Will AI replace web developers?
Updated
Web developers score 66 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 73%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 20% outright, and 7% stays with people.
- 20% AI can do it
- 73% AI helps
- 7% Needs a person
High exposure
Higher than 97% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 29 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 6 of them today, speeds up 21 and leaves 2 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Respond to user email inquiries, or set up automated systems to send responses. AI drafts and sends routine replies; person handles escalations. | 75% AI can do it |
| Write supporting code for Web applications or Web sites. AI coding assistants draft most supporting code; developer reviews and integrates. | 70% AI helps |
| Back up files from Web sites to local directories for instant recovery in case of problems. Backup scripts and hosting tools run this; person spot checks restores. | 70% AI can do it |
| Document test plans, testing procedures, or test results. AI drafts test plans and summarizes results from test output. | 70% AI can do it |
| Document technical factors such as server load, bandwidth, database performance, and browser and device types. Monitoring tools collect metrics; AI drafts reports; person reviews. | 70% AI can do it |
| Develop system interaction or sequence diagrams. AI generates diagram code from descriptions; developer checks accuracy. | 70% AI can do it |
| Design, build, or maintain Web sites, using authoring or scripting languages, content creation tools, management tools, and digital media. AI builds pages, components and content; developer directs design and maintenance. | 65% AI helps |
| Evaluate code to ensure that it is valid, is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers, devices, or operating systems. Linters, validators and AI review catch most issues; developer signs off. | 65% AI helps |
| Perform Web site tests according to planned schedules, or after any Web site or product revision. AI writes and runs test suites; developer sets scope, reviews failures. | 65% AI helps |
| Provide clear, detailed descriptions of Web site specifications, such as product features, activities, software, communication protocols, programming languages, and operating systems software and hardware. AI drafts detailed specs from notes; team verifies accuracy and completeness. | 65% AI helps |
Show the other 19 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Renew domain name registrations. Registrars auto renew; person confirms payment and account access. | 60% AI can do it |
| Research, document, rate, or select alternatives for Web architecture or technologies. AI researches and compares technologies quickly; developer makes final selection. | 60% AI helps |
| Develop databases that support Web applications and Web sites. AI drafts schemas and queries; developer designs and validates data integrity. | 55% AI helps |
| Perform or direct Web site updates. Content and code updates are routine, but deployment needs human oversight. | 55% AI helps |
| Recommend and implement performance improvements. AI spots bottlenecks and writes fixes; developer measures and validates impact. | 55% AI helps |
| Create Web models or prototypes that include physical, interface, logical, or data models. AI generates wireframes and prototype code; designer refines the models. | 55% AI helps |
| Monitor security system performance logs to identify problems and notify security specialists when problems occur. AI and alerting tools flag anomalies; specialists investigate and respond. | 55% AI helps |
| Establish appropriate server directory trees. Templates and scripts can build directory layouts; developer approves structure. | 45% AI helps |
| Develop or implement procedures for ongoing Web site revision. AI drafts revision procedures; team tailors them to real workflows. | 45% AI helps |
| Install and configure hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) servers and associated operating systems. AI writes config and install scripts; engineer applies and verifies them. | 45% AI helps |
| Select programming languages, design tools, or applications. AI can compare options quickly; choice needs team context and accountability. | 40% AI helps |
| Maintain understanding of current Web technologies or programming practices through continuing education, reading, or participation in professional conferences, workshops, or groups. AI speeds up research and summaries; attending and learning stays personal. | 40% AI helps |
| Evaluate or recommend server hardware or software. AI compares specs and pricing; budget and vendor ties still matter. | 40% AI helps |
| Design and implement Web site security measures, such as firewalls and message encryption. AI helps with config and code review; experts take responsibility for security design. | 35% AI helps |
| Incorporate technical considerations into Web site design plans, such as budgets, equipment, performance requirements, and legal issues including accessibility and privacy. AI checks accessibility and privacy; legal and budget calls stay human. | 35% AI helps |
| Analyze user needs to determine technical requirements. AI can draft requirements from notes; interviews and tradeoffs need people. | 30% AI helps |
| Collaborate with management or users to develop e-commerce strategies and to integrate these strategies with Web sites. Strategy needs business judgment; AI helps with analysis and integration options. | 25% AI helps |
| Communicate with network personnel or Web site hosting agencies to address hardware or software issues affecting Web sites. Live coordination with vendors and network staff stays people driven. | 20% Needs a person |
| Confer with management or development teams to prioritize needs, resolve conflicts, develop content criteria, or choose solutions. Live negotiation and conflict resolution with stakeholders needs people. | 15% Needs a person |
How web developers compare
All occupations (923)
Computer and mathematical (36)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $92,650 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 70,190 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +3.8% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Take responsibility for security design for firewalls and message encryption
- Negotiate launch scope and budgets with management and dev teams
- Coordinate hosting vendor fixes during outages and network incidents
- Review AI-written code for structure, standards, and browser compatibility
- Tune Amazon EC2 and Amazon DynamoDB performance from monitoring metrics
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about web developers and AI
Will web developers be replaced by AI?
Partly. About 5 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly writing supporting code and writing up test and performance reports. Design judgment, stakeholder negotiation, security decisions, and vendor coordination stay with people.
Will AI take over web development?
AI can already do 20% of the task time in web development and speeds up another 73%. People still do 7% of it. The US has 70,190 web developer jobs, with a projected change of +3.8% from 2024 to 2034.
Which tasks is AI taking over for web developers?
Routine email replies, site file backups, and test documentation are the tasks AI takes over first, with exposure scores of 75 and 70. AI drafts the replies and summarizes test results from test output. Backup scripts and hosting tools copy site files to local directories on a schedule, so a person only spot checks restores.
Which tasks for web developers stay human?
Negotiating priorities with management and development teams stays human, since live conflict resolution needs people. Coordinating with network staff and hosting vendors on hardware and software faults also stays human. E-commerce strategy needs business judgment, and AI only helps with the analysis and integration options.
How can web developers stay valuable?
Take responsibility for the review of AI-written code, checking structure, browser compatibility, and AJAX error handling before release. Run requirements interviews and firewall and encryption design yourself, since those need people. Tune Amazon EC2 and Amazon DynamoDB performance using the metrics that monitoring tools collect.
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