Physical Therapists
Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.
BLS SOC 29-1123 · O*NET-SOC 29-1123.00 · BLS 2025–2035 · O*NET 31.0
Median annual wage, 2025
$102,760
Projected change, 2025–2035
11.9%
2025–2035 annual average openings
13,400
AI exposure
High
Editorial analysis
A camera can measure movement. A therapist has to understand why it matters.
AI-powered motion analysis can increasingly measure joint angles, count repetitions, track exercise form, monitor progress, and support home rehabilitation through a phone or camera. Physical therapists may also use AI to reduce documentation time and summarize patient progress.
Rehabilitation is partly a motivation problem
A technically perfect exercise plan accomplishes little if the patient will not or cannot follow it. Therapists constantly adapt around pain, fear, fatigue, home circumstances, other medical conditions, and what the patient needs to be able to do in ordinary life. They also use touch and physical examination to gather information that a remote system may not have.
- Routine movement tracking can extend beyond the clinic.
- Home-exercise programs may become more interactive and personalized.
- Documentation can take less time.
- Hands-on assessment, progression decisions, patient confidence, and motivation remain important parts of rehabilitation.
AI could allow therapists to follow patients more closely between appointments rather than replacing the appointment itself. The most useful future may be one where technology measures more and the therapist spends more time interpreting, coaching, and adapting.
Labor-market picture
Two measures, different questions
These measures offer two different ways to understand the occupation: BLS projections show how national employment may change over time, while relative AI exposure highlights where tasks may intersect with AI-related capabilities. Read them with the work profile and your local context to decide what deserves closer investigation.
Employment
- Employment, 2025
- 283,700 jobs
- Projected employment, 2035
- 317,600 jobs
- Projected change, 2025–2035
- 33,800 jobs (11.9%)
Relative AI exposure
BLS category: High. This is a relative task-exposure classification, not a forecast of employment change, automation, wages, or worker replacement.
Relative AI exposure · High
Work profile
Representative tasks
These task statements come from O*NET 31.0. They are source facts, not labels assigned by the AI exposure measure.
- 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.
- 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.
- Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
- Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
Skills that matter
Skills in the source profile
Importance uses O*NET's 1–5 scale. Level uses its 0–7 scale. Select a skill to see its source definition and reported values.
Technology and tools
These technology records come from O*NET and show software or tools reported in the occupation profile. They describe work context, not a required checklist for every employer.
- Medical software
- Action games
- Analytical or scientific software
- Word processing software
- Accounting software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
Preparation
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
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Source provenance
Labor-market and exposure facts: bls-ep-2025-35. Work profile: onet-31.0. Verify release details on the Sources page.