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Occupational Therapists

Healthcarelowaugment
BLS 2024-34: +12%
Median Wage: $96,000
Employment: 140K

Overall Exposure

16+9

2025 vs 2023

Theoretical Exposure

27

What AI could do

Observed Exposure

7

What AI actually does

Automation Risk Score

10

Displacement risk

3-Year Outlook (2025 โ†’ 2028)

Projected changes in AI automation metrics over the next 3 years based on estimated data.

Overall Exposure

16โ†’28
+12

2025 โ†’ 2028 (estimated)

Theoretical Exposure

27โ†’43
+16

2025 โ†’ 2028 (estimated)

Observed Exposure

7โ†’16
+9

2025 โ†’ 2028 (estimated)

Automation Risk

10โ†’19
+9

2025 โ†’ 2028 (estimated)

Exposure Metrics (2023 - 2028)

Detailed Metrics Table

YearOverallTheoreticalObservedRiskData Type
202371424actual
2024112047actual
20251627710actual
202620331013estimated
202724381316estimated
202828431619estimated

Task Breakdown

Document patient assessments and progress notes
50%ฮฒ 0.5
Research evidence-based treatment protocols
40%ฮฒ 0.5
Conduct hands-on therapy and functional training
3%ฮฒ 0
Collaborate with caregivers and interdisciplinary teams
8%ฮฒ 0

About This Occupation

If you work as an Occupational Therapist, AI is reshaping your profession. With an automation risk of 10/100 and overall exposure at 16%, this role faces low transformation. The highest-impact area is document patient assessments and progress notes at 50% automation. This is classified as an 'augment' role. BLS projects +12% growth through 2034. AI can streamline documentation and surface relevant research, but the physical, hands-on nature of occupational therapy ensures strong demand for human practitioners.

Frequently Asked Questions

With an automation risk score of 10%, Occupational Therapists has a low risk of AI replacement. Most tasks in this role require skills that are difficult for AI to replicate, such as complex decision-making, physical dexterity, or deep interpersonal interaction. AI is more likely to serve as a supportive tool.

The AI automation risk score for Occupational Therapists is 10% (2025 data). Overall AI exposure is 16%, with 27% theoretical exposure and 7% observed exposure. The risk trend from 2023 to 2025 is +6 points.

The tasks with the highest automation potential for Occupational Therapists are: Document patient assessments and progress notes (50%), Research evidence-based treatment protocols (40%), Collaborate with caregivers and interdisciplinary teams (8%). These rates reflect how much of each task current AI systems can handle, based on research data from Anthropic and academic sources.

The BLS projects +12% employment change for Occupational Therapists from 2024 to 2034. Combined with an overall AI exposure of 16%, this occupation is experiencing both traditional labor market shifts and AI-driven transformation. Workers should monitor both employment trends and AI capability growth.

Since AI primarily augments capabilities in this role, professionals in Occupational Therapists should embrace AI as a productivity multiplier. Focus on learning to use AI tools effectively, developing higher-order analytical and creative skills, and positioning yourself as someone who can leverage AI to deliver greater value.

Recent AI Impact Changes

Mar 2026: Published evergreen blog post analyzing AI impact on Occupational Therapists. Automation risk 10%, AI exposure 16%, BLS projects 12% growth through 2034.

[Source: AI Changing Work Blog]