Exercise Physiologists vs Occupational Therapists AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

medium risk

Exercise Physiologists

68 shared · 12 different

core competencies

low risk

Occupational Therapists

Side-by-Side Comparison

Occupational Therapists leads 5–0

Metric	Exercise Physiologists	Occupational Therapists
Risk Score	27.4%	23.9%
Risk Tier	Medium Risk	Low Risk
Risk Percentile	26th	16th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	5 / 15	3 / 15
Median Salary	$58,160	$98,340
Employment	8K	152K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Therapy and Counseling

Psychology

Biology

Sociology and Anthropology

MathematicsAI-Vulnerable

Performing General Physical Activities

Assisting and Caring for Others

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others

Developing and Building Teams

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Documenting/Recording Information

Customer and Personal Service

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Exercise Physiologists

35%

total discount

Occupational Therapists

39%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Exercise Physiologists

5 of 15 at risk

59%Measure amount of body fat, using such equipment as hydrostatic scale, skinfold calipers, or tape measures.

55%Develop exercise programs to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning, in accordance with exercise science standards, regulatory requirements, and credentialing requirements.

54%Prescribe individualized exercise programs, specifying equipment such as treadmill, exercise bicycle, ergometers, or perceptual goggles.

52%Interpret exercise program participant data to evaluate progress or identify needed program changes.

51%Plan or conduct exercise physiology research projects.

Occupational Therapists

3 of 15 at risk

61%Complete and maintain necessary records.

57%Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.

51%Conduct research in occupational therapy.

47%Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress.

47%Lay out materials such as puzzles, scissors and eating utensils for use in therapy, and clean and repair these tools after therapy sessions.

Wage Comparison

Occupational Therapists earns +$40,180(+69%) vs Exercise Physiologists

Exercise PhysiologistsOccupational Therapists

10th

$40,930$67,090

25th

$48,650$80,490

Median

$58,160$98,340

75th

$65,430$110,460

90th

$79,830$129,830

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Exercise Physiologists2028–2035

Occupational Therapists2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Occupational Therapists has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Exercise Physiologists.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Exercise Physiologists

$42,207

from $58,160

Occupational Therapists

$74,856

from $98,340

After adjusting for AI risk, Occupational Therapists offers $32,650 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Exercise

Unique to Occupational

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Social Intelligence

Regulatory Barriers

Creativity

Fine Manipulation

Exercise PhysiologistsOccupational Therapists

Find transitions from Exercise Physiologists Find transitions from Occupational Therapists