Jobs Similar to Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Also called: Airline Pilots
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Commercial Pilots, Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters and Locomotive Engineers.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers: $232,140 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commercial PilotsSame group | 83% | $123,220−47% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | 79% | $78,000−66% | High school |
| 3 | Locomotive Engineers | 76% | $81,410−65% | High school |
| 4 | Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 75% | $106,730−54% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Air Traffic ControllersSame group | 74% | $148,080−36% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Airfield Operations SpecialistsSame group | 74% | $56,850−76% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Nuclear Power Reactor Operators | 73% | $122,890−47% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Aircraft Service Attendants | 73% | $40,450−83% | High school |
| 9 | Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | 73% | $92,460−60% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | 73% | $68,840−70% | High school |
| 11 | Transportation Inspectors | 72% | $92,100−60% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Subway and Streetcar Operators | 72% | $86,380−63% | High school |
| 13 | Gas Plant Operators | 72% | $87,820−62% | High school |
| 14 | Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | 72% | $59,050−75% | High school |
| 15 | Bus Drivers, School | 71% | $47,920−79% | High school |
| 16 | Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | 70% | $60,600−74% | High school |
| 17 | Bridge and Lock Tenders | 69% | $57,700−75% | High school |
| 18 | Traffic Technicians | 69% | $59,090−75% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Nuclear Monitoring Technicians | 69% | $110,240Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 20 | Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | 69% | $58,170−75% | High school |
- 1Commercial Pilots
83% similar · $123,220 (−47%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
79% similar · $78,000 (−66%) · High school
- 3Locomotive Engineers
76% similar · $81,410 (−65%) · High school
- 4Power Distributors and Dispatchers
75% similar · $106,730 (−54%) · Training or associate
- 5Air Traffic Controllers
74% similar · $148,080 (−36%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 6Airfield Operations Specialists
74% similar · $56,850 (−76%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 7Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
73% similar · $122,890 (−47%) · Training or associate
- 8Aircraft Service Attendants
73% similar · $40,450 (−83%) · High school
- 9Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
73% similar · $92,460 (−60%) · Training or associate
- 10Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
73% similar · $68,840 (−70%) · High school
- 11Transportation Inspectors
72% similar · $92,100 (−60%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Subway and Streetcar Operators
72% similar · $86,380 (−63%) · High school
- 13Gas Plant Operators
72% similar · $87,820 (−62%) · High school
- 14Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
72% similar · $59,050 (−75%) · High school
- 15Bus Drivers, School
71% similar · $47,920 (−79%) · High school
- 16Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
70% similar · $60,600 (−74%) · High school
- 17Bridge and Lock Tenders
69% similar · $57,700 (−75%) · High school
- 18Traffic Technicians
69% similar · $59,090 (−75%) · Training or associate
- 19Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
69% similar · $110,240 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 20Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
69% similar · $58,170 (−75%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Commercial Pilots83% similar · Training or associate
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters79% similar · High school
- Locomotive Engineers76% similar · High school
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers75% similar · Training or associate
- Air Traffic Controllers74% similar · Training or associate
- Airfield Operations Specialists74% similar · Training or associate
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
What jobs are most similar to airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Commercial Pilots (83% similar), Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters (79% similar), Locomotive Engineers (76% similar), Power Distributors and Dispatchers (75% similar) and Air Traffic Controllers (74% similar).
Do jobs like airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.