Sports Medicine Physicians
Machines can already do 21% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 42%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Sports Medicine Physicians in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 21% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 3% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2038, and 42% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 342,720 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $265,930 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 85% for contact with people.
- Also called: Athletic Team Physician, MD (Medical Doctor), Nonsurgical Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician, Orthopedic Team Physician.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnose or treat disorders of the musculoskeletal system | 23% | 3% to 25% | |
| Record athletes' medical care information, and maintain medical records | 9% | 63% to 81% | |
| Record athletes' medical histories, and perform physical examinations | 8% | 3% to 25% | |
| Examine, evaluate and treat athletes who have been injured or who have medical problems such as exercise-induced asthma | 8% | 3% to 25% | |
| Order and interpret the results of laboratory tests and diagnostic imaging procedures | 7% | 50% to 74% | |
| Attend games and competitions to provide evaluation and treatment of activity-related injuries or medical conditions | 6% | 3% to 25% | |
| Coordinate sports care activities with other experts, including specialty physicians and surgeons, athletic trainers, physical therapists, or coaches | 5% | 27% to 46% | |
| Provide education and counseling on illness and injury prevention | 4% | 32% to 50% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills sports medicine physicians use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
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- Hospitalists41% of tasks by 2035 · US median $265,930
- Pediatric Surgeons39% of tasks by 2035 · US median $559,030
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Sports Medicine Physicians?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2038. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of sports medicine physicians?
Machines can do 21% of the tasks of sports medicine physicians today and 42% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 29-1229.06 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Sports Medicine Physicians: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/sports-medicine-physicians/