Ever dreamed of taking flight and turning your passion for drones into a rewarding career? The good news is, drone piloting can be a lucrative and exciting path!
The drone industry is projected for exponential growth this year, creating a plethora of exciting career opportunities for skilled drone pilots. So, if you’re passionate about drones, the sky’s the limit!
This article dives deep into exploring the salary potential in various drone jobs and the factors that influence your ability to earn.
Ready for takeoff? Let’s explore!
Who Needs Drone Pilots?
The demand for drone pilots spans a wide range of industries, from aerospace and defense to agriculture and construction. Drones are revolutionizing many different industries and verticals. Be it capturing stunning aerial footage for film and television to conducting mapping and surveying projects, drones are everywhere. And that’s the reason why the demand for drone pilots is ever-increasing.
That being said.
Industries such as agriculture and construction have a high demand for commercial drone pilots, while sectors like film and television rely heavily on UAV pilots for aerial photography and videography.
Choosing Your Path
Whether you prefer the independence of freelancing or the stability of full-time employment, there are multiple paths you can take as a drone pilot.
Build your portfolio and secure projects through platforms like DroneBase and Droners.io, or explore employment opportunities with companies actively seeking drone expertise.
You can work as a freelancer, offering your services to different companies or clients on a project-by-project basis, or opt for full-time employment in a company.
You can choose from three possible paths:
- Self-Employed Drone Operators
- Freelance Drone Operators
- Professional Drone Operators
1. Self-Employed Drone Operators
These drone pilots are those who own and operate their own businesses. This path is best suited for experienced pilots who have a strong understanding of the drone industry and are comfortable marketing their services to potential clients.
As a self-employed drone operator, you’ll be responsible for finding your work and negotiating your rates. You’ll also need to obtain the necessary licenses and insurance for your business.
While this path offers the most flexibility, it also comes with the most risk. To be a self-employed drone operator, you must be comfortable with uncertainty and have a strong entrepreneurial spirit.
2. Freelance Drone Operators
Freelance drone pilots are those who work on a contract basis for different clients. This path is a good option for pilots who want to have more control over their work schedules and rates.
Your responsibilities as a freelance UAV pilot will include finding work and negotiating your rates. You also have to obtain the necessary licenses and insurance.
One of the main benefits of this path is that you have the freedom to choose which projects you take on and how much money you earn.
However, you may face challenges as a freelance UAV pilot when it comes to securing consistent work and obtaining repeat clients.
3. Professional Drone Operators
A professional drone pilot can work as a freelancer or as a full-time employee for a large company. On portals such as dronebase and droners.io, you can build your portfolio and get on your path to getting drone jobs from across the country.
These portals help you find freelance projects from various industries.
Unveiling the Drone Pilot Salary Landscape
According to Salary.com, the average drone pilot salary hovers around $82,976 per year. However, this number varies significantly based on factors such as:
- Industry: Sectors like aerospace and defense offer the highest average salaries, followed by construction and environmental services. Film and video production tend to offer slightly lower wages.
- Location: Geographic location plays a role too. Drone pilots in the Northeast and West typically earn more compared to their counterparts in the South.
- Experience: As you gain more flight hours and expertise, your earning potential increases. Senior-level drone pilots can command significantly higher wages compared to entry-level pilots.
- Freelance vs. Full-Time: Freelance pilots have the potential to earn higher hourly rates but may face challenges securing consistent work. Full-time positions might offer greater stability and benefits but may come with a slightly lower average hourly wage.
Can You Make a Living as a Commercial Drone Pilot In 2024?
The answer is a resounding yes! With the right skills, experience, and strategic approach, you can build a successful career as a drone pilot and earn a competitive salary.
According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly rate for a Freelance Drone Pilot is $47.711, while the range of wages can vary significantly. The 25th percentile earns roughly $24.28 per hour. The 75th percentile earns around $61.78 per hour.
The answer seems pretty obvious. You can certainly make a living with a drone pilot job.
High-Income Drone Jobs
Aspiring to reach six-figure salaries? Consider specializing in these lucrative fields:
- Surveying or Mapping Engineer: Utilizing drones for topographical surveys allows for faster and more cost-effective data collection, resulting in high earning potential.
- Real Estate Photographer: Aerial photography significantly enhances the appeal of properties, making real estate photographers highly sought-after, with good earning potential.
- UAV Pilot Instructor: Sharing your expertise and guiding aspiring drone pilots opens doors to rewarding careers as an instructor.
- Inspection & Monitoring: Drones play a crucial role in various inspection and monitoring tasks, offering lucrative opportunities for skilled pilots.
