Physical therapist aides
SOC Code: 31-2022
Physical therapist aides carries a 23% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $34,520 and +2.8% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 45,600 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 23% AI exposure, Physical therapist aides sits 14 points below the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 11% of them. It ranks among the more AI-resilient roles in the dataset.
Where Physical therapist aides sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Physical therapist aides has ai exposure of 23%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Physical therapist aides vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Physical therapist aides is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Physical therapist aides (SOC 31-2022) carries an AI exposure score of 23%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 45,600 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +2.8% change through 2034 - modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $34,520, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Physical therapist aides. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
- 2. Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
- 3. Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
- 4. Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- 5. Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
- 6. Change linens, such as bed sheets and pillow cases.
- 7. Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, or heat, light, sound, water, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
- 8. Record treatment given and equipment used.
- 9. Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support.
- 10. Measure patient's range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
Key Skills Required
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Service Orientation
- Reading Comprehension
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordination
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Therapy and Counseling
- Psychology
- Public Safety and Security
- Administrative
- Education and Training
- Telecommunications
- Administration and Management
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Physical therapist aides?
Physical therapist aides has an AI exposure score of 23%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Physical therapist aides?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Physical therapist aides is projected to grow by 2.8% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 45,600 workers.
What skills are needed for Physical therapist aides?
Key skills for Physical therapist aides include Active Listening, Monitoring, Service Orientation, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Physical therapist aides earn?
The median annual wage for Physical therapist aides is $34,520, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Physical therapist aides?
The typical entry-level education for Physical therapist aides is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Physical therapist aides?
Physical therapist aides roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).