Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers vs Pilots, Ship AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

medium risk

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

60 shared · 44 different

core competencies

medium risk

Pilots, Ship

Side-by-Side Comparison

Pilots, Ship leads 4–1

Metric	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers	Pilots, Ship
Risk Score	34.3%	25.8%
Risk Tier	Medium Risk	Medium Risk
Risk Percentile	63th	21th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	6 / 15	5 / 15
Median Salary	$226,600	$85,540
Employment	99K	35K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Controlling Machines and Processes

Response Orientation

Analyzing Data or Information

Training and Teaching Others

MathematicsAI-Vulnerable

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Processing Information

Coaching and Developing Others

Computers and Electronics

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment

Law and Government

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

34%

total discount

Pilots, Ship

32%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

6 of 15 at risk

88%Steer aircraft along planned routes, using autopilot and flight management computers.

86%Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.

86%Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.

84%Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.

82%Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.

Pilots, Ship

5 of 15 at risk

88%Maintain ship logs.

84%Report to appropriate authorities any violations of federal or state pilotage laws.

78%Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.

53%Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.

51%Set ships' courses that avoid reefs, outlying shoals, or other hazards, using navigational aids, such as lighthouses or buoys.

Wage Comparison

Pilots, Ship earns -$141,060(-62%) vs Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersPilots, Ship

10th

$98,560$46,260

25th

$154,360$60,800

Median

$226,600$85,540

75th

$239,200$124,530

90th

$239,200$164,230

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers2028–2035

Pilots, Ship2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Pilots, Ship has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

$148,944

from $226,600

Pilots, Ship

$63,496

from $85,540

After adjusting for AI risk, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers offers $85,448 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Airline

Unique to Pilots,

Combined Protection Strategy

Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors

Fine Manipulation

Social Intelligence

Decision Complexity

Regulatory Barriers

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersPilots, Ship

Find transitions from Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Find transitions from Pilots, Ship