Physical therapists
SOC Code: 29-1123
Physical therapists carries a 21% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $101,020 and +10.9% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 267,200 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 21% AI exposure, Physical therapists sits 16 points below the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 8% of them. It ranks among the more AI-resilient roles in the dataset.
Where Physical therapists sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Physical therapists has ai exposure of 21%. 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 therapists vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Physical therapists 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 therapists (SOC 29-1123) carries an AI exposure score of 21%, 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 267,200 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +10.9% change through 2034 - a strong growth outlook that compensates meaningfully for automation risk. Median annual compensation stands at $101,020, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Doctoral or professional degree, 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 therapists. 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. Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
- 2. Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
- 3. Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
- 4. Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
- 5. Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
- 6. Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
- 7. Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
- 8. Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
- 9. Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, or respiratory or circulatory efficiency and record data.
- 10. Direct, supervise, assess, and communicate with supportive personnel.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Time Management
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Therapy and Counseling
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Psychology
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Biology
- Administration and Management
- Physics
- Sociology and Anthropology
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Physical therapists?
Physical therapists has an AI exposure score of 21%, 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 therapists?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Physical therapists is projected to grow by 10.9% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 267,200 workers.
What skills are needed for Physical therapists?
Key skills for Physical therapists include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, and others. Typical entry-level education is Doctoral or professional degree.
How much do Physical therapists earn?
The median annual wage for Physical therapists is $101,020, 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 therapists?
The typical entry-level education for Physical therapists is Doctoral or professional degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Physical therapists?
Physical therapists 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
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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).