Takeover Tracker
21%low risk
Nurse Anesthetists
vs

78 shared · 18 different

core competencies

28%medium risk
Physician Assistants

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricNurse AnesthetistsPhysician Assistants
Risk Score20.7%27.9%
Risk TierLow RiskMedium Risk
Risk Percentile8th29th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)2 / 154 / 12
Median Salary$223,210$133,260
Employment50K156K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Physics
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
Therapy and Counseling
Handling and Moving Objects
MathematicsAI-Vulnerable
Training and Teaching Others
Chemistry
Coaching and Developing Others
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Monitoring and Controlling Resources
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Nurse Anesthetists

39%

total discount

Physician Assistants

37%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Nurse Anesthetists

2 of 15 at risk
55%Perform or evaluate the results of diagnostic tests, such as radiographs (x-rays) and electrocardiograms (EKGs).
53%Assess patients' medical histories to predict anesthesia response.
49%Monitor patients' responses, including skin color, pupil dilation, pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, ventilation, or urine output, using invasive and noninvasive techniques.
47%Develop anesthesia care plans.
47%Evaluate patients' post-surgical or post-anesthesia responses, taking appropriate corrective actions or requesting consultation if complications occur.

Physician Assistants

4 of 12 at risk
86%Order medical and laboratory supplies and equipment.
74%Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests.
64%Obtain, compile and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes and results of physical examination.
54%Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
50%Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.

Wage Comparison

Physician Assistants earns -$89,950(-40%) vs Nurse Anesthetists
Nurse AnesthetistsPhysician Assistants
10th
$137,230$95,240
25th
$187,110$113,770
Median
$223,210$133,260
75th
$239,200$160,160
90th
$239,200$182,200

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Nurse Anesthetists2028–2035
Physician Assistants2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Nurse Anesthetists has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Physician Assistants.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Nurse Anesthetists

$177,117

from $223,210

Physician Assistants

$96,147

from $133,260

After adjusting for AI risk, Nurse Anesthetists offers $80,970 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Nurse

0

Unique to Physician

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Fine Manipulation
Creativity
Regulatory Barriers
Social Intelligence
Nurse AnesthetistsPhysician Assistants
Find transitions from Nurse AnesthetistsFind transitions from Physician Assistants