- Search & Rescue: Saving lives and assisting in search and rescue operations is a noble and well-compensated use of drone expertise.
How Much Do Drone Pilots Make?
According to Salary.com, the average salary for a drone pilot is $82,976. However, the salary range for UAV) Pilots typically falls between $61,090 and $100,225.
That being said – let’s look at drone pilot salaries across industries.
Average Drone Pilot Salary Across Industries
| Industry |
Average Drone Pilot Salary |
| Aerospace and Defense |
$155,230 |
| Construction |
$79,368 |
| Environmental Services |
$83,856 |
| Film and Video |
$69,107 |
| Mapping and Surveying |
$95,966 |
| Real Estate |
$84,459 |
| Transportation |
$85,715 |
| All Other Industries |
$89,264 |
As you can see from the table above, drone pilots in the aerospace and defense industry earn an average salary of $155,230. This is followed by construction at $79,368 and environmental services at $83,856. While film and video are the lowest at $69,107.
Drone Operator Salary by Location
The location of the drone pilot job also affects salary. Here is a quick overview of drone pilot salary by region.
| Location | Drone Operator Salary |
| Northeast | $87,068 |
| Midwest | $81,153 |
| South | $76,695 |
| West | $90,195 |
In the Northeast, drone pilots earn an average salary of $87,068 per year, followed by the West at $90,195 and the Midwest at $81,153. The lowest-paying region is the South at $76,695.
According to the data from Salary.com, the average drone pilot’s salary also varies based on the city and state you live in.
| Location | Average Drone Pilot Salary |
| Abbeville, AL |
$70,825 |
| Phoenix, AZ |
$81,967 |
| Little Rock, AR |
$76,621 |
| Los Angeles, CA |
$93,157 |
| Denver, CO |
$84,328 |
| West Hartford, CT |
$89,846 |
| Washington, DC |
$92,368 |
| Miami, FL |
$80,529 |
| Atlanta, GA |
$81,498 |
| Chicago, IL |
$87,531 |
| Alexandria, IN |
$76,835 |
| Frankfort, KY |
$75,856 |
| Baton Rouge, LA |
$77,980 |
| Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD |
$84,229 |
| Pittsfield, MA |
$84,707 |
| Battle Creek, MI |
$82,229 |
| Minneapolis, MN |
$88,402 |
| Jackson, MS |
$74,268 |
| Helena, MT |
$71,317 |
| Paramus, NJ |
$95,754 |
| New York City, NY |
$97,496 |
| Raleigh, NC |
$80,876 |
| Portsmouth, OH |
$75,757 |
| Altus, OK |
$70,363 |
| Portland, OR |
$86,445 |
| Philadelphia, PA |
$88,054 |
| Charleston, SC |
$78,797 |
| Nashville, TN |
$77,361 |
| Dallas, TX |
$82,436 |
| Antimony, UT |
$75,217 |
| Richmond, VA |
$81,963 |
| Seattle, WA |
$91,555 |
| Huntington, WV |
$74,114 |
| Madison, WI |
$81,303 |
| Cheyenne, WY |
$76,290 |
Hourly Rate for Drone Pilots
According to Salary.com, the typical hourly rate for drone pilots ranges from $29 and $48. The average hourly rate is $40.
The table below shows the hourly rate for drone pilots by experience level.
| Experience Level | Hourly Rate |
| Entry-Level | $29 |
| Experienced | $40 |
| Senior-Level | $56 |
Compared to entry-level drone pilots, experienced drone pilots earn an average of $40 per hour, with senior drone pilots making an average of $56 per hour.
Freelance vs Full-Time UAV Pilot Salary
Freelance drone pilot salaries range from $35 to $150 per hour with a median wage of $85 per hour. On the other hand, full-time employed drone pilots make an average of $80-$120 per hour with a median hourly rate of $95.
As a freelance UAV pilot, you can earn more if you have strong experience. However, if you prefer to work as part of a team and have a more consistent income, a full-time drone pilot position may be right for you.
Which UAV Jobs Are Earning Salary Over $100k?
Here are a few sectors where drone pilots can make a decent living:
1. Surveying or Mapping Engineer:
Drone surveying has huge potential for GIS specialists. Topographic surveys can be carried out with a drone that is of the same high quality as those gathered using traditional methods but in a relatively short time. This significantly reduces the expense of a site survey as well as the burden on field professionals.
With a salary of $115,000 and an hourly rate of $56, these drone pilots are in high demand.
2. Real Estate Photographer:
According to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), houses and apartments with drone photographs are up to 68 percent more likely to sell than those without photographs.
