Career Explorer Transport and logistics
Human edge, growing
Commercial pilots
Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air carrier routes, or helicopters. Requires Commercial Pilot certificate. Includes charter pilots with similar certification, and air ambulance and air tour pilots. Excludes regional, national, and international airline pilots.
Among the most resilient careers: more resilient than 90% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +5.2% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on ethical judgement and physical dexterity.
AI struggles with much of this work, and US employers are expected to hire more people into it than average.
- Median pay (2025)
- $123,220
- Job growth to 2035
- +5.2%
- Openings a year
- 5,200
- People doing it (2025)
- 50,400
- Usual route in
- College certificate, then moderate on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Determine operational methods or procedures
- Communicate with others about operational plans or activities
- Plan work activities
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Operate transportation equipment or vehicles
- Inspect vehicles
- Monitor equipment operation
What the work looks like
- Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
- Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required.
- Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
- Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
- Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects
- More of these jobs, as demand for air ambulance services grows, resulting in an increased need for pilots.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Ship engineersHuman edge, steady, Index 91, +2.7%
- Aircraft cargo handling supervisorsHuman edge, growing, Index 97, +9.2%
- ElectriciansHuman edge, growing, Index 96, +9.2%
- Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialistsHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +13.1%
Also known as: Captain, Commercial Pilot, Helicopter Pilot, Pilot, Charter Pilot, Check Airman, Commercial Helicopter Pilot, EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot).
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.