Physical Therapist

O*NET: Physical Therapists·29-1123.00

The Verdict:Physical therapists deliver hands-on rehab through manual exercises, massage, and equipment applied directly to patients in real-time adaptation. No robotics replicates this work. AI aids planning and documentation without displacing the human core. Therapeutic trust and licensure ensure durability.

Resilience Score

/100

Highly Resilient

Score tiers

Highly Resilient81–100

Resilient61–80

Moderate Risk41–60

High Risk21–40

Critical Risk0–20

How is this scored?

Task Resilience

How much of this role's daily work remains beyond AI and robotic automation.

30% of score

Physical Presence

The degree to which this job needs a human present — hands-on, in the field, or in the room.

20% of score

Human Necessity

How important the unique human edge is — for trust, accountability, or judgment.

15% of score

Regulatory Shield

How strong the legal requirement is for a human in this job (by law, licensing, or credentials).

13% of score

Technological Maturity

How far AI remains from performing this role's core functions.

10% of score

Displacement Evidence

The volume of jobs in this field being eliminated by AI or automation right now.

12% of score

Score last updated: February 2026Full methodology

Avg Salary

Median annual wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 release.

$101k

Job Growth (10yr)

Projected change in total number of jobs (not salary) from 2024–2034. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.

+10.9%

AI Exposure

Percentage of this role's analyzed tasks that AI can handle autonomously or nearly so. 0 of 24 tasks are classified as AI-exposed.

Low exposure

Task Analysis

Most of this role rewards AI fluency.
54% of tasks (13 of 24) become more productive with AI tools — learning to use them is the highest-leverage career move.

0exposed

13AI leverage

11human-essential

View all 24 tasks

AI Can Handle This0 tasks

Tasks AI can do autonomously or nearly so

No exposed tasks identified

AI Leverage13 tasks

Master these tools — humans who do outperform those who don't

Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.

Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.

Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.

Direct, supervise, assess, and communicate with supportive personnel.

Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.

Identify and document goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.

Provide information to the patient about the proposed intervention, its material risks and expected benefits, and any reasonable alternatives.

Provide educational information about physical therapy or physical therapists, injury prevention, ergonomics, or ways to promote health.

Inform patients and refer to appropriate practitioners when diagnosis reveals findings outside physical therapy.

Refer clients to community resources or services.

Teach physical therapy students or those in other health professions.

Conduct or support research and apply research findings to practice.

Participate in community or community agency activities or help to formulate public policy.

Human Advantage11 tasks

Tasks requiring trust, presence, or novel judgment

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.

Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.

Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.

Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.

Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.

Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, or respiratory or circulatory efficiency and record data.

Discharge patient from physical therapy when goals or projected outcomes have been attained and provide for appropriate follow-up care or referrals.

Administer treatment involving application of physical agents, using equipment, moist packs, ultraviolet or infrared lamps, or ultrasound machines.

Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices.

Evaluate, fit, or adjust prosthetic or orthotic devices or recommend modification to orthotist.

Direct group rehabilitation activities.

Resilience Landscape

Physical Therapist lands in Stable & Well-Paid

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Physical Therapist

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