Artificial Intelligence is transforming all industries and programming is not an exception. The developers nowadays are observing tools that can write codes, correct mistakes, and even propose complete software solutions. Of course, such a question appears in the mind of many people: will programmers still be welcome in the future?
The truth is, yes. Coding jobs are not disappearing. Rather, they are changing. Organizations across the globe require people who can think critically, design credible systems and supervise AI to generate the right results. The future is left to those programmers who can change and update their skills.
The Current Job Market
Software development is among the professions with the fastest growth regardless of surging automation. The U.S. Bureau of labor and statistics estimates the growth of job opportunities of software developers, QA analysts, and testers, by 17% during 2023-2033. That will equal over 140,000 additional openings per year.
The demand of the developers is also high globally. Digital tools are being invested in across businesses in the financial, healthcare, educational and logistics sectors, and the programmers are required to code and support them. Although AI can lessen certain routine tasks, the number of skilled developers is expected to increase in the long journey homesick for home.
How AI Is Transforming Programming Work
AI is not causing job losses to programmers, it is aiding them by the following ways:
- Automation of routine work– Automation of basic work such as writing of boilerplate code, fixing frequent bugs, generating documentation can be automated now.
- Focus on imaginativeness – Imaginativeness, care, and creativity are more time given on architecture, security and innovations rather than repetitive coding.
- New workflows – AI tools are being inserted as part of the daily workflow, meaning that it will code faster but needs stronger reviewing and testing skills.
- Consider AI as a calculator – It can unscramble issues very fast, but it is person who should tell which issue to unscramble and how to analyze the outcomes. That’s why the future of software engineering is about guiding AI tools, not competing with them.
Jobs That Are Growing Stronger
AI isn’t just changing existing roles; it is creating new opportunities. Following fields are becoming more important than ever:
Data science and artificial intelligence – Companies need experts who can analyze large datasets and build intelligent models.
Cybersecurity – With more automation comes more risk. Security engineers will remain essential.
Cloud and platform engineering – Scalable infrastructure is needed to support AI-driven applications.
Domain-based roles – Blending technical skills with industry expertise creates unique opportunities.
For example, professionals who understand artificial intelligence and accounting can design tools for fraud detection, predictive finance, and automated audits. Similarly, AI is transforming other industries like agriculture, where smart technologies are driving innovation and efficiency.
This shows that hybrid careers, where coding is combined with another specialty will grow in the AI era.
Skills Programmers Need to Succeed
To stay competitive in coding jobs, developers need to upgrade their skill sets. Here are the areas that matter most:
- AI literacy – Knowing how to use tools like Copilot or ChatGPT effectively.
- System design – Understanding scalability, performance, and trade-offs.
- Data fundamentals – Clean, high-quality data is the backbone of AI.
- Security and testing – Every AI-generated line of code must be verified.
- Communication – Developers must explain risks and solutions clearly to non-technical teams.
By mastering these, programmers will not just survive but thrive in the new landscape.
The Road to 2028 and Beyond
According to the World Economic Forum, it is estimated that by 2028, 23% of jobs will transform with 69 Million new jobs being created and 83 Million jobs lost. This highlights the urgent need for reskilling.
For programmers, the message is clear: AI won’t wipe out jobs, but it will reshape them. The impact of AI on software engineering jobs means developers must learn how to manage AI outputs, build safe systems, and integrate machine learning into everyday products.
This shift is less about replacement and more about transformation. By 2028, programmers who combine AI knowledge with strong fundamentals will be among the most sought-after professionals.
Salaries and Earning Potential
One reason people still pursue programming careers is pay and the outlook remains positive.
In the U.S., the average salary for machine learning engineers and AI developers is around $150,000–$200,000 per year, with senior experts earning much more. Some professionals in top tech companies earn above $300,000 annually when stock options and bonuses are included.
This shows that AI is not reducing programmer salaries, it is pushing them higher for those who adapt.
Conclusion
AI does not mark the end of programming—it marks the beginning of a new chapter. The professionals who will thrive are those who adapt, reskill, and embrace AI as a powerful tool rather than a threat.
In reality, coding jobs are not vanishing; they are evolving. The market will be able to retain as well as employ more innovative, skilled and forward thinking programmers making this one of the most promising careers in the future.
FAQs
1)- Is coding a good career after AI?
Yes. Coding is still a rewarding and stable career choice. It is possible to ask why human contact is still necessary at all, since AI will take care of repetitive tasks in code development. The answer is that a human being is needed to focus on design, architecture, decision-making, and so on. In fact, the future of software engineering looks brighter as AI makes developers more productive.
2)- Are coding jobs being replaced by AI?
Not exactly. AI is changing how work is done, but it cannot fully replace programmers. Companies still need developers to test, integrate, and secure software. The impact of AI on software engineering jobs is more about transformation than elimination.
4)- What is the salary of an AI coder?
Salaries remain strong. In the U.S., In the U.S., the average salary of an AI and machine learning engineer is between $150,000 and $200,000 and this can be much more in the highest positions. It has been suggested that this will continue and it is likely to increase as the AI impact on employment by 2028 transforms industries.
