As of June 2026, Physical Therapist Aides has an AI-exposure score of 45/100 (Moderate exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Physical Therapist Aides
More exposed than 20% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$35,240. About 6,600 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.
How you compare to similar Healthcare Support roles
Your tasks, by AI exposure
- Schedule patient appointments with physical therapists and coordinate therapists' schedules.
- Record treatment given and equipment used.
- Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
- Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms.
- Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- Maintain equipment or furniture to keep it in good working condition, including performing the assembly or disassembly of equipment or accessories.
- Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
- Arrange treatment supplies to keep them in order.
- Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support.
- Change linens, such as bed sheets and pillow cases.
- Administer traction to relieve neck or back pain, using intermittent or static traction equipment.
- Train patients to use orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices.
- Participate in patient care tasks, such as assisting with passing food trays, feeding residents, or bathing residents on bed rest.
- Fit patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices, adjusting fit as needed.
- Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
- Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
- Measure patient's range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
- Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, or heat, light, sound, water, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
Safer adjacent roles
Your AI-Safe Career Report
Every task scored with what to do about it · 5–10 safer roles with salary, demand & reachability · skill-gap map · a 30/60/90-day roadmap · plus a résumé & LinkedIn rewrite · PDF.
Grounded in O*NET + the Anthropic Economic Index + BLS — personalized to your role.
Workers with AI skills earn a roughly 62% wage premium — adapting pays. — PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, 2026
Instant delivery — your personalized report is ready about a minute after checkout.