Headline risk
0%
Very Low RiskAirline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
AI displacement pressure score for United States AI Work Index, combining global AI task overlap with local wages, employment trends, and demand signals.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, national, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 226,600
Employment 2024
100.0K
Projected Change (2024–34)
3.9%
Openings (2024–34)
11.7K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Overall employment of airline and commercial pilots is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor. AI use: 0%
- 2. Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures. AI use: 0%
- 3. Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions. AI use: 0%
- 4. Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists. AI use: 0%
- 5. Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment. AI use: 0%
- 6. Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 46.1 · 201K employed
Under 25: 3% · 25–54: 68% · 55+: 29%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Data quality
Employment data available
Narrative & sources
Airline and commercial pilots fly and navigate airplanes, helicopters, and other aircraft.
Pilots usually have variable work schedules, with overnight layovers that are more common for airline pilots.
Airline pilots typically need a bachelor’s degree and experience as a commercial or military pilot. Commercial pilots typically need flight training. Both also must meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements.
The median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers was $226,600 in May 2024.
Overall employment of airline and commercial pilots is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Important context
This score measures structural AI displacement pressure, not actual job losses. Local wages and demand data are specific to United States AI Work Index; the underlying AI task overlap analysis is consistent across all countries.