Commercial Pilots
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 53-2012.00
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.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.27
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only26 rated tasks · 9 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (34.6%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 2 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|
Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes.53-2012.00 | 0.0033100.0 |
| Not observed on any surface — 25 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states. | |
Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly. | —0 |
Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment. | —0 |
Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures. | —0 |
Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights. | —0 |
Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne. | —0 |
Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights. | —0 |
Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments. | —0 |
Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor. | —0 |
Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly. | —0 |
Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate. | —0 |
Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights. | —0 |
Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures. | —0 |
Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption. | —0 |
File instrument flight plans with air traffic control so that flights can be coordinated with other air traffic. | —0 |
Supervise other crew members. | —0 |
Fly with other pilots or pilot-license applicants to evaluate their proficiency. | —0 |
Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties as required. | —0 |
Teach company regulations and procedures to other pilots. | —0 |
Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations. | —0 |
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. | —0 |
Rescue and evacuate injured persons. | —0 |
Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance. | —0 |
Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports. | —0 |
Pilot airplanes or helicopters over farmlands at low altitudes to dust or spray fields with fertilizers, fungicides, or pesticides. | —0 |
Check the flight performance of new and experimental planes. | —0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.O*NET Task ID 10591 | 1.0 |
Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption.O*NET Task ID 10600 | 1.0 |
Teach company regulations and procedures to other pilots.O*NET Task ID 10601 | 1.0 |
Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes.O*NET Task ID 10593 | 0.5 |
Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.O*NET Task ID 10594 | 0.5 |
Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.O*NET Task ID 10598 | 0.5 |
Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.O*NET Task ID 10599 | 0.5 |
File instrument flight plans with air traffic control so that flights can be coordinated with other air traffic.O*NET Task ID 10604 | 0.5 |
Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.O*NET Task ID 10610 | 0.5 |
Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.O*NET Task ID 10587 | 0.0 |
Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.O*NET Task ID 10588 | 0.0 |
Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.O*NET Task ID 10589 | 0.0 |
Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.O*NET Task ID 10590 | 0.0 |
Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.O*NET Task ID 10592 | 0.0 |
Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.O*NET Task ID 10595 | 0.0 |
Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.O*NET Task ID 10596 | 0.0 |
Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate.O*NET Task ID 10597 | 0.0 |
Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations.O*NET Task ID 10602 | 0.0 |
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.O*NET Task ID 10605 | 0.0 |
Rescue and evacuate injured persons.O*NET Task ID 10606 | 0.0 |
Supervise other crew members.O*NET Task ID 10607 | 0.0 |
Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance.O*NET Task ID 10608 | 0.0 |
Fly with other pilots or pilot-license applicants to evaluate their proficiency.O*NET Task ID 10609 | 0.0 |
Pilot airplanes or helicopters over farmlands at low altitudes to dust or spray fields with fertilizers, fungicides, or pesticides.O*NET Task ID 10611 | 0.0 |
Check the flight performance of new and experimental planes.O*NET Task ID 10612 | 0.0 |
Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required.O*NET Task ID 20831 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (24)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly. | Core |
| Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment. | Core |
| Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures. | Core |
| Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights. | Core |
| Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne. | Core |
| Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights. | Core |
| Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes. | Core |
| Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments. | Core |
| Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor. | Core |
| Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly. | Core |
| Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate. | Core |
| Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights. | Core |
| Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures. | Core |
| Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption. | Core |
| File instrument flight plans with air traffic control so that flights can be coordinated with other air traffic. | Core |
| 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. | Core |
| Supervise other crew members. | Core |
| Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance. | Core |
| Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required. | Core |
| Teach company regulations and procedures to other pilots. | Supplemental |
| Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations. | Supplemental |
| Rescue and evacuate injured persons. | Supplemental |
| Fly with other pilots or pilot-license applicants to evaluate their proficiency. | Supplemental |
| Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports. | Supplemental |
0.56/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly. | E0 none |
| Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures. | E2 structured facilities |
| Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor. | E2 structured facilities |
| Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly. | E0 none |
| 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. | E2 structured facilities |
| Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance. | E0 none |
| Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required. | E2 structured facilities |
| Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations. | E0 none |
| Rescue and evacuate injured persons. | E2 structured facilities |
| Fly with other pilots or pilot-license applicants to evaluate their proficiency. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 50K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 53K
- Change (2025–35)
- +5.2%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $123,220
- Typical education needed for entry
- Postsecondary nondegree award
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23811 | 비행기 조종사 | This occupation is narrower | confirmed |
| 23812 | 헬리콥터 조종사 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 3153Aircraft Pilots and Related Associate Professionals
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Aircraft pilots and related associate professionals control the operation of mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment, in order to navigate aircraft for transporting passengers, mail and freight, and perform related pre-flight and in-flight tasks.
