# Physical Therapist Aides

US SOC code 31-2022. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/31-2022

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **48,150** US physical therapist aides, with median pay of **$35,240** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the highest was **50,540**, in May 2015, close to the May 2025 count. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapist-assistants-and-aides.htm) of **24,000** from 1984, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for physical therapist aides: Electronic health records and PT documentation software, 1995 to 2015.

Figures: Official statistic (latest count and pay, highest count); Researched context (earliest figure).

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=31-2022&ioType=o) (Official statistic).

### AI exposure studies

- **15.2%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv) (Official statistic)
- **0.61** estimated probability that the whole occupation could be computerised, over an unspecified number of years. Not a forecast of job losses. [Frey and Osborne, 2013](https://oms-www.files.svdcdn.com/production/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf) (Official statistic)

### Since the 2013 prediction

In 2013, Frey and Osborne put this job's probability of computerisation at 0.61. BLS counted **48,630** of these jobs in May 2013 and **48,150** in May 2025 (-1%, a change derived by Future History). Figures: Official statistic.

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Physical Therapist Aides employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1918
- Latest US employment: 48,150 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [3]
- Latest US median pay: $35,240 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [5]
- Outlook: +4% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [11]

### All 26 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1980 | n/a | $9,100 (average) (estimate) | Est., University of Missouri Libraries [4] |
| 1984 | 24,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook [1] |
| 2000 | 34,620 | n/a | BLS OEWS 2000 [2] |
| 2003 | 36,870 | $20,970 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [3] |
| 2004 | 41,910 | $21,380 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [3] |
| 2005 | 41,930 | $21,510 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [3] |
| 2006 | 45,520 | $22,060 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [3] |
| 2007 | 43,350 | $22,990 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [3] |
| 2008 | 44,410 | $23,760 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [3] |
| 2009 | 44,160 | $23,890 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [3] |
| 2010 | 45,900 | $23,680 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [3] |
| 2011 | 47,640 | $23,680 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [3] |
| 2012 | 48,700 | $23,880 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [3] |
| 2013 | 48,630 | $24,310 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [3] |
| 2014 | 48,730 | $24,650 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [3] |
| 2015 | 50,540 | $25,120 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [3] |
| 2016 | 50,030 | $25,680 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [3] |
| 2017 | 49,290 | $25,730 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [3] |
| 2018 | 47,260 | $26,240 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [3] |
| 2019 | 49,270 | $27,000 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [3] |
| 2020 | 45,790 | $28,450 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [3] |
| 2021 | 42,390 | $29,200 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [3] |
| 2022 | 42,800 | $31,410 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [3] |
| 2023 | 42,390 | $33,520 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [3] |
| 2024 | 44,010 | $34,520 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [3] |
| 2025 | 48,150 | $35,240 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [3] |

## Sources (64)

### Employment series

1. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — "Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides" (historical employment context, pre-2000 era)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapist-assistants-and-aides.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
2. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

4. [University of Missouri Libraries — "Prices and Wages by Decade: 1980-1989" (BLS area wage surveys, hospital service workers)](https://libraryguides.missouri.edu/pricesandwages/1980-1989), University of Missouri Libraries / BLS historical sources
5. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Tool eras

6. [Wikipedia — Physical therapy: History section (WWI Reconstruction Aides, early modalities)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_therapy#History), Wikipedia
7. [Wikipedia — Therapeutic ultrasound: History (therapeutic ultrasound use in physical therapy since the 1940s-1950s)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therapeutic_ultrasound), Wikipedia
8. [Wikipedia — Cybex International (isokinetic dynamometer history)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybex_International), Wikipedia
9. [WebPT — About WebPT (company history, founded 2008, PT practice management software)](https://www.webpt.com/about), WebPT
10. [Hinge Health — IPO S-1 filing (company overview, employer-benefit digital PT, founded 2014)](https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=hingehealth&type=S-1&dateb=&owner=include&count=40), SEC / Hinge Health

### Forecasts and exposure studies

11. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 31-2022 Physical therapist aides (2025: 49.0 thousand; 2035: 51.0 thousand; +4.0%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=31-2022&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
12. [Frey & Osborne (2013), "The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerisation?", Appendix (SOC 31-2022 Physical Therapist Aides: probability 0.61, rank 335 of 702)](https://oms-www.files.svdcdn.com/production/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf), Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford
13. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 31-2022.00, human-rated β 0.152)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

14. [Wikipedia — Physical therapy: History (WWI Reconstruction Aides, 1918)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_therapy#History), Wikipedia
15. [Wikipedia — Medicare (United States): expansion of benefits (physical therapy coverage 1972)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_%28United_States%29), Wikipedia
16. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — "Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides" (employment context, 1983 Medicare PPS reform)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapist-assistants-and-aides.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
17. [O\*NET 31-2022.00 — Physical Therapist Aides (employment context, pandemic and recovery)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/31-2022.00), O\*NET / BLS

### Predecessors & successors

18. [Wikipedia — Physical therapy: History (WWI Reconstruction Aides, 1918)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_therapy#History), Wikipedia

### Present-day analysis

- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-21
- [O\*NET 30.3 — US Department of Labor](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), accessed 2026-05-21

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.