Aerial images allow buyers a greater sense of the property’s appearance, proportions, and surroundings.
Real estate photographers make an average salary of $107,500 with an hourly rate of $51.
3. UAV Pilot Instructor:
Your role as a drone instructor includes teaching people who are interested in learning and improving their flying skills. You offer industry-leading training, mentorship, and guidance to aspiring pilots.
This position pays an annual salary of $100,600 and an hourly wage of $48.
4. Inspection & Monitoring:
For this, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based monitoring system is developed to obtain both the wide-area coverage of distant sensors and the high levels of detail and accuracy of ground inspection and monitoring at a low cost.
Unlike high-altitude systems in satellites or airplanes, the UAV resembles a helicopter, with all measurement equipment installed under it to collect comprehensive information from low altitudes.
The UAV can collect data quickly and safely for pollution monitoring, powerline inspection, forest fire detection, railway track inspection, disaster monitoring, etc.
In this role, you can expect an annual salary of $100,600 and an hourly wage of $48.
5. Search & Rescue:
The use of drones in search and rescue operations is a growing trend among emergency services such as firefighters, and disaster response and rescue teams, to provide real-time visual information after natural disasters like earthquakes or floods. hurricanes. Moreover, they have become an indispensable aid in locating missing and lost persons.
In this role, you can expect an annual salary of $100,000 and an hourly wage of $48.
This level of earnings is likely to be associated with other duties and/or requirements.
When any natural disaster occurs the responders need real-time imagery and other essential information to make better decisions and save time & cost of search and rescue missions.
The above list shows some of the best drone jobs that pay over $100,000 annually. So, if you’re interested in becoming a drone operator, you can start with any of the suggested roles.
How Can You Command a Higher Salary as a Drone Pilot?
Earning a higher salary as a drone pilot involves a combination of factors that showcase your value and expertise. Here are some key strategies to consider:
Experience: This is crucial. The more flight hours and diverse projects you have under your belt, the more valuable you become. Focus on quality over just quantity, demonstrating your ability to handle complex tasks and deliver excellent results.
Certifications: Go beyond the basic FAA Part 107 license. Pursue additional certifications in specific applications like aerial photography, thermal imaging, or 3D mapping. These demonstrate your specialized skills and open doors to higher-paying opportunities.
Data analysis and post-processing: If your work involves capturing data (e.g., mapping, inspections), learning data analysis and post-processing software like photogrammetry tools can significantly enhance your value.
Build a strong network: Connect with other drone pilots, industry professionals, and potential clients through online forums, meetups, or professional organizations. Networking can open doors to new opportunities and provide valuable insights.
Industry-specific knowledge: Understanding the specific needs and challenges of your target industry (e.g., construction, agriculture, filmmaking) allows you to tailor your services and provide valuable insights to clients.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a decent drone operator salary, the above positions are good places to start. Whether you’re interested in surveying remote landscapes or inspecting rooftops for construction projects, there’s plenty of opportunity in drones’ rapidly growing field.
With the right training and certification, you can become a highly sought-after UAV pilot and command a competitive salary.
Drone U offers 40+ on-demand drone courses designed to prepare you, and help you, move up the salary ladder quickly. As a Drone U member, you get UNLIMITED access to all of our in-depth training courses. Plus, you get the opportunity to network with like-minded people inside our exclusive community. Check out the Drone U membership.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are Drone Businesses Profitable?
Organizations are beginning to use drones for a variety of purposes, including delivering packages, inspecting buildings and infrastructure, monitoring crops and livestock, surveying damaged areas after natural disasters, and more.
With the right approach, drone businesses can be highly profitable and provide a valuable service to their clients. So if you are thinking about starting a drone-based business, it is important to do your research.
2. Are Drone Pilots In Demand?
The market for drone services is expected to reach US$ 24,882.2 million in 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 51.1% over the forecast period 2019–2027. Growing needs for mapping, surveying, and inspection services as well as government policies that encourage drone use globally have a significant impact on the demand for drone services.
3. What’s the Future of Drone Operator Salary?
The future looks bright for drone pilots. With the industry expected to grow exponentially in the coming years, there will be more opportunities for drone pilots to find well-paying work. Qz.com estimates suggest that the drone industry could create 100,000 new jobs in the next 10 years.
4. Do Drone Pilots Make Good Money?
According to some industry sources, a career as a drone pilot can be quite lucrative. You can often earn six-figure salaries with just a few years of experience and strong technical skills.
That being said – many factors can impact the earning potential of a drone pilot. These include – the size and type of business, as well as regional differences in pay.
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