Tasks
- (a) flying and navigating aircraft in accordance with established control and operating procedures;
- (b) preparing and submitting flight plan or examining standard flight plan;
- (c) controlling the operation of mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment and ensuring that all instruments and controls work properly;
- (d) applying knowledge of principles and practices of flying in order to identify and solve problems arising in the course of their work;
- (e) examining maintenance records and conducting inspections to ensure that aircraft are mechanically sound, maintenance has been performed and that all equipment is operational.;
- (f) signing necessary certificates and maintaining official records of flight;
- (g) obtaining briefings and clearances before flights and maintaining contact with air traffic or flight control during flight.
Example occupations
Aerial crop sprayer · Flight Engineer · Flying instructor · Navigator (flight) · Pilot (aircraft)
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- commercial pilotESCO 3153.2.2Same scope
Commercial pilots navigate flight of fixed-wing and multi-engine aircrafts for the transport of passengers and cargo.
- aircraft pilotESCO 3153.2This occupation is narrower
Aircraft pilots control and navigate aircraft. They operate the mechanical and electrical systems of the aircraft and transport people, mail and freight.
- helicopter pilotESCO 3153.2.4This occupation is broader
Helicopter pilots fly helicopters in order to transport passengers and cargo from one place to another. They plan flights using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments. Prior to departure, they inspect helicopters following checklists to detect leaking hydraulic fluid, inoperative control, low fuel level, or other unsafe conditions.
- air force pilotESCO 0310.1Overlapping, not the same
Air force pilots operate aircrafts in combat missions, patrol missions, or search and rescue missions. They ensure aircraft maintenance, and communicate with air force bases and other vessels to ensure safety and efficiency in operations.
- airline transport pilotESCO 3153.2.2.1Overlapping, not the same
Airline transport pilots fly large aircrafts with a maximum take-off weight of more than 5700 kilograms, to transport passengers, mail, or freight on long or short-haul flights for leisure, business or commercial purposes. They have the overall responsibility for the safe and efficient operation of aircrafts and the safety of crew and passengers.
- co-pilotESCO 3153.2.1Overlapping, not the same
Co-pilots are responsible for assisting captains by monitoring the flight instruments, handling radio communications, watching for air traffic, and taking over for the pilot as needed. They adhere to the pilot's commands, flight plans, and regulations and procedures of aviation national authorities, companies, and airports.
- private pilotESCO 3153.2.5Overlapping, not the same
Private pilots operate non-commercial airplanes for leisure with a limited amount of seats and engine horsepower. They also provide private transport for people.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| N2102 | Pilote de ligne | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| K1715 | Pilote d'hélicoptère des forces armées | Related, not a match |
| N2103 | Pilote instructeur / Pilote instructrice aéronautique | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| N2206 | Pilote de drone | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 3153 | Pilotos de aviación y profesionales afines | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 52383 | Fahrzeugführer/innen im Flugverkehr (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | This occupation is broader |
| 52313 | Piloten/Pilotinnen und Verkehrsflugzeugführer/innen - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the same |
| 84523 | Fluglehrer/innen - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 624 | 航空機操縦士 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources