs retraining; this is a starting point, not advice.
| Occupation | Exposure | Median pay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical engineers | 68/100 | £52,064 | +£8,083 |
| IT business analysts, architects and systems designers | 83/100 | £50,821 | +£6,840 |
| IT specialist managers | 78/100 | £50,749 | +£6,768 |
| Research and development managers | 75/100 | £49,000 | +£5,019 |
| Engineering professionals n.e.c. | 81/100 | £43,962 | −£19 |
Occupations with similar exposure
- Further education teaching professionals (90/100)
- Clergy (90/100)
- Social and humanities scientists (90/100)
- Health care practice managers (91/100)
← #34 Further education teaching professionals · #36 Social and humanities scientists →
FAQ: Programmers and software development professionals and AI
Will AI replace programmers and software development professionals?
The index does not predict job losses. Programmers and software development professionals has an AI exposure score of 90/100 (very high band), ranking #35 of 293 UK occupations, where 1 is the most exposed. High exposure means AI can help with many of the tasks involved, which usually changes how the job is done.
How does this compare with similar jobs?
Programmers and software development professionals is one of 20 occupations in its SOC 2010 sub-major group in the index; 2 of the others are more exposed to AI.
How much do programmers and software development professionals earn?
Median gross annual pay for full-time employees was £43,981 in ONS ASHE 2020 (Table 14), across about 247,000 employee jobs. These are 2020 figures, so use them to compare jobs rather than as current salaries.
Which related jobs are less exposed to AI?
In the same sub-major group, lower-exposure occupations include Electrical engineers (68/100, £52,064), IT business analysts, architects and systems designers (83/100, £50,821), IT specialist managers (78/100, £50,749).
Where does this data come from?
AI exposure uses Department for Education (2023) AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) scores; pay and job counts come from ONS ASHE 2020. Job titles come from the ONS SOC 2010 coding index.
Source: Department for Education (2023), The impact of AI on UK jobs and training (AIOE scores); ONS ASHE 2020 Table 14; job titles from the ONS SOC 2010 coding index (v7). Exposure is not a prediction of job loss. Methodology · Embed this data
Cite this
For essays, coursework and articles. Please also cite the original DfE and ONS sources listed in the methodology.
APA (7th)
Plain text