Occupational Therapists
Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays.
AI Impact Summary
Occupational Therapists faces low AI displacement risk with a score of 24/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 16% of all analyzed occupations. Of 17 analyzed tasks, 0 are highly automatable. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Occupational Therapists skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Customer Service Fundamentals
by Knowledge Accelerators
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
17 tasks analyzed
Complete and maintain necessary records.
Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
Train caregivers how to provide for the needs of a patient during and after therapy.
Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress.
Plan, organize, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate those impaired because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems.
Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.
Recommend changes in patients' work or living environments, consistent with their needs and capabilities.
Design and create, or requisition, special supplies and equipment, such as splints, braces, and computer-aided adaptive equipment.
Develop and participate in health promotion programs, group activities, or discussions to promote client health, facilitate social adjustment, alleviate stress, and prevent physical or mental disability.
Consult with rehabilitation team to select activity programs or coordinate occupational therapy with other therapeutic activities.
Lay out materials such as puzzles, scissors and eating utensils for use in therapy, and clean and repair these tools after therapy sessions.
Provide training and supervision in therapy techniques and objectives for students or nurses and other medical staff.
Help clients improve decision making, abstract reasoning, memory, sequencing, coordination, and perceptual skills, using computer programs.
Plan and implement programs and social activities to help patients learn work or school skills and adjust to handicaps.
Conduct research in occupational therapy.
Advise on health risks in the workplace or on health-related transition to retirement.
Provide patients with assistance in locating or holding jobs.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complete and maintain necessary records. | 28.5Observed | 60.6% | 13% | |
| Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients. | 30Estimated | 39.0% | 10% | |
| Train caregivers how to provide for the needs of a patient during and after therapy. | 5Estimated | 17.0% | 5% | |
| Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 10% | |
| Plan, organize, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate those impaired because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems. | 61.2Observed | 39.5% | 15% | |
| Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities. | 75Observed | 57.0% | 8% | |
| Recommend changes in patients' work or living environments, consistent with their needs and capabilities. | 35Estimated | 41.0% | 5% | |
| Design and create, or requisition, special supplies and equipment, such as splints, braces, and computer-aided adaptive equipment. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 5% | |
| Develop and participate in health promotion programs, group activities, or discussions to promote client health, facilitate social adjustment, alleviate stress, and prevent physical or mental disability. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 5% | |
| Consult with rehabilitation team to select activity programs or coordinate occupational therapy with other therapeutic activities. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 5% | |
| Lay out materials such as puzzles, scissors and eating utensils for use in therapy, and clean and repair these tools after therapy sessions. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Provide training and supervision in therapy techniques and objectives for students or nurses and other medical staff. | 63.8Observed | 40.5% | 3% | |
| Help clients improve decision making, abstract reasoning, memory, sequencing, coordination, and perceptual skills, using computer programs. | 35Estimated | 29.0% | 4% | |
| Plan and implement programs and social activities to help patients learn work or school skills and adjust to handicaps. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 3% | |
| Conduct research in occupational therapy. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 2% | |
| Advise on health risks in the workplace or on health-related transition to retirement. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 2% | |
| Provide patients with assistance in locating or holding jobs. | 35Estimated | 29.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 38.9%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$98,340
per year
Mean Wage
$98,240
per year
Employment
152K
workers
Wage Range
$67,090 - $129,830
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsPhysical Therapists
23%Median salary: $101,020
Higher risk than 12% of other occupations
Recreational Therapists
23%Median salary: $60,280
Higher risk than 13% of other occupations
Athletic Trainers
23%Median salary: $60,250
Higher risk than 15% of other occupations
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
26%Median salary: $79,940
Higher risk than 21% of other occupations
Healthcare Social Workers
30%Median salary: $68,090
Higher risk than 40% of other occupations
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
31%Median salary: $105,620
Higher risk than 47% of other occupations
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
32%Median salary: $75,890
Higher risk than 50% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Occupational Therapists professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Service Orientation
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change