As of June 2026, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers has an AI-exposure score of 67/100 (High exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.

AI Exposure Score for

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

67/100
High exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 86% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$232,140. About 11,700 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

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How you compare to similar Transportation roles

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (you)
67
First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
67
Recycling Coordinators
66
First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
68
Traffic Technicians
66
Airfield Operations Specialists
66
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Your tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable
  • Record in log books information, such as flight times, distances flown, and fuel consumption.
  • Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
  • Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.
  • Direct activities of aircraft crews during flights.
  • Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
  • Conduct in-flight tests and evaluations at specified altitudes and in all types of weather to determine the receptivity and other characteristics of equipment and systems.
  • Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations and the principles of flight.
  • Steer aircraft along planned routes, using autopilot and flight management computers.
  • Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
  • Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.
  • Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.
  • Brief crews about flight details, such as destinations, duties, and responsibilities.
  • Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.
  • Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.
  • Confer with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters to keep abreast of flight conditions.
  • Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.
  • Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
  • Make announcements regarding flights, using public address systems.
  • Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.
  • Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists.
Augmentable

No augmentable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as automatable (100%).

Durable

No durable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as automatable (100%).

Safer adjacent roles

Commercial Pilots
80% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$123,220
64
Airfield Operations Specialists
72% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$56,850
66
Air Traffic Controllers
64% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$148,080
63
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
56% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$92,460
51
Aviation Inspectors
48% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$92,100
66
Locomotive Engineers
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$81,410
54
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
40% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$79,870
47
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
40% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$58,170
65

Your AI-Safe Career Report

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AI was the most-cited reason for U.S. layoffs through mid-2026 — the workers who adapt earliest fare best. — Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2026The upside: Workers with AI skills earn a roughly 62% wage premium — adapting pays. — PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, 2026

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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.