Takeover Tracker
34%medium risk
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
vs

46 shared · 56 different

core competencies

40%medium risk
Traffic Technicians

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricAirline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersTraffic Technicians
Risk Score34.3%40.2%
Risk TierMedium RiskMedium Risk
Risk Percentile63th81th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)6 / 1510 / 15
Median Salary$226,600$58,480
Employment99K8K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Controlling Machines and Processes
Operation and Control
Spatial Orientation
Operation Monitoring
Control Precision
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Reaction Time
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
Multilimb Coordination
Transportation
Depth Perception

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

34%

total discount

Traffic Technicians

30%

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.

Traffic Technicians

10 of 15 at risk
88%Compute time settings for traffic signals or speed restrictions, using standard formulas.
88%Gather and compile data from hand count sheets, machine count tapes, or radar speed checks and code data for computer input.
85%Prepare work orders for repair, maintenance, or changes in traffic systems.
80%Prepare drawings of proposed signal installations or other control devices, using drafting instruments or computer-automated drafting equipment.
78%Review traffic control or barricade plans to issue permits for parades or other special events or for construction work that affects rights of way, providing assistance with plan preparation or revision, as necessary.

Wage Comparison

Traffic Technicians earns -$168,120(-74%) vs Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersTraffic Technicians
10th
$98,560$38,060
25th
$154,360$46,690
Median
$226,600$58,480
75th
$239,200$74,480
90th
$239,200$85,810

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers2028–2035
Traffic Technicians2028–2035
20242030203520402045

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

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

$148,944

from $226,600

Traffic Technicians

$34,965

from $58,480

After adjusting for AI risk, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers offers $113,979 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Airline

0

Unique to Traffic

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Decision Complexity
Fine Manipulation
Social Intelligence
Creativity
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersTraffic Technicians
Find transitions from Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersFind transitions from Traffic Technicians