Occupational Therapists vs Occupational Therapy Assistants AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

low risk

Occupational Therapists

55 shared · 25 different

core competencies

medium risk

Occupational Therapy Assistants

Side-by-Side Comparison

Occupational Therapists leads 4–0

Metric	Occupational Therapists	Occupational Therapy Assistants
Risk Score	23.9%	26.7%
Risk Tier	Low Risk	Medium Risk
Risk Percentile	16th	24th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	3 / 15	3 / 15
Median Salary	$98,340	$68,340
Employment	152K	48K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates

Therapy and Counseling

Sociology and Anthropology

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others

Performing General Physical Activities

Developing Objectives and Strategies

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Coaching and Developing Others

Active LearningAI-Augmented

Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Critical ThinkingAI-Augmented

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Occupational Therapists

39%

total discount

Occupational Therapy Assistants

34%

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.

Occupational Therapy Assistants

3 of 15 at risk

86%Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.

84%Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records.

74%Attend continuing education classes.

47%Select therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities.

45%Alter treatment programs to obtain better results if treatment is not having the intended effect.

Wage Comparison

Occupational Therapy Assistants earns -$30,000(-31%) vs Occupational Therapists

Occupational TherapistsOccupational Therapy Assistants

10th

$67,090$49,070

25th

$80,490$59,950

Median

$98,340$68,340

75th

$110,460$77,340

90th

$129,830$86,930

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Occupational Therapists2028–2035

Occupational Therapy Assistants2028–2035

20242030203520402045

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

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Occupational Therapists

$74,856

from $98,340

Occupational Therapy Assistants

$50,093

from $68,340

After adjusting for AI risk, Occupational Therapists offers $24,763 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Occupational

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Creativity

Decision Complexity

Social Intelligence

Regulatory Barriers

Occupational TherapistsOccupational Therapy Assistants

Find transitions from Occupational Therapists Find transitions from Occupational Therapy Assistants