Physical Therapist Aides vs Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

low risk

Physical Therapist Aides

49 shared · 14 different

core competencies

medium risk

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Side-by-Side Comparison

Physical Therapist Aides leads 3–1

Metric	Physical Therapist Aides	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
Risk Score	24.3%	25.3%
Risk Tier	Low Risk	Medium Risk
Risk Percentile	17th	20th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	3 / 15	3 / 15
Median Salary	$34,520	$37,320
Employment	44K	114K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Handling and Moving Objects

Biology

Education and Training

Sales and Marketing

Performing General Physical Activities

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Analyzing Data or Information

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Assisting and Caring for Others

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

MathematicsAI-Vulnerable

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Physical Therapist Aides

30%

total discount

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

29%

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.

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

3 of 15 at risk

86%Place orders to restock inventory of hospital or laboratory supplies.

84%Fill medication prescriptions.

51%Prepare feed for animals according to specific instructions, such as diet lists or schedules.

49%Clean, maintain, and sterilize instruments or equipment.

47%Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.

Wage Comparison

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers earns +$2,800(+8%) vs Physical Therapist Aides

Physical Therapist AidesVeterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

10th

$24,960$29,160

25th

$29,710$34,320

Median

$34,520$37,320

75th

$38,240$44,550

90th

$46,930$48,150

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Physical Therapist Aides2028–2035

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Physical Therapist Aides has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Physical Therapist Aides

$26,139

from $34,520

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

$27,878

from $37,320

After adjusting for AI risk, Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers offers $1,739 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Physical

Unique to Veterinary

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Regulatory Barriers

Fine Manipulation

Social Intelligence

Decision Complexity

Physical Therapist AidesVeterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Find transitions from Physical Therapist Aides Find transitions from Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers