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Occupational Therapy Assistants

Healthcarelowaugment
BLS 2024-34: +19%
Median Wage: $64,250
Employment: 46K

Overall Exposure

26

2025 vs 2023

Theoretical Exposure

44

What AI could do

Observed Exposure

8

What AI actually does

Automation Risk Score

8

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

26โ†’38
+12

2025 โ†’ 2028 (estimated)

Theoretical Exposure

44โ†’56
+12

2025 โ†’ 2028 (estimated)

Observed Exposure

8โ†’20
+12

2025 โ†’ 2028 (estimated)

Automation Risk

8โ†’14
+6

2025 โ†’ 2028 (estimated)

Exposure Metrics (2023 - 2028)

Detailed Metrics Table

YearOverallTheoreticalObservedRiskData Type
2024224046actual
2025264488estimated
202630481210estimated
202734521612estimated
202838562014estimated

Task Breakdown

Document patient progress and treatment notes
55%ฮฒ 1
Guide patients through therapeutic exercises and activities
8%ฮฒ 0
Prepare treatment materials and adaptive equipment
12%ฮฒ 0

About This Occupation

If you work as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, AI is augmenting your documentation tasks while hands-on therapy remains human-centered. With an automation risk of 8/100 and overall exposure at 26%, this role faces low transformation. Documentation sees 55% automation while direct patient care stays at 8%. BLS projects +19% growth through 2034.

Frequently Asked Questions

With an automation risk score of 8%, Occupational Therapy Assistants 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 Therapy Assistants is 8% (2025 data). Overall AI exposure is 26%, with 44% theoretical exposure and 8% observed exposure. The risk trend from 2023 to 2025 is 0 points.

The tasks with the highest automation potential for Occupational Therapy Assistants are: Document patient progress and treatment notes (55%), Prepare treatment materials and adaptive equipment (12%), Guide patients through therapeutic exercises and activities (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 +19% employment change for Occupational Therapy Assistants from 2024 to 2034. Combined with an overall AI exposure of 26%, 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 Therapy Assistants 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.