Physical Therapist Assistants vs Physical Therapist Aides AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

low risk

Physical Therapist Assistants

57 shared · 19 different

core competencies

low risk

Physical Therapist Aides

Side-by-Side Comparison

Physical Therapist Assistants leads 5–0

Metric	Physical Therapist Assistants	Physical Therapist Aides
Risk Score	22.5%	24.3%
Risk Tier	Low Risk	Low Risk
Risk Percentile	12th	17th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	1 / 15	3 / 15
Median Salary	$65,510	$34,520
Employment	108K	44K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Handling and Moving Objects

Oral Expression

Getting Information

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Analyzing Data or Information

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public

Documenting/Recording Information

Oral Comprehension

Problem Sensitivity

Biology

Written Comprehension

Training and Teaching Others

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Physical Therapist Assistants

34%

total discount

Physical Therapist Aides

30%

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.

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.

Wage Comparison

Physical Therapist Aides earns -$30,990(-47%) vs Physical Therapist Assistants

Physical Therapist AssistantsPhysical Therapist Aides

10th

$46,020$24,960

25th

$58,240$29,710

Median

$65,510$34,520

75th

$77,270$38,240

90th

$87,630$46,930

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Physical Therapist Assistants2028–2035

Physical Therapist Aides2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Physical Therapist Assistants 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 Assistants

$50,757

from $65,510

Physical Therapist Aides

$26,139

from $34,520

After adjusting for AI risk, Physical Therapist Assistants offers $24,619 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Physical

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Creativity

Decision Complexity

Social Intelligence

Regulatory Barriers

Physical Therapist AssistantsPhysical Therapist Aides

Find transitions from Physical Therapist Assistants Find transitions from Physical Therapist Aides