Physical Therapist Aides
Healthcare Support · SOC 31-2022
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
Decision card
Career Evidence Passport
SOC 31-2022 evidence across exposure, wages, projections, postings, certified LCAs, skills, and transitions.
- SOC exposure
- 0.0%
- Low · Anthropic AEI
- Automation friction
- 50/100
- Moderate friction; broad SOC seed ORS job-requirements coverage.
- Wages
- $35,240
- H-1B offered wage $43,160; LCAs are filings.
- Projected openings
- 8,000
- BLS EP 2024–2034; employment change +2.8%.
- Observed/proxy demand
- 3
- FY2025 certified LCAs; 10,634 postings in 2025.
Skill evidence
Transition context
- H-1B values are certified Labor Condition Applications, not visa approvals.
- Job postings are seed-static / seed-derived; treat as provider-ready proxy coverage until observed provider data is wired in.
- Transition matches are directional skill-overlap context, not placement guarantees.
- This release is a FutureGrid broad-SOC seed derived from public BLS ORS requirement concepts and categories, not direct occupation-level ORS survey estimates. It describes job requirements, not worker ability, AI capability, or displacement probability. Automation friction is a FutureGrid derived score and should be read alongside exposure, demand, wage, and projection signals.
AI Exposure Analysis
Across AI measures
Multiple exposure lenses for this occupation.
AI could do ~18.2% of this role but only ~0% is currently done with AI — a large capability-vs-adoption gap.
Top Skills
H-1B Visa Sponsorship Demand
View full H-1B trends →Certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications naming this occupation, FY2016–FY2025. A descriptive high-skill labor-demand signal — employer filings, not visa approvals or individual outcomes. Note: one LCA can cover multiple worker positions.
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.
Common titles: Physical Therapist Aide (PTA), Physical Therapy Aide (PTA), PT Attendant (Physical Therapy Attendant), PT Tech (Physical Therapist Technician), PT Tech (Physical Therapy Technician), Rehabilitation Aide
Representative Tasks
- •Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
- •Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
- •Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
- •Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- •Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Clean patient rooms or patient treatment rooms.
- •Clean medical equipment.
- •Hold patients to ensure proper positioning or safety.
- •Encourage patients during therapeutic activities.
- •Engage patients in exercises or activities.
Tools & Technologies
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
Employment & Wage Trend
BLS OEWS, 2019–2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). See /sources.
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 0.0% | 1.9% |
| Outlook | Bright ↗ | 69% Bright |
| Median Salary | $35,240 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 100/100 | N/A |