AI JOB RISK SCANNER
O*NET-SOC 29-1126.00 / model V11 rated-task engine

Will AI replace
Respiratory Therapists?

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

Estimated AI task exposure
34%

Low-Moderate exposure

V11 weights occupation tasks using O*NET Importance, Relevance and Frequency ratings instead of treating every task equally.

23 tasks have usable Task Rating records; weighted-task coverage is 100%.

Digital/info work

42/100

Physical moat

35/100

Human moat

38/100

Rating coverage

100%

23 task statements / 23 rated

Highest-weighted occupation tasks

Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
Importance 95/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 83/100Weight 0.94
Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
Importance 98/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 76/100Weight 0.93
Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
Importance 92/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 85/100Weight 0.93
Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
Importance 92/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 83/100Weight 0.93
Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
Importance 92/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 84/100Weight 0.93
Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
Importance 91/100Relevance 99/100Frequency 76/100Weight 0.90
Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
Importance 95/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 68/100Weight 0.90
Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
Importance 91/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 70/100Weight 0.89
Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
Importance 90/100Relevance 95/100Frequency 78/100Weight 0.89
Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises or the use of medications or respiratory equipment.
Importance 85/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 69/100Weight 0.87

Task weighting

Each rated task receives a composite weight: 38% relevance, 37% importance and 25% frequency. Core tasks receive a small additional multiplier. Low-precision rows flagged by O*NET for suppression are excluded.

Occupation scoring

When rating coverage is strong, rated tasks contribute 60% of the digital, physical and human task signals and Work Activities contribute 40%. Lower-coverage occupations automatically rely more on Work Activities.

U.S. labor market

BLS Wage & Employment Outlook

Median annual wage

$82,280

BLS OEWS May 2025

National employment

139,790

BLS OEWS May 2025

Projected growth

+8.5%

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

Average annual openings

9

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

BLS labor-market figures are separate from the site's AI-exposure model. Missing values mean a compatible detailed BLS occupation estimate was not published or could not be mapped.

Career pivot radar

Safer Career Alternatives

These options are selected from the same 923-occupation model. They favor a similar task/work profile with meaningfully lower estimated AI exposure. They are suggestions for exploration, not guarantees of job fit.

SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Hydroelectric Production Managers

10%

24 points lower exposure • 86% profile similarity

Median wage: $126,060 Growth 2025–2035: +2.6% Annual openings: 17

more physical-world work, lower AI leverage
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Chefs and Head Cooks

12%

22 points lower exposure • 87% profile similarity

Median wage: $62,470 Growth 2025–2035: +6.6% Annual openings: 25

more physical-world work, lower AI leverage
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Butchers and Meat Cutters

5%

29 points lower exposure • 80% profile similarity

Median wage: $40,140 Growth 2025–2035: +2.4% Annual openings: 15

more physical-world work, less digital task exposure
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

11%

23 points lower exposure • 86% profile similarity

Median wage: $49,450 Growth 2025–2035: +1.5% Annual openings: 4

more physical-world work, less digital task exposure
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Bicycle Repairers

5%

29 points lower exposure • 78% profile similarity

Median wage: $42,780 Growth 2025–2035: -5.7% Annual openings: 1

more physical-world work, less digital task exposure
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Millwrights

5%

29 points lower exposure • 78% profile similarity

Median wage: $65,700 Growth 2025–2035: +0.9% Annual openings: 3

more physical-world work, less digital task exposure

Personalized career defense protocol

AI-Proofing Plan

AUTOMATE

    AUGMENT

    • administrative support tasks
    • planning and documentation

    PROTECT

    • domain expertise
    • exception handling
    • accountability for outcomes

    LEARN

    • cross-functional business knowledge
    • risk and governance
    • basic AI literacy

    AI-PROOFING RESOURCES

    What this score does not mean

    The percentage is a comparative task-exposure index. It is not the probability that this occupation disappears, that a worker is laid off, or that AI can perform the entire job.

    New in V11

    Find a Safer Career Path

    High exposure does not mean starting over. V11 compares your occupation with the other 922 O*NET occupations and surfaces lower-exposure options with similar work profiles.

    EXPLORE CAREER ALTERNATIVES
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