Headline risk
9%
Low RiskPhysical therapist aides
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 4% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 34,520
Employment 2024
45.6K
Projected Change (2024–34)
2.8%
Openings (2024–34)
6.6K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Overall employment of physical therapist assistants and aides is projected to grow 16 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment. AI use: 0%
- 2. Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment. AI use: 0%
- 3. Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff. AI use: 0%
- 4. Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support. AI use: 0%
- 5. Change linens, such as bed sheets and pillow cases. AI use: 0%
- 6. Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 37.4 · 130K employed
Under 25: 26% · 25–54: 61% · 55+: 14%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
major_group_fallback · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Physical therapist assistants and aides are supervised by physical therapists to help patients regain movement and manage pain after injuries and illnesses.
Most physical therapist assistants and aides work in physical therapists’ offices or in hospitals. They are frequently on their feet as they set up equipment and help care for patients.
Physical therapist assistants entering the occupation typically need an associate’s degree from an accredited program and a license or certification. Physical therapist aides usually need a high school diploma or equivalent and on-the-job training.
The median annual wage for physical therapist aides was $34,520 in May 2024.
Overall employment of physical therapist assistants and aides is projected to grow 16 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.