Medical Assistants vs Occupational Therapy Aides AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

medium risk

Medical Assistants

52 shared · 22 different

core competencies

low risk

Occupational Therapy Aides

Side-by-Side Comparison

Occupational Therapy Aides leads 4–1

Metric	Medical Assistants	Occupational Therapy Aides
Risk Score	33.3%	24.2%
Risk Tier	Medium Risk	Low Risk
Risk Percentile	58th	17th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	7 / 15	5 / 15
Median Salary	$44,200	$37,370
Employment	793K	5K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Interacting With Computers

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others

Computers and Electronics

Performing Administrative Activities

Clerical

Medicine and Dentistry

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Administration and Management

Scheduling Work and Activities

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Medical Assistants

33%

total discount

Occupational Therapy Aides

32%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Medical Assistants

7 of 15 at risk

87%Perform general office duties, such as answering telephones, taking dictation, or completing insurance forms.

86%Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.

77%Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.

68%Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic.

66%Contact medical facilities or departments to schedule patients for tests or admission.

Occupational Therapy Aides

5 of 15 at risk

84%Perform clerical, administrative, and secretarial duties, such as answering phones, restocking and ordering supplies, filling out paperwork, and scheduling appointments.

80%Report to supervisors or therapists, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, attendance, and accomplishments.

78%Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress.

68%Observe patients' attendance, progress, attitudes, and accomplishments and record and maintain information in client records.

53%Prepare and maintain work area, materials, and equipment and maintain inventory of treatment and educational supplies.

Wage Comparison

Occupational Therapy Aides earns -$6,830(-15%) vs Medical Assistants

Medical AssistantsOccupational Therapy Aides

10th

$35,020$27,970

25th

$37,610$34,840

Median

$44,200$37,370

75th

$48,160$44,190

90th

$57,830$65,580

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Medical Assistants2028–2035

Occupational Therapy Aides2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Occupational Therapy Aides has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Medical Assistants.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Medical Assistants

$29,490

from $44,200

Occupational Therapy Aides

$28,338

from $37,370

After adjusting for AI risk, Medical Assistants offers $1,153 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Medical

Unique to Occupational

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Social Intelligence

Regulatory Barriers

Fine Manipulation

Decision Complexity

Medical AssistantsOccupational Therapy Aides

Find transitions from Medical Assistants Find transitions from Occupational Therapy Aides