Physical therapy is built on touch, movement and coaching people through recovery, which is about as far from text generation as work gets. AI tools are finding a place in clinics, mainly for paperwork and home exercise programs, but the data shows physical therapy jobs among the least exposed to generative AI and among the faster-growing in US projections.
The short answer: current evidence does not point to AI replacing physical therapists. The ILO's 2025 index places physiotherapists in its minimal exposure band and physiotherapy technicians and assistants as not exposed. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12 percent growth for physical therapists and 23 percent for physical therapist assistants from 2025 to 2035, driven largely by an aging population. This page is about jobs, not medical advice. Projections can be revised.
How exposed physical therapy jobs are
From the ILO's 2025 index, which scores tasks 0 to 1 for generative AI exposure:
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO band | Mean task score |
|---|---|---|
| Physiotherapists | Minimal exposure | 0.28 |
| Nursing Professionals (for comparison) | Not exposed | 0.25 |
| Physiotherapy Technicians and Assistants | Not exposed | 0.17 |
Assessment, hands-on treatment and guiding exercise all happen in person, which keeps exposure low. The documentation side of the job is where AI tools fit.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Physical therapists | Grow 12% | About 13,400 |
| Physical therapist assistants | Grow 23% | About 24,900 (assistants and aides together) |
| Physical therapist aides | Grow 4% |
For physical therapists, the BLS says demand will come in large part from the growing older adult population, along with more prevalent chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity and a greater emphasis on nonopioid approaches to managing pain. For assistants and aides, it adds that outpatient and long-term care providers are expected to rely on physical therapist assistants to reduce the cost of therapy services. It notes that all states require physical therapists to be licensed, including passing a qualifying exam, and require physical therapist assistants to be licensed or certified.
Where AI fits in a therapy practice
- Drafting visit notes and documentation for the therapist to review.
- Scheduling, reminders and insurance paperwork.
- Producing written home exercise instructions from the therapist's plan.
- Summarizing referral letters and records.
AI-drafted notes and instructions can be confidently wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1), so the therapist stays responsible for checking them. Patient records are sensitive; see AI agents and personal data.
What stays with the therapist
- Assessment: examining movement, strength and pain in person.
- Hands-on treatment and adjusting it session by session.
- Coaching and motivation: helping people keep going through slow recovery.
- Clinical judgment about progress, risks and when to refer.
- Supervising assistants and aides and coordinating with doctors and nurses.
How the job is changing
For physical therapists, the near-term change is less time on documentation if clinics adopt AI tools carefully, while demand for care keeps rising. Assistants are projected to grow fastest, as more routine treatment is delegated within the team.
See also will AI replace nurses?, will AI replace doctors?, jobs least exposed to AI and will AI take my job?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for physical therapists at $102,760 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. Across the 2 BLS occupations this page covers, median pay ranges from $61,200 to $102,760. The typical education needed to enter differs between the 2 BLS occupations this page covers. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace physical therapists?
Current evidence says no. The ILO places physiotherapists in its minimal exposure band, and the BLS projects 12 percent US growth for physical therapists from 2025 to 2035.
How exposed are physical therapists to AI?
In the ILO 2025 index, physiotherapists score 0.28 (minimal exposure) and physiotherapy technicians and assistants 0.17 (not exposed).
Will AI replace physical therapist assistants?
Not on current evidence. The BLS projects 23 percent growth for physical therapist assistants, one of the faster-growing healthcare jobs.
How is AI used in physical therapy?
Mostly for documentation, scheduling, insurance paperwork, written home exercise instructions and summarizing records, all checked by the therapist.
Is physical therapy a good career?
US projections expect much faster than average growth, driven largely by an aging population. All states require physical therapists to be licensed.