Side-by-Side Comparison
Pilots, Ship leads 4–1| Metric | Commercial Pilots | Pilots, Ship |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Score | 34.2% | 25.8% |
| Risk Tier | Medium Risk | Medium Risk |
| Risk Percentile | 63th | 21th |
| Tasks at Risk (>50%) | 10 / 15 | 5 / 15 |
| Median Salary | $122,670 | $85,540 |
| Employment | 52K | 35K |
Skill Comparison
|
Sorted by largest difference
Controlling Machines and Processes
Handling and Moving Objects
Customer and Personal Service
Law and Government
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
Assisting and Caring for Others
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Training and Teaching Others
Coaching and Developing Others
Information OrderingAI-Vulnerable
Protective Factors
Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement
Commercial Pilots
32%
total discount
Pilots, Ship
32%
total discount
Task Risk Comparison
Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable
Commercial Pilots
10 of 15 at risk89%Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
87%File instrument flight plans with air traffic control so that flights can be coordinated with other air traffic.
87%Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.
85%Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
77%Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
Pilots, Ship
5 of 15 at risk88%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 -$37,130(-30%) vs Commercial Pilots
Commercial PilotsPilots, Ship
10th
$59,330$46,260
25th
$81,660$60,800
Median
$122,670$85,540
75th
$175,050$124,530
90th
$239,200$164,230
Premium Head-to-Head Analysis
Displacement Timeline Comparison
Commercial Pilots2028–2035
Pilots, Ship2028–2035
20242030203520402045
Pilots, Ship has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Commercial Pilots.
Risk-Adjusted Salary
Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)
Commercial Pilots
$80,729
from $122,670
Pilots, Ship
$63,496
from $85,540
After adjusting for AI risk, Commercial Pilots offers $17,233 more in risk-adjusted pay.
Transition Feasibility
1%
Skill Overlap
Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition
0
Unique to Commercial
0
Unique to Pilots,
Combined Protection Strategy
Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors
Fine Manipulation
Regulatory Barriers
Social Intelligence
Decision Complexity
Commercial PilotsPilots, Ship