Exercise Physiologists vs Occupational Therapy Assistants AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

medium risk

Exercise Physiologists

63 shared · 16 different

core competencies

medium risk

Occupational Therapy Assistants

Side-by-Side Comparison

Occupational Therapy Assistants leads 5–0

Metric	Exercise Physiologists	Occupational Therapy Assistants
Risk Score	27.4%	26.7%
Risk Tier	Medium Risk	Medium Risk
Risk Percentile	26th	24th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	5 / 15	3 / 15
Median Salary	$58,160	$68,340
Employment	8K	48K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Biology

Sales and Marketing

Coaching and Developing Others

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others

Performing Administrative Activities

Inductive Reasoning

Deductive Reasoning

Documenting/Recording Information

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates

Critical ThinkingAI-Augmented

Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable

Assisting and Caring for Others

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Exercise Physiologists

35%

total discount

Occupational Therapy Assistants

34%

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 Therapy Assistants

3 of 15 at risk

86%Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.

84%Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records.

74%Attend continuing education classes.

47%Select therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities.

45%Alter treatment programs to obtain better results if treatment is not having the intended effect.

Wage Comparison

Occupational Therapy Assistants earns +$10,180(+18%) vs Exercise Physiologists

Exercise PhysiologistsOccupational Therapy Assistants

10th

$40,930$49,070

25th

$48,650$59,950

Median

$58,160$68,340

75th

$65,430$77,340

90th

$79,830$86,930

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Exercise Physiologists2028–2035

Occupational Therapy Assistants2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Occupational Therapy Assistants 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 Therapy Assistants

$50,093

from $68,340

After adjusting for AI risk, Occupational Therapy Assistants offers $7,887 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

Creativity

Decision Complexity

Fine Manipulation

Regulatory Barriers

Exercise PhysiologistsOccupational Therapy Assistants

Find transitions from Exercise Physiologists Find transitions from Occupational Therapy Assistants