Drone Pilot
Aviation & Flight Operations
Apply technical knowledge and skills to fly unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for commercial, professional, or personal use, and qualifies individuals to sit for the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate with small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) rating knowledge examination.
What Drone Pilots Do
Apply technical knowledge and skills to fly unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for commercial, professional, or personal use, and qualifies individuals to sit for the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate with small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) rating knowledge examination.
What You'll Learn
Work Environment
Locations
- • Construction sites
- • Agricultural fields and ranches
- • Utility and telecom corridors
- • Film and media locations
- • Public safety and emergency scenes
Schedule
Schedules vary by industry and weather, with many pilots working daytime hours but sometimes evenings, weekends, or on-call for time-sensitive flights.
Physical Demands
Work is generally light to moderate, involving standing, walking, carrying cases, and setting up equipment. You may work outdoors in heat, cold, wind, and bright sun while maintaining steady focus on screens and surroundings.
Salary & Job Outlook
Top Paying States
State salary data not yet available for this trade.
Why Demand May Grow
More industries are using drones for faster, lower-cost data collection, inspection, and aerial imaging. As regulations mature and drone capabilities improve, employers may hire more certified pilots to operate safely and legally.
Skills You'll Need
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Work across many industries
- • Mix of outdoor and tech-based work
- • Relatively low barrier to entry compared to manned aviation
- • Opportunities for freelance and contract work
- • Skills transfer to mapping, inspection, and imaging roles
Cons
- • Work can be weather-dependent and seasonal
- • Regulatory compliance and paperwork can be strict
- • Liability risk if flights cause damage or injury
- • Income may be inconsistent for freelancers
- • Competition is high in photography and real estate niches
Common Questions About the Drone Pilot Trade
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