The average salary for a drone pilot is approximately $51,000 per year. However, independent pilots may earn more or less depending on the types of jobs performed, location, and other such variables.
Hello, fellow drone enthusiasts! My name is Lavelle and I am a drone pilot and a long-time drone enthusiast. I have flown my drones for both recreational and commercial purposes and have worked on projects that span many disciplines.
In this article, I will discuss how much pilots of all levels can potentially earn. I will also provide data to support the prospective earnings.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- A licensed drone pilot can earn a substantial living.
- Developing in-demand skills, such as geography and mapping, are critical to earning potential.
- Some industries are more highly-paid than others, therefore finding a niche is important.
How Much Does a Drone Pilot Make
The number of earnings you can make as a drone pilot varies depending on several variables. The data I’ve found indicates that beginning, licensed drone pilots can charge just over $20 per hour for services while experienced pilots with more than 5 years of experience can charge as much as $30 per hour.
Here is a table showing average rates for the different categories (Drone Pilot, UAV Pilot, UAV Operator):
| Drone Pilot (1 year or less experience) | Drone Pilot (5 years or more experience) | UAV Pilot (1 year or less experience) | UAV Pilot (5 years or more experience) | UAV Operator (1 year or less experience) | UAV Operator (5 years or more experience) |
| $43,056 – $59,099 | $75,000 | $73,000 | $115,000 | $35,569 | $53,750 |
The average salary for each category is as follows:
| Drone Pilot (1 year or less experience) | Drone Pilot (5 years or more experience) | UAV Pilot (1 year or less experience) | UAV Pilot (5 years or more experience) | UAV Operator (1 year or less experience) | UAV Operator (5 years or more experience) |
| $51,725 | $75,000 | $70,671 | $99,820 | N/A | N/A |
What Does the Drone Pilot’s Income Depend on?
Several variables contribute to the income of a drone pilot. Some of those are listed below.
Skills
A good understanding of aerial photography and videography are essential skills for drone pilots. Consider looking at our list of the best drones for aerial photography.
Geography and mapping skills are also important aspects of drone operations. Other good skills to have or learn include marketing, construction, music video production, and safety.
Industry
Many industries use drone operations. Some of the industries include real estate, construction, safety, meteorology, entertainment, and even the military.
Years of Experience
Beginning-level drone operators should consider doing “free” jobs to gain experience. Typically, a drone pilot needs about 6-months of experience to launch into a viable career. Drone pilots with more than 5-years of experience command the highest rates.
Company or Freelance
Whether you opt for the company pilot route or to work as a freelancer, either is a solid option. Company drone pilots can earn a decent salary and may be afforded a good benefits package, depending on the company.
Freelance pilots can charge higher rates and have more flexibility. However, freelancers should be aware of business processes and choose the best business category (sole proprietor, LLC, etc.) for their overall goals.
Location
Pay scales and rates vary by state as well. It is possible to charge higher rates in states where the demand is higher and the cost of living is also higher.
But in the US, from coast to coast, there are opportunities for drone pilots to work. Whether it’s for real estate projects, construction projects, agriculture projects, or any other type of work, there is an abundance of opportunities for drone operations.
FAQs
Here are a few answers to some of the frequently asked questions about drone pilot salaries.
Can Drone Pilots Make Good Money?
Drone pilots can make a livable wage with experience, training, and good skills.
What Are the Highest Paying Drone Jobs?
Some of the highest-paying drone jobs are found in the entertainment industry, primarily for video production. Mapping and surveying jobs are also high-paying drone jobs.
How Much Do NFL Drone Pilots Make?
There is no data to say how much NFL drone pilots make. However, the NFL is known to be a higher-than-average paying employee. Jobs and freelance opportunities with the NFL typically pay well.
Final Thoughts
Drone pilot careers are taking off rapidly. The earning potential is great as are the opportunities. While the field is still relatively new, launching (pun intended) a career as a drone pilot is a legitimate option.
Do you work as a drone operator or do you operate a drone for fun? Do you think this profession has a big future? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
