You know where this idea of being a pilot is semi skilled labor comes from don't you? It because people have some notion that other jobs require far more intellect. Some higher gravitas must takes place elsewhere. That's tosh. A hedge fund manager can make a fortune and be good at it without talking about splitting the atom day by day, as can an MD of any company. It's not high science for these jobs. Even for (God forbid I suggest this??) Doctors. These things people are good at it, the same as flying in aviation you have to be a certain standard of good at it determined by level to not get binned in the sim or crash. The same as they have to be to not be sacked for poor performance.
As to suggest aviation is semi skilled as if running a company or being a vet is some sort of higher zen trait - what absolute rubbish. It's only because you've not done these things you view them in such high regard. It's like a lot in life, you train for some some stuff, you apply it and use judgement. Granted, there are some things that actually do require a true higher mental cognitive gravitas - research science, higher levels of medicine -musical composers. But these guys are rare in quantity often aren't highly rewarded.
Conversely and against the arrogant presumption that only intellect is a measure of higher human perception of what is asirational achievement there are some people in life who could be said by that defination display some truly higher human secretly silent wonder in a different regard who aren't highly paid. Special forces soldiers perhaps, or volunteer workers in Siria.
The one thing I'll agree with John Smith with (amongst all his highly simplistic shakey, broad stroke arguments) is that the aviation pilot role will deteriorate to a 40-50k (equivalent to this year plus inflation to future years) a year role for captain.