As of August 2026, Physical Therapist Assistants has an AI-exposure score of 44/100 (Moderate exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Score inputs for this role: This role starts from O*NET 29.1 occupational descriptors and is empirically grounded by Penn/OpenAI GPTs are GPTs study, Anthropic Economic Index (June 26, 2026), Felten, Raj and Seamans AIOE index. BLS labor-market figures are separate context, not score inputs.

AI Exposure Score for

Physical Therapist Assistants

44/100
Moderate exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 16% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$68,380. About 19,800 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 - growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) - your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

Will AI replace Physical Therapist Assistants?

No exposure score can predict whether AI will replace this role. The 44/100 score means our current model estimates moderate task exposure from the sources listed on this page. It does not predict an employer decision, headcount, or an individual outcome. The task map below shows the work assessed and where human judgment remains important.

Early-career context (study ages 22-25)

This role is in our Moderate exposure band, not our highest-exposure bands. The study's 16% finding should not be applied directly to this role.

The November 2025 revision reports a 16% relative employment decline for workers ages 22-25 in the most AI-exposed U.S. occupations, after firm-level controls, relative to workers in less-exposed fields and more experienced workers in the same occupations.

Use the task map to identify durable work and the skills worth building early.

Stanford Digital Economy Lab, Canaries in the Coal Mine - November 2025 revision

This is group-level U.S. payroll evidence, not a personal forecast. The authors do not claim that AI alone caused the change, and this context does not alter the exposure score.

How this role compares to similar Healthcare Support roles

Physical Therapist Assistants (this role)
44
Physical Therapist Aides
45
Home Health Aides
46
Orderlies
47
Massage Therapists
41
Occupational Therapy Aides
48
See all roles by exposure →
Data sources, not endorsements: O*NET and curated role data; empirical AI signals where matched; BLS employment, pay, and demand as separate context.Methodology Data sources
Role snapshot

What this role usually involves

O*NET 29.1 exact occupation

Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.

Common titles
Certified Physical Therapist Assistant (CPTA)Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (LPTA)Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)Home Care Physical Therapy AssistantHome Health Physical Therapist Assistant
O*NET job-zone preparation
Job Zone 3 · Medium Preparation Needed Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

Broad guidance for this preparation level; exact requirements vary by role and employer.

Skills and knowledge
MonitoringSocial PerceptivenessSpeakingActive LearningCritical ThinkingReading Comprehension
Work context
Frequent contact with othersIndoor controlled settingDecision latitudeConsequence of errorRepeating tasks

Source: O*NET 29.1 exact occupation - Physical Therapist Assistants, SOC 31-2021.00. Context describes the role; the AI-exposure score remains a separate task-exposure estimate.

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Physical Therapist Assistants tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable
  • Monitor operation of equipment and record use of equipment and administration of treatment.
Augmentable
  • Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.
  • Attend or conduct continuing education courses, seminars, or in-service activities.
16 more augmentable tasks locked in the report.
Durable
  • Perform postural drainage, percussions, or vibrations or teach deep breathing exercises to treat respiratory conditions.

We analyzed all 20 Physical Therapist Assistants tasks - 1 automatable, 18 augmentable and 1 durable. The full task map - every task with exactly what to do about each - is in your Career Report.

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Full task map

Every task scored with what to automate, augment, or protect.

Adjacent path comparison

Related roles with exposure deltas, salary, demand, and reachability. Lower-exposure options appear only when the data supports them.

30/60/90 plan + PDF

A keepable roadmap plus resume and LinkedIn repositioning.

Grounded in O*NET-linked or curated role data, with Penn, Anthropic Economic Index, and AIOE signals where matched. BLS labor-market context is separate - not generic advice.

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Adjacent career paths

This role is already among lower-exposure work. The adjacent paths below are shown for opportunity and skill transfer, not as lower-exposure alternatives.

Physical Therapist Aides
80% skills overlap; 1 point higher - similar exposure within the 5-point model resolution; Moderate band; ~US$35,240
View path
45
7 more adjacent paths with exposure deltas, salary, demand, and reachability in your Career Report.
Agent Reality Check (on-site workflow preview)

Monitor operation of equipment and record use of equipment and administration of treatment.

Check what deployed AI agents can attempt on tasks like this using dated capability evidence. You review the real task before any analysis runs.
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Your AI-Safe Career Report

Every task scored with what to do about it; adjacent paths with honest exposure deltas, salary, demand, and reachability; a skill-gap map; a 30/60/90-day roadmap; Agent Reality Check; plus a résumé and LinkedIn rewrite and professional PDF.
Grounded in O*NET-linked or curated role data, with Penn, Anthropic Economic Index, and AIOE signals where matched. BLS labor-market context is separate.

Workers with AI skills earn a roughly 62% wage premium - adapting pays. - PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, 2026

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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.

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Physical Therapist Assistants - median pay by US state (BLS OEWS, USD)

California: US$83,110Texas: US$78,000Florida: US$72,530New York: US$64,100

Median annual wage, in USD. US national: US$68,380. More states are being added.

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