Physical Therapist Assistants vs Occupational Therapy Aides AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

low risk

Physical Therapist Assistants

74 shared · 3 different

core competencies

low risk

Occupational Therapy Aides

Side-by-Side Comparison

Physical Therapist Assistants leads 5–0

Metric	Physical Therapist Assistants	Occupational Therapy Aides
Risk Score	22.5%	24.2%
Risk Tier	Low Risk	Low Risk
Risk Percentile	12th	17th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	1 / 15	5 / 15
Median Salary	$65,510	$37,370
Employment	108K	5K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public

Medicine and Dentistry

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Physical Therapist Assistants

34%

total discount

Occupational Therapy Aides

32%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Physical Therapist Assistants

1 of 15 at risk

86%Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.

43%Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes.

43%Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment.

42%Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.

39%Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.

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 -$28,140(-43%) vs Physical Therapist Assistants

Physical Therapist AssistantsOccupational Therapy Aides

10th

$46,020$27,970

25th

$58,240$34,840

Median

$65,510$37,370

75th

$77,270$44,190

90th

$87,630$65,580

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Physical Therapist Assistants2028–2035

Occupational Therapy Aides2028–2035

20242030203520402045

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

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Physical Therapist Assistants

$50,757

from $65,510

Occupational Therapy Aides

$28,338

from $37,370

After adjusting for AI risk, Physical Therapist Assistants offers $22,419 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

Regulatory Barriers

Fine Manipulation

Creativity

Decision Complexity

Physical Therapist AssistantsOccupational Therapy Aides

Find transitions from Physical Therapist Assistants Find transitions from Occupational Therapy Aides