Physical Therapists vs Exercise Physiologists AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

low risk

Physical Therapists

72 shared · 15 different

core competencies

medium risk

Exercise Physiologists

Side-by-Side Comparison

Physical Therapists leads 5–0

Metric	Physical Therapists	Exercise Physiologists
Risk Score	22.6%	27.4%
Risk Tier	Low Risk	Medium Risk
Risk Percentile	12th	26th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	2 / 15	5 / 15
Median Salary	$101,020	$58,160
Employment	249K	8K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Coaching and Developing Others

Sales and Marketing

MathematicsAI-Vulnerable

Documenting/Recording Information

Therapy and Counseling

Manual DexterityAI-Resistant

Handling and Moving Objects

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others

Performing Administrative Activities

Developing and Building Teams

Processing Information

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Physical Therapists

37%

total discount

Exercise Physiologists

35%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Physical Therapists

2 of 15 at risk

86%Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.

51%Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.

49%Identify and document goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.

41%Discharge patient from physical therapy when goals or projected outcomes have been attained and provide for appropriate follow-up care or referrals.

40%Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.

Exercise Physiologists

5 of 15 at risk

59%Measure amount of body fat, using such equipment as hydrostatic scale, skinfold calipers, or tape measures.

55%Develop exercise programs to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning, in accordance with exercise science standards, regulatory requirements, and credentialing requirements.

54%Prescribe individualized exercise programs, specifying equipment such as treadmill, exercise bicycle, ergometers, or perceptual goggles.

52%Interpret exercise program participant data to evaluate progress or identify needed program changes.

51%Plan or conduct exercise physiology research projects.

Wage Comparison

Exercise Physiologists earns -$42,860(-42%) vs Physical Therapists

Physical TherapistsExercise Physiologists

10th

$74,420$40,930

25th

$83,470$48,650

Median

$101,020$58,160

75th

$117,190$65,430

90th

$132,500$79,830

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Physical Therapists2028–2035

Exercise Physiologists2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Physical Therapists has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Exercise Physiologists.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Physical Therapists

$78,240

from $101,020

Exercise Physiologists

$42,207

from $58,160

After adjusting for AI risk, Physical Therapists offers $36,033 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Physical

Unique to Exercise

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Fine Manipulation

Regulatory Barriers

Creativity

Decision Complexity

Physical TherapistsExercise Physiologists

Find transitions from Physical Therapists Find transitions from Exercise Physiologists