Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Also called: Airline Captain, Captain, First Officer (FO), PilotPilot 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 12 of its 24 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 8.3% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 1.2% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Aircraft pilots and flight engineers”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 9.0 hires for every 10 job openings in transportation, warehousing, and utilities, which employs about 96% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.9.0 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $136,990 | $126,440 to $165,340 | 360 |
| Alaska | $232,140 | $185,430 to $369,150 | 1,350 |
| Arizona | $227,870 | $163,570 to $293,730 | 2,200 |
| Arkansas | $168,970 | $130,750 to $168,970 | 250 |
| California | $353,900 | $208,070 to $390,260 | 10,670 |
| Colorado | $307,490 | $197,310 to $371,190 | 5,830 |
| Connecticut | $199,870 | $142,630 to $530,080 | 80 |
| Florida | $225,020 | $169,730 to $344,360 | 7,760 |
| Georgia | $618,090 | $211,400 to $618,090 | 8,770 |
| Idaho | $507,640 | $216,750 to $507,910 | 330 |
| Illinois | $293,490 | $204,790 to $420,280 | 6,460 |
| Indiana | $171,260 | $83,680 to $338,390 | not published |
| Iowa | $131,730 | $86,570 to $168,510 | 100 |
| Kansas | $143,580 | $128,520 to $165,340 | 80 |
| Kentucky | $350,950 | $214,120 to $398,760 | 6,260 |
| Louisiana | $120,740 | $93,530 to $173,750 | 150 |
| Maine | $147,930 | $127,830 to $266,310 | 40 |
| Massachusetts | not published | not published | 2,240 |
| Michigan | $428,570 | $215,440 to $428,570 | not published |
| Minnesota | $211,470 | $210,510 to $337,920 | 2,960 |
| Mississippi | $143,580 | $132,850 to $164,430 | 360 |
| Missouri | $97,680 | $60,920 to $143,580 | 120 |
| Nebraska | $131,650 | $106,630 to $172,330 | 60 |
| Nevada | $192,460 | $131,020 to $293,240 | 2,160 |
| New Hampshire | $99,280 | $74,950 to $150,760 | 50 |
| New Mexico | $136,990 | $131,830 to $156,640 | 50 |
| New York | $255,240 | $170,510 to $475,690 | 6,900 |
| North Carolina | $151,540 | $99,180 to $199,660 | 2,240 |
| Ohio | $204,170 | $138,590 to $320,410 | 1,550 |
| Oklahoma | $133,680 | $129,460 to $160,990 | 180 |
| Oregon | $173,190 | $103,640 to $220,310 | 750 |
| Pennsylvania | $164,990 | $91,780 to $211,940 | 2,270 |
| Puerto Rico | $167,050 | $60,180 to $489,290 | 260 |
| Rhode Island | $164,880 | $124,270 to $199,910 | 40 |
| South Carolina | $143,580 | $128,070 to $169,690 | 110 |
| Tennessee | $143,580 | $124,450 to $164,360 | 110 |
| Texas | $215,150 | $184,750 to $417,070 | 10,930 |
| Utah | $174,590 | $140,620 to $197,630 | 1,880 |
| Washington | $229,900 | $202,420 to $396,810 | 3,450 |
| Wyoming | not published | not published | 80 |
Nationally: $232,140. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 12 of its 24 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor. | Not published |
| Not much | Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures. | Not published |
| AI + software | Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions. | Not published |
| Not much | Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists. | Not published |
| AI + software | Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings. | Not published |
See all 24 tasks
| AI + software | Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights. | Not published |
| Not much | Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed. | Not published |
| Not much | Steer aircraft along planned routes, using autopilot and flight management computers. | Not published |
| Not much | Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met. | Not published |
| AI + software | Confer with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters to keep abreast of flight conditions. | Not published |
| Not much | Brief crews about flight details, such as destinations, duties, and responsibilities. | Not published |
| AI + software | Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights. | Not published |
| Not much | Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights. | Not published |
| AI + software | Direct activities of aircraft crews during flights. | Not published |
| Not much | Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations and the principles of flight. | Not published |
| AI + software | Record in log books information, such as flight times, distances flown, and fuel consumption. | Not published |
| AI + software | Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control and inform crew members of flight and test procedures. | Not published |
| AI + software | Make announcements regarding flights, using public address systems. | Not published |
| AI + software | File instrument flight plans with air traffic control to ensure that flights are coordinated with other air traffic. | Not published |
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
| AI + software | Evaluate other pilots or pilot-license applicants for proficiency. | Not published |
| Not much | Perform minor maintenance work, or arrange for major maintenance. | Not published |
| AI + software | Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 24 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 24 tasks fall under 18 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #11 Provide information to guests, clients, or customers
- #37 Determine operational methods or procedures
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communicate with others about operational plans or activities | |||
| Operate transportation equipment or vehicles | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Manage control systems or activities | |||
| Monitor equipment operation | |||
| Provide information to guests, clients, or customers | |||
| Determine operational methods or procedures | |||
| Plan work activities |
Show all 18 activities
| Test performance of equipment or systems | |||
| Schedule operational activities | |||
| Resolve personnel or operational problems | |||
| Notify others of emergencies or problems | |||
| Evaluate personnel capabilities or performance | |||
| Maintain vehicles in working condition | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Monitor safety or security of work areas, facilities, or properties | |||
| Intervene in crisis situations or emergencies | |||
| Inspect vehicles |
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 5,935 moves out
- 1 Commercial Pilots Moderate +5.2% 8%
- 2 Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary Very high -0.3% 7%
- 3 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 6%
- 4 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Moderate +4.0% 6%
- 5 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
Where people moved in from
of 7,375 moves in
- 1 Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary Very high -0.3% 9%
- 2 Commercial Pilots Moderate +5.2% 7%
- 3 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Moderate +4.0% 6%
- 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 5 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 8% less than high school
- 18% high school
- 5% postsecondary certificate
- 1% some college
- 6% associate's
- 61% bachelor's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 24 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 1% less than high school
- 7% high school
- 10% some college
- 8% associate's
- 55% bachelor's
- 15% master's
- 2% professional degree
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Aircraft pilots and flight engineers” · 2,119 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Aircraft pilots and flight engineers”
2 programs: Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew and Flight Instructor.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeships: DOL's list of apprenticeable occupations doesn't include this one.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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