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What Quantum Jobs Look Like in Industry Data

The government doesn't count quantum jobs yet. Industry surveys show a growing field with more engineering and business roles than research ones.

Figures on this page come from industry surveys and job-posting data, not federal statistics. For government projections of pay and job growth, see the main page.

The Data in Two Minutes

Question 1 of 3

What Jobs Exist in Quantum Computing?

Short answer: the QED-C quantum job database shows real postings for titles like Quantum Systems Engineer and Quantum Applications Scientist, many on the software, algorithms, and systems side rather than experimental physics.

Specific Job Titles Employers Are Using

The QED-C quantum job database tracks real job postings, so it shows the specific titles employers are using right now. Examples from 2026 include:

  • Senior Quantum Systems Engineer – Quantum Computing, NVIDIA
  • Software Developer for Quantum-Centric Supercomputing, IBM Research
  • Principal Quantum Systems Modeling Engineer, Microsoft
  • Principal Quantum Systems Architect, Microsoft
  • Quantum Scientist, QuEra
  • Staff Quantum Applications Scientist – Life Sciences, IonQ
  • Scientist – Quantum Applications, IonQ
  • Network Orchestration Engineer – Quantum, IonQ
  • Quantum Error Correction Theorist, IBM Research
  • Machine Learning Engineer – Quantum, IBM Research

QED-C quantum jobs database

Several of these titles are on the software, algorithms, applications, and systems side rather than experimental physics, which lines up well with Miami's B.S. in Quantum Computing.

Question 2 of 3

How Big Is the Field, and Is It Growing?

Short answer: it's small but growing. Quantum-related openings worldwide have risen every year since 2021, and the U.S. has more quantum company workers and openings than any other country.

4,401

People working at U.S. companies dedicated to quantum technology in 2025, out of about 16,500 worldwide.

3,002

New openings at U.S. quantum companies in 2025, more than any other country.

+11%

Growth in quantum-related openings worldwide from 2024 to 2025, to 8,261 jobs and internships.

QED-C, State of the Global Quantum Industry 2026

How Many Organizations Work in Quantum?

QED-C counted 7,420 organizations worldwide engaged in quantum technology in 2026, up 14% from 2024. Most work on quantum alongside other business; a smaller group of "pure-play" companies focuses on quantum exclusively.

7,420

Quantum-engaged organizations worldwide in 2026, up 14% since 2024.

556

Pure-play quantum companies, up 8% since 2024. These work on quantum technology exclusively.

6,864

Partial-play organizations, where quantum is one part of a broader business.

QED-C, State of the Global Quantum Industry 2026

Quantum-related openings worldwide

New jobs and internships, by year

Quantum company workers by country

2025. The European Union as a whole has 6,420.

China doesn't appear in these figures because they rely on company websites and job postings that undercount countries where Western job boards have little reach. China funds one of the world's largest quantum programs, so both charts understate its workforce and openings.

QED-C, State of the Global Quantum Industry 2026

Job postings tell the same story. The share of U.S. job postings asking for quantum skills nearly tripled from 2011 to mid-2024. It peaked in 2019 and has stayed well above pre-2018 levels since (MIT Quantum Index Report 2025, using Lightcast data).

For scale: BLS expects about 95,300 software developer openings a year in the U.S. QED-C counted about 3,000 openings at U.S. quantum companies in 2025. That is why the established occupations on the main page remain the main path into quantum work.

How to read these numbers

QED-C's worker and U.S. openings counts cover only companies that work entirely on quantum technology, so quantum teams inside large tech companies aren't included. Its worldwide openings figure also includes quantum-specific openings at other organizations.

QED-C builds these estimates from company websites, job sites, and industry surveys. A company's workers are split across the countries where it operates, so country figures are estimates. This method undercounts countries where Western job boards and professional networks have limited reach, including China, which is not shown on the country chart despite having a large state-funded quantum program.

Question 3 of 3

Why Doesn't the Government Count Quantum Jobs?

Short answer: there are no federal codes yet for quantum industries, degree programs, or occupations, so researchers rely on keyword searches.

QED-C points to semiconductors for contrast. That industry has its own federal industry code, degree program code, and occupation code. Quantum technology has none of these, which is why counts like the ones above come from searching for "quantum" in company records and job postings.

The federal occupation system (SOC) is being revised for 2028, with the final structure expected in 2027. Whether it will add quantum occupations hasn't been announced. Until then, quantum work is counted inside established occupations such as computer and information research scientists and software developers, shown on the main page.

The Bottom Line

  • About 4,400 people worked at U.S. quantum companies in 2025, and openings worldwide have grown every year since 2021.
  • Engineering is the largest role at quantum companies. Researchers are under 10% of the workforce.
  • Outside the most specialized roles, quantum companies hire at the bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels.
  • Most roles at quantum companies need mostly non-quantum skills, so strong software and engineering skills matter as much as quantum coursework.

Where These Numbers Come From

Figures on this page come from industry and research sources unless marked as government. Values were checked against the published sources on September 30, 2026.

Industry and research sources

Government sources