Anesthesiologist Assistants vs Physical Therapist Assistants AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

low risk

Anesthesiologist Assistants

64 shared · 26 different

core competencies

low risk

Physical Therapist Assistants

Side-by-Side Comparison

Anesthesiologist Assistants leads 3–1

Metric	Anesthesiologist Assistants	Physical Therapist Assistants
Risk Score	22.3%	22.5%
Risk Tier	Low Risk	Low Risk
Risk Percentile	12th	12th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	4 / 15	1 / 15
Median Salary	$133,260	$65,510
Employment	156K	108K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Controlling Machines and Processes

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material

Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Chemistry

MathematicsAI-Vulnerable

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Analyzing Data or Information

Operation and Control

Control Precision

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Psychology

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Anesthesiologist Assistants

35%

total discount

Physical Therapist Assistants

34%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Anesthesiologist Assistants

4 of 15 at risk

85%Verify availability of operating room supplies, medications, and gases.

57%Pretest and calibrate anesthesia delivery systems and monitors.

53%Monitor and document patients' progress during post-anesthesia period.

51%Assist anesthesiologists in monitoring of patients, including electrocardiogram (EKG), direct arterial pressure, central venous pressure, arterial blood gas, hematocrit, or routine measurement of temperature, respiration, blood pressure or heart rate.

45%Collect samples or specimens for diagnostic testing.

Physical Therapist Assistants

1 of 15 at risk

86%Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.

43%Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes.

43%Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment.

42%Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.

39%Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.

Wage Comparison

Physical Therapist Assistants earns -$67,750(-51%) vs Anesthesiologist Assistants

Anesthesiologist AssistantsPhysical Therapist Assistants

10th

$95,240$46,020

25th

$113,770$58,240

Median

$133,260$65,510

75th

$160,160$77,270

90th

$182,200$87,630

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Anesthesiologist Assistants2028–2035

Physical Therapist Assistants2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Anesthesiologist Assistants has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Physical Therapist Assistants.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)

Anesthesiologist Assistants

$103,530

from $133,260

Physical Therapist Assistants

$50,757

from $65,510

After adjusting for AI risk, Anesthesiologist Assistants offers $52,773 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Anesthesiologist

Unique to Physical

Combined Protection Strategy

Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors

Decision Complexity

Social Intelligence

Creativity

Regulatory Barriers

Anesthesiologist AssistantsPhysical Therapist Assistants

Find transitions from Anesthesiologist Assistants Find transitions from Physical Therapist Assistants