Side-by-Side Comparison
Pilots, Ship leads 5–0| Metric | Pilots, Ship | Locomotive Engineers |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Score | 25.8% | 44.1% |
| Risk Tier | Medium Risk | Medium Risk |
| Risk Percentile | 21th | 90th |
| Tasks at Risk (>50%) | 5 / 15 | 13 / 15 |
| Median Salary | $85,540 | $77,400 |
| Employment | 35K | 32K |
Skill Comparison
|
Sorted by largest difference
Handling and Moving Objects
Controlling Machines and Processes
Law and Government
Geography
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Spatial Orientation
Glare Sensitivity
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Telecommunications
Coaching and Developing Others
Far Vision
Protective Factors
Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement
Pilots, Ship
32%
total discount
Locomotive Engineers
28%
total discount
Task Risk Comparison
Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable
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.
Locomotive Engineers
13 of 15 at risk87%Prepare reports regarding any problems encountered, such as accidents, signaling problems, unscheduled stops, or delays.
86%Monitor gauges or meters that measure speed, amperage, battery charge, or air pressure in brakelines or in main reservoirs.
85%Check to ensure that brake examination tests are conducted at shunting stations.
85%Check to ensure that documentation, such as procedure manuals or logbooks, are in the driver's cab and available for staff use.
77%Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.
Wage Comparison
Locomotive Engineers earns -$8,140(-10%) vs Pilots, Ship
Pilots, ShipLocomotive Engineers
10th
$46,260$60,980
25th
$60,800$73,410
Median
$85,540$77,400
75th
$124,530$84,230
90th
$164,230$100,690
Premium Head-to-Head Analysis
Displacement Timeline Comparison
Pilots, Ship2028–2035
Locomotive Engineers2028–2035
20242030203520402045
Pilots, Ship has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Locomotive Engineers.
Risk-Adjusted Salary
Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)
Pilots, Ship
$63,496
from $85,540
Locomotive Engineers
$43,282
from $77,400
After adjusting for AI risk, Pilots, Ship offers $20,214 more in risk-adjusted pay.
Transition Feasibility
1%
Skill Overlap
Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition
0
Unique to Pilots,
0
Unique to Locomotive
Combined Protection Strategy
Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors
Creativity
Fine Manipulation
Regulatory Barriers
Social Intelligence
Pilots, ShipLocomotive Engineers