Medical Assistants vs Physical Therapist Assistants AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

medium risk

Medical Assistants

64 shared · 19 different

core competencies

low risk

Physical Therapist Assistants

Side-by-Side Comparison

Physical Therapist Assistants leads 5–0

Metric	Medical Assistants	Physical Therapist Assistants
Risk Score	33.3%	22.5%
Risk Tier	Medium Risk	Low Risk
Risk Percentile	58th	12th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	7 / 15	1 / 15
Median Salary	$44,200	$65,510
Employment	793K	108K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public

Interacting With Computers

Scheduling Work and Activities

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others

Performing Administrative Activities

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material

Clerical

Computers and Electronics

Static Strength

Biology

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Medical Assistants

33%

total discount

Physical Therapist Assistants

34%

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.

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 +$21,310(+48%) vs Medical Assistants

Medical AssistantsPhysical Therapist Assistants

10th

$35,020$46,020

25th

$37,610$58,240

Median

$44,200$65,510

75th

$48,160$77,270

90th

$57,830$87,630

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Medical Assistants2028–2035

Physical Therapist Assistants2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Physical Therapist Assistants 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

Physical Therapist Assistants

$50,757

from $65,510

After adjusting for AI risk, Physical Therapist Assistants offers $21,267 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Medical

Unique to Physical

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Fine Manipulation

Creativity

Social Intelligence

Regulatory Barriers

Medical AssistantsPhysical Therapist Assistants

Find transitions from Medical Assistants Find transitions from Physical Therapist Assistants