Penetration Testers
Machines can already do 49% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 81%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Penetration Testers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 49% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 31% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2027, and 81% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 435,370 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $116,580 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 63% for contact with people.
- Also called: Cyber Systems Engineer, Security Consultant, Security Engineer, System Vulnerability Analyst.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test the security of systems by attempting to gain access to networks, Web-based applications, or computers | 15% | 25% to 65% | |
| Document penetration test findings | 10% | 70% to 95% | |
| Develop and execute tests that simulate the techniques of known cyber threat actors | 10% | 38% to 75% | |
| Identify security system weaknesses, using penetration tests | 9% | 60% to 90% | |
| Evaluate vulnerability assessments of local computing environments, networks, infrastructures, or enclave boundaries | 6% | 60% to 90% | |
| Develop infiltration tests that exploit device vulnerabilities | 6% | 50% to 85% | |
| Write audit reports to communicate technical and procedural findings and recommend solutions | 5% | 70% to 95% | |
| Discuss security solutions with information technology teams or management | 5% | 30% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills penetration testers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Blockchain Engineers72% of tasks by 2035 · US median $116,580
- Information Security Engineers67% of tasks by 2035 · US median $116,580
- Software Developers76% of tasks by 2035 · US median $135,980
- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects71% of tasks by 2035 · US median $116,580
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Penetration Testers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2027. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of penetration testers?
Machines can do 49% of the tasks of penetration testers today and 81% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 15-1299.04 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Penetration Testers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/penetration-testers/