Healthcare Support · SOC 31-2012
OT aides perform mostly physical setup, transport, and instruction tasks that keep them hands-on and away from automation risk.
Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
Timeline: This role's physical and logistical tasks are highly durable; meaningful AI impact is unlikely before 2035, though advancement to OT assistant is a stronger career path.
Tap a skill to find courses on Coursera.
Some links are affiliate links — if you sign up or buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
$39,530 median pay
$34,520 median pay
$46,490 median pay
$37,320 median pay
$41,590 median pay
$46,050 median pay
AI job-risk card
Occupational Therapy Aides is resilient on AIFear. Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
AIFear.com
Our AI Fear Score for Occupational Therapy Aides is 19/100 (Resilient). Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
19 out of 100, based on an AI-model review of this occupation's O*NET tasks against what current AI can actually do.
Most exposed: Reporting patient attendance and progress to supervisors, Evaluating living skills using structured assessment tools. Harder to automate: Transporting patients to and from therapy areas, Preparing and stocking treatment materials and equipment, Instructing patients and families in adaptive skills, Maintaining patient records and inventory.
Lean into Adaptive equipment operation, Patient transport and safety, Basic health recordkeeping, Family and caregiver education. Consider roles such as Occupational therapy assistant or Rehabilitation technician or Activity therapist.
Tasks, skills and AI-exposure for this role were reviewed by an AI model against its O*NET task profile (curated roles use published research anchors). Pay and employment, where shown, are U.S. BLS OEWS (May 2024) figures. This is an estimate, not a prediction about any individual's job. Compare all occupations.