Occupation · 2026 assessment

Penetration testing Architect

The Penetration testing Architect role combines repeatable operations with decisions that require professional context. The index measures task exposure to AI, software automation and robotics—not the probability that the occupation disappears.

Very low risk level Search jobs ↗
How risk may change

A forecast estimate, not a guaranteed scenario.

16%2026
23%2028
31%2030
41%2035

Which tasks are exposed

Risk applies to individual tasks—not to a person or an entire occupation.

TaskRisk
Generating solution-structure options34%
Checking constraints, compatibility and cost28%
Choosing trade-offs and owning system integrity5%
Initial classification of events and alerts40%
Log analysis and known-indicator detection37%
Preparing a standard incident report36%
Executing a standard response playbook33%
Investigating a novel attack or violation10%

Task map

AI replaces ↔ AI augments

Each task is positioned by AI capability and the degree of human involvement still required.

  1. 1Generating solution-structure optionsAI 34% · human 82%
  2. 2Checking constraints, compatibility and costAI 28% · human 88%
  3. 3Choosing trade-offs and owning system integrityAI 5% · human 89%
  4. 4Initial classification of events and alertsAI 40% · human 89%
  5. 5Log analysis and known-indicator detectionAI 37% · human 82%
  6. 6Preparing a standard incident reportAI 36% · human 89%
  7. 7Executing a standard response playbookAI 33% · human 89%
  8. 8Investigating a novel attack or violationAI 10% · human 94%

Why technology can change this work

  • AI proposes system structures and checks standard constraints
  • cameras, sensors and SIEM systems classify events automatically
  • AI detects anomalies and prioritizes incidents
  • some monitoring and patrol tasks shift to robots

What protects the occupation

  • choosing trade-offs among cost, reliability, security and future change
  • decision accountability under threat
  • a large share of value comes from human judgement, trust or personal accountability
  • unknown scenarios and active adversaries
  • physical intervention or deep investigation

United States · before tax

Average pay and outlook

Estimated nominal monthly pay. The scenario reflects sector, demand and task resilience; it is not a guarantee of income.

2026$10 550per month
2035$15 250scenario estimate
2026: $10 55020262027: $11 00020272028: $11 45020282029: $11 95020292030: $12 45020302031: $12 95020312032: $13 50020322033: $14 05020332034: $14 65020342035: $15 2502035
Find jobs ↗The partner link may contain referral parameters. Data benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ↗

Job search and transitions

Find work with a lower risk index

Compare adjacent paths and open a current search for the selected occupation.

Autonomous Systems Security Specialist

Skill fit 87% · risk 13%

Search jobs ↗

Skills you already have

  • architectural trade-offs
  • component integration
  • technical-debt management
  • threat assessment
  • procedural discipline
  • incident response

Skills to build

  • AI-agent architecture
  • observability and resilience design
  • AI security
  • digital forensics
  • autonomous-system security
  • deepfake detection
CurrentPenetration testing Architect · 16%
→
Keeparchitectural trade-offs · component integration · technical-debt management
→
AddAI-agent architecture · observability and resilience design · AI security

Sources and update

Updated: 2026-09-25 · Assessment confidence: Medium

International Labour Organization · 2025Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure

Nearly 30,000 tasks; a global assessment of GenAI exposure across detailed occupational groups.

World Economic Forum · 2025The Future of Jobs Report 2025

A survey of more than 1,000 employers representing over 14 million workers across 55 economies.

O*NET Resource Center · 2026O*NET Database

Occupational, task, skill and work-context structure.