Occupational Therapists vs Exercise Physiologists AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

low risk

Occupational Therapists

68 shared · 12 different

core competencies

medium risk

Exercise Physiologists

Side-by-Side Comparison

Occupational Therapists leads 5–0

Metric	Occupational Therapists	Exercise Physiologists
Risk Score	23.9%	27.4%
Risk Tier	Low Risk	Medium Risk
Risk Percentile	16th	26th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	3 / 15	5 / 15
Median Salary	$98,340	$58,160
Employment	152K	8K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Therapy and Counseling

Psychology

Biology

Sociology and Anthropology

MathematicsAI-Vulnerable

Performing General Physical Activities

Assisting and Caring for Others

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others

Developing and Building Teams

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Documenting/Recording Information

Customer and Personal Service

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Occupational Therapists

39%

total discount

Exercise Physiologists

35%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Occupational Therapists

3 of 15 at risk

61%Complete and maintain necessary records.

57%Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.

51%Conduct research in occupational therapy.

47%Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress.

47%Lay out materials such as puzzles, scissors and eating utensils for use in therapy, and clean and repair these tools after therapy sessions.

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.

Wage Comparison

Exercise Physiologists earns -$40,180(-41%) vs Occupational Therapists

Occupational TherapistsExercise Physiologists

10th

$67,090$40,930

25th

$80,490$48,650

Median

$98,340$58,160

75th

$110,460$65,430

90th

$129,830$79,830

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Occupational Therapists2028–2035

Exercise Physiologists2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Occupational 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%)

Occupational Therapists

$74,856

from $98,340

Exercise Physiologists

$42,207

from $58,160

After adjusting for AI risk, Occupational Therapists offers $32,650 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Occupational

Unique to Exercise

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Social Intelligence

Regulatory Barriers

Creativity

Fine Manipulation

Occupational TherapistsExercise Physiologists

Find transitions from Occupational Therapists Find transitions from Exercise Physiologists