Jobs / Healthcare / 31-2022.00

Physical Therapist Aides

Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.

US jobs
48,150
Median wage
$35,240 a year
Job family
Healthcare

Can agents do the work of physical therapist aides?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Healthcare: Some tasks (no change in 12 months)

Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.

Evidence: MedAgentBench, 69.7% of tasks completed.

0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.

  • 10%Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areasNot measured
  • 9%Prepare medical equipment or work areas for useNot measured
  • 8%Assist individuals with special needsNot measured
  • 7%Assist healthcare practitioners during medical proceduresNot measured
  • 7%Train others on health or medical topicsNot measured
  • 7%Transport patients or clientsNot measured
  • 6%Confer with healthcare or other professionals about patient careNot measured
  • 6%Monitor health conditions of humans or animalsNot measured

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in healthcare, not always this occupation's tasks.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

  • OSWorld 2.0by HKU and Snorkel AIProject level · Binary completion rate (full set, 500 steps)
    44.3%Claude Opus 5 (max, batch tool) · 17 Sep 2026
    Emerging
  • SOP-Benchby AmazonTask level · Task success rate
    72.4%Claude 4 Opus (ReAct agent) · 23 Feb 2026
    Strong

Context only

These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.

  • GDPvalby OpenAIProject level · Wins plus ties against experts
    84.9%GPT-5.5 · Apr 2026
    Strong
  • GDPval-AAby Artificial AnalysisProject level · GDPval-AA Elo
    1846 EloClaude Opus 5.5 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort, Default Fallback) · 23 Sep 2026
    Unrated

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
  • Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
  • Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
  • Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
  • Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
  • Change linens, such as bed sheets and pillow cases.
  • Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, or heat, light, sound, water, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
  • Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support.
  • Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms.
  • Schedule patient appointments with physical therapists and coordinate therapists' schedules.
  • Arrange treatment supplies to keep them in order.
  • Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
Other job titles for this occupation (15)

Physical Therapist Aide (PTA) · Physical Therapy Aide (PTA) · PT Attendant (Physical Therapy Attendant) · PT Tech (Physical Therapist Technician) · PT Tech (Physical Therapy Technician) · Rehabilitation Aide · Rehabilitation Attendant · Rehabilitation Technician (Rehabilitation Tech) · Restorative Aide (RA) · Therapy Aide · Aide · Outpatient Aide · Outpatient Therapy Aide · Physiotherapy Aide · Rehabilitation Therapy Aide