Takeover Tracker
27%medium risk
Respiratory Therapists
vs

63 shared · 23 different

core competencies

23%low risk
Surgical Technologists

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricRespiratory TherapistsSurgical Technologists
Risk Score27.1%22.6%
Risk TierMedium RiskLow Risk
Risk Percentile25th12th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)3 / 154 / 15
Median Salary$80,450$62,830
Employment136K114K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Documenting/Recording Information
Analyzing Data or Information
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
Controlling Machines and Processes
Psychology
Interacting With Computers
Processing Information
Customer and Personal Service
Inductive Reasoning
Critical ThinkingAI-Augmented
Science
Speaking

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Respiratory Therapists

36%

total discount

Surgical Technologists

32%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Respiratory Therapists

3 of 15 at risk
88%Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
86%Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
80%Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
49%Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
47%Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.

Surgical Technologists

4 of 15 at risk
86%Order surgical supplies.
84%Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
78%Schedule surgical procedures for patients.
51%Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.
49%Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.

Wage Comparison

Surgical Technologists earns -$17,620(-22%) vs Respiratory Therapists
Respiratory TherapistsSurgical Technologists
10th
$61,900$43,290
25th
$68,410$51,740
Median
$80,450$62,830
75th
$95,530$77,140
90th
$108,820$90,700

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Respiratory Therapists2028–2035
Surgical Technologists2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Surgical Technologists has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Respiratory Therapists.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Respiratory Therapists

$58,672

from $80,450

Surgical Technologists

$48,649

from $62,830

After adjusting for AI risk, Respiratory Therapists offers $10,023 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Respiratory

0

Unique to Surgical

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Decision Complexity
Fine Manipulation
Social Intelligence
Regulatory Barriers
Respiratory TherapistsSurgical Technologists
Find transitions from Respiratory TherapistsFind transitions from Surgical Technologists