Physical Therapist Aides vs Occupational Therapy Aides AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

low risk

Physical Therapist Aides

54 shared · 11 different

core competencies

low risk

Occupational Therapy Aides

Side-by-Side Comparison

Occupational Therapy Aides leads 3–1

Metric	Physical Therapist Aides	Occupational Therapy Aides
Risk Score	24.3%	24.2%
Risk Tier	Low Risk	Low Risk
Risk Percentile	17th	17th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	3 / 15	5 / 15
Median Salary	$34,520	$37,370
Employment	44K	5K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Handling and Moving Objects

Getting Information

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Performing General Physical Activities

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Documenting/Recording Information

Analyzing Data or Information

Oral Expression

Education and Training

Problem Sensitivity

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Physical Therapist Aides

30%

total discount

Occupational Therapy Aides

32%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Physical Therapist Aides

3 of 15 at risk

87%Schedule patient appointments with physical therapists and coordinate therapists' schedules.

87%Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms.

86%Record treatment given and equipment used.

49%Measure patient's range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.

49%Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.

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 +$2,850(+8%) vs Physical Therapist Aides

Physical Therapist AidesOccupational Therapy Aides

10th

$24,960$27,970

25th

$29,710$34,840

Median

$34,520$37,370

75th

$38,240$44,190

90th

$46,930$65,580

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Physical Therapist Aides2028–2035

Occupational Therapy Aides2028–2035

20242030203520402045

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

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Physical Therapist Aides

$26,139

from $34,520

Occupational Therapy Aides

$28,338

from $37,370

After adjusting for AI risk, Occupational Therapy Aides offers $2,199 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Physical

Unique to Occupational

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Fine Manipulation

Decision Complexity

Creativity

Social Intelligence

Physical Therapist AidesOccupational Therapy Aides

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