INDEX/JOBS/OCCUPATIONAL-THERAPIST
HEALTHCARELOW EXPOSUREREPORT ID #3095

Occupational Therapist.

Occupational therapists work at the intersection of physical, cognitive, and environmental intervention — hands-on, adaptive, and deeply personalised in ways that AI cannot replicate.

EXPOSURE
24%
↑ 2.1pp vs Q1
RESILIENCE
91
durable index
MEDIAN PAY
$92k
$68k – $124k
10Y GROWTH
+12%
Much faster than avg
020406080100
// EXPOSURE
0%
Occupational Therapists
THE TASK-LEVEL VERDICT
DOCUMENT-ANALYSIS
RESEARCH-SYNTHESIS
Where the score comes from

Time spent, weighted by AI capability.

Distribution by class
0%
26%
74%
AI-Substitutable
AI-Assisted
Human-Critical
Task breakdown
All 6 canonical tasks
Task Exposure ClassificationTime share
01Write treatment plans and progress notes
68%
AI-Assisted16%
02Research adaptive techniques and equipment
62%
AI-Assisted10%
03Coordinate with care teams and families
18%
Human-Critical10%
04Assess patient functional abilities
14%
Human-Critical24%
05Adapt home and work environments
12%
Human-Critical14%
06Deliver hands-on therapy interventions
6%
Human-Critical26%
Task profile · radar
Where the work concentrates.
COGNITIVE72CREATIVE62MANUAL88SOCIAL91PROCEDURAL74JUDGEMENT86
Procedural and Cognitive tasks dominate this role — both highly model-addressable. Social and Judgement axes are smaller but more resilient.
Capability creep · 8 years
Exposure climbed 20pp since 2018.
'18'20'22'24'26
Editorial signals

What the data is telling us.

INSIGHT · 01
EXPOSURE SIGNAL
Documentation is the primary AI application — note generation tools reduce admin burden for OTs, who often spend 30%+ of their time on paperwork.
INSIGHT · 02
AUGMENTATION SIGNAL
Adaptive equipment research and treatment protocol lookup benefit from AI synthesis, keeping practitioners up-to-date with best practices.
INSIGHT · 03
RESILIENCE SIGNAL
Functional assessment, hands-on therapy, and environmental modification require physical presence and adaptive creativity. Growing demand driven by aging populations.
Resilient adjacencies

Where occupational therapists move next.

Physical Therapist
Low
22%
-2pp vs Occupational
Speech Therapist
Low
28%
4pp vs Occupational
Rehabilitation Specialist
Low
26%
2pp vs Occupational
Ergonomist
Low
38%
14pp vs Occupational
Assistive Technology Specialist
Moderate
44%
20pp vs Occupational
Community pulse
Has AI already changed your work?
12,408 occupational therapists responded in the last 30 days.
← Cast your vote to see the breakdown
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Made for LinkedIn-day-three conversations.

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Occupational Therapist
24%
AI-Exposed
76% remain human-critical
TASKEXPOSED.COM/JOBS/OCCUPATIONAL-THERAPISTRESEARCH BRIEF · MAY 2026
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FAQ

Common questions about Occupational Therapist AI exposure.

What is the AI exposure score for Occupational Therapists?

Occupational Therapists have an overall AI exposure score of 24%, meaning approximately 24% of their time-weighted tasks can be substantially assisted or substituted by current frontier AI models. This places the role in the "Low" exposure category.

Will AI replace Occupational Therapists?

AI is unlikely to fully replace Occupational Therapists in the near term. The 76% of tasks classified as Human-Critical — including Assess patient functional abilities and Deliver hands-on therapy interventions — remain strongly human-dependent. AI is more likely to augment the role, raising productivity and shifting focus toward higher-judgment work.

What tasks are most exposed to AI for Occupational Therapists?

The most AI-exposed tasks for Occupational Therapists include: . These have exposure scores of respectively.

What skills should Occupational Therapists develop to stay resilient?

Occupational Therapists should focus on developing skills in areas that AI struggles with: Assess patient functional abilities, Deliver hands-on therapy interventions, Adapt home and work environments. Adjacent careers with lower exposure include Physical Therapist and Speech Therapist.