Highly Resilient
Last Update: 11/4/2026
AI Resilience Score for Physical Therapy Asst.:
81.4%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
High
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
High
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
High
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
This result is backed by strong agreement across multiple data sources.
AI Resilience Report forPhysical Therapist Assistants
$68,380 median salary•18,500 annual openings•SOC Code: 31-2021.00
Physical Therapist Assistants are much more resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 7 sources.
Physical therapist assistants are labeled "Highly Resilient" because the heart of their work is deeply human in ways AI simply cannot replicate. Helping someone recover from an injury requires hands-on guidance, real-time physical adjustments, and genuine emotional encouragement, and studies show that even the most advanced motion-tracking tools still need a human therapist to interpret results and coach patients through the process.
Learn more about how you can thrive in this position
This role is highly resilient
Physical therapist assistants are labeled "Highly Resilient" because the heart of their work is deeply human in ways AI simply cannot replicate. Helping someone recover from an injury requires hands-on guidance, real-time physical adjustments, and genuine emotional encouragement, and studies show that even the most advanced motion-tracking tools still need a human therapist to interpret results and coach patients through the process.
Read full analysisAnalysis of current AI resilience
Physical Therapy Asst.
Updated quarterly
How can Physical Therapy Asst. prepare for AI?
Latest AI news for Physical Therapy Asst.
These articles highlight the strong future for physical therapist assistants, a career requiring an associate degree, which is projected to grow by 14%-16%. AI is unlikely to replace roles that require human interaction and physical skills, as noted by Microsoft Research, which emphasizes that jobs demanding care and precision are resilient to automation. Additionally, healthcare positions are among the least affected by AI advancements, offering students in this field a stable and promising career path. Embracing this knowledge can empower future physical therapist assistants to navigate their professional journeys confidently.
Looking for an AI-resilient career? These are the 25 college majors that may be safest from AI, ranked.
www.businessinsider.com • 10/16/2026
AI is changing the job market. But a recent study found that education and healthcare fields are among the least affected by AI.
AI and a shifting job market: What the next decade may hold for younger workers in South Florida
www.wptv.com • 9/20/2026
New federal data flags 40-plus jobs AI could impact. In South Florida, healthcare leads projected growth as unemployment ticks above the...
What Jobs Are Actually Safe From AI? The Careers Built Around Humans, Hands and Judgment
stupiddope.com • 9/20/2026
AI will reshape millions of jobs, but careers built on physical skill, trust, judgment, care and accountability may prove far harder to...
The Best Jobs You Can Get With an Associate Degree That Won’t Be Disrupted By AI
www.investopedia.com • 8/12/2026
Physical therapist assistants, who need an associate degree, are projected to see 14%-16% job growth in the coming years.
40 jobs AI can't touch in 2025, says Microsoft Research: Is your career on the list?
timesofindia.indiatimes.com • 8/1/2025
Careers News: A new Microsoft Research study reveals 40 jobs AI can't replace in 2025 — roles demanding physical precision,...
More Career Info
Career: Physical Therapist Assistants
They help people recover from injuries by guiding them through exercises and therapies designed by a physical therapist.
Parent Careers
Similar Careers
Alternate Titles
Certified Physical Therapist Assistant (CPTA) · Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (LPTA) · Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) · Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) · Home Care Physical Therapy Assistant · Home Health Physical Therapist Assistant · Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant · Outpatient Physical Therapist Assistant · Per Diem Physical Therapist Assistant (Per Diem PTA)
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$68,380
Jobs (2025)
114,100
Growth (2025-35)
+23.0%
Annual Openings
18,500
Education
Associate's degree
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-2035
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
2
Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
3
Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or heat, light, sound, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
4
Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
5
Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.
6
Perform postural drainage, percussions, or vibrations or teach deep breathing exercises to treat respiratory conditions.
7
Perform therapeutic wound care.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
