Exercise Physiologists vs Physical Therapists AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

medium risk

Exercise Physiologists

72 shared · 15 different

core competencies

low risk

Physical Therapists

Side-by-Side Comparison

Physical Therapists leads 5–0

Metric	Exercise Physiologists	Physical Therapists
Risk Score	27.4%	22.6%
Risk Tier	Medium Risk	Low Risk
Risk Percentile	26th	12th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	5 / 15	2 / 15
Median Salary	$58,160	$101,020
Employment	8K	249K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Coaching and Developing Others

Sales and Marketing

MathematicsAI-Vulnerable

Documenting/Recording Information

Therapy and Counseling

Manual DexterityAI-Resistant

Handling and Moving Objects

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others

Performing Administrative Activities

Developing and Building Teams

Processing Information

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Exercise Physiologists

35%

total discount

Physical Therapists

37%

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.

Physical Therapists

2 of 15 at risk

86%Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.

51%Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.

49%Identify and document goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.

41%Discharge patient from physical therapy when goals or projected outcomes have been attained and provide for appropriate follow-up care or referrals.

40%Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.

Wage Comparison

Physical Therapists earns +$42,860(+74%) vs Exercise Physiologists

Exercise PhysiologistsPhysical Therapists

10th

$40,930$74,420

25th

$48,650$83,470

Median

$58,160$101,020

75th

$65,430$117,190

90th

$79,830$132,500

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Exercise Physiologists2028–2035

Physical Therapists2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Physical 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

Physical Therapists

$78,240

from $101,020

After adjusting for AI risk, Physical Therapists offers $36,033 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Exercise

Unique to Physical

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Fine Manipulation

Regulatory Barriers

Creativity

Decision Complexity

Exercise PhysiologistsPhysical Therapists

Find transitions from Exercise Physiologists Find transitions from Physical Therapists