What is the average salary of a drone pilot?
We did some salary research and tested a number of search terms on Glassdoor, coming away with the following insights: “Drone Pilot” shows a median salary of $79K, but it is somewhat inflated due to manned pilots being included Glassdoors calculations. “UAS Pilot” was more accurate, but it only brought up three legitimate results.
How to earn money as a drone pilot?
What Are Some Ways to Make Money With a Drone?
- Real Estate Photos & Video. The first place most drone pilots try to drum up work is in the real estate market. ...
- Roof Inspections. It costs money for insurance companies to send someone up on a ladder. ...
- Stock Photography/Video. ...
- Get Creative and Technical. ...
- Other Potential Ways to Make Money with a Drone. ...
What makes a good drone pilot?
What makes a good pilot? 1) Determination. This is especially true when you?re first starting out, because it?s not easy becoming a pilot (That?s probably a good thing, by the way. Don?t forget you?re in charge of a huge hunk of metal rocketing through the sky)! For this reason and many others, a pilot must be self-motivated.
How much do drone pilots get paid?
The Drone Pilot title has an average salary that’s a bit more on the conservative side. Based on an hourly rate, a Drone Pilot can earn $23.04 on average. This corresponds to roughly $51,725 annual salary. The numbers are a bit skewed by the fact that more than 70% of the responders were Drone Pilots who were in the early phase of their careers.
How much do drone pilots make in 2020?
What is a drone pilot job?
What is a UAV operator?
How much does it cost to start a drone business?
What are the areas of specialization for drone pilots?
How to stay employed as a drone pilot?
What do drones do?
See 2 more
Do drone pilots make good money?
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.
What are the highest paying drone jobs?
Top 3 Drone Services For Making Over $100K/YearSurvey, mapping, etc.Aerial photography and/or videography.Utilities infrastructure inspection or monitoring.
Is drone pilot a good career?
As you can see from the high-paying jobs we discussed, drone pilots can expect to not only earn a competitive salary but have well-paying job opportunities for years to come. In fact, some data reveals that approximately 100,000 new jobs could be created in the drone industry over the next 10 years.
Can you make a living as a drone pilot?
Can you make a living as a drone pilot? There are some full-time jobs for drone pilots, but more typically you'll be hired as an independent contractor. It's possible to earn a high income as a professional drone pilot, but you'll usually need to cover your own health insurance and self-employment tax.
How hard is it to become a drone pilot?
It's not hard to get a license, but you need to be at least 16 years old. You also have to be proficient in English, meet minimum physical and mental drone operator standards, and pass an FAA exam. Here's a step-by-step guide for how to get a drone license.
Is it hard to learn to fly a drone?
Drone flying is actually fairly difficult, especially for a beginner with no practical background in flying anything remote-controlled. This is why many beginners take flying courses or start with flight simulation software. It is always best to know the basics first before actually flying a drone.
Is it hard to get FAA drone license?
You're monitored with cameras to make sure you're not doing anything out of order. When you're done, you receive your test results right away and learn if you passed or failed. You only need 70% to pass the test and obtain your FAA part 107 drone license.
How long does it take to become a drone pilot?
How long does it take to get a drone license? From start to finish, it takes the majority of our students 4-6 weeks to get their FAA drone pilot license. And you'll receive your official certificate card in the mail 6-8 weeks after that.
Is a drone license worth it?
It takes a little bit of time to study, and $160 to take the Aeronautical Knowledge test, but it's well worth it to gain more knowledge of your privileges and responsibilities as a drone pilot. Then you will be able to safely and legally earn money with your drone.
Is the Part 107 test hard?
The FAA Part 107 drone pilot license test is quite challenging. Attempting to pass the exam without studying will almost certainly provide less than stellar results. That said, it's not rocket science, and 15 to 20 hours of dedicated study time should help you prepare well enough to pass the test on the first try.
What qualifications do you need to be a drone pilot?
Most employers will expect you to have a minimum of 40 hours of recorded drone flying experience. If you are in the armed forces or the police you may be able to train as an aerial vehicle pilot to operate drones for military or security purposes.
Is drone photography profitable?
Drone photography can be quite a profitable job. Professional drone photographers can charge up to $450 per hour. In general, the amount of money you earn depends on the kind of aerial photography you want to pursue.
How much do professional drone racers make?
The Drone Racing League pays an average salary of $369,287 and salaries range from a low of $325,710 to a high of $420,795.
Is a drone license worth it?
It takes a little bit of time to study, and $160 to take the Aeronautical Knowledge test, but it's well worth it to gain more knowledge of your privileges and responsibilities as a drone pilot. Then you will be able to safely and legally earn money with your drone.
What jobs can I do with a drone?
Here's a quick rundown of the most popular drone jobs.Drone photographer and filmmaker. ... Precision agriculture surveyor. ... Drone 3D modeler. ... Power line inspector. ... Rooftop inspector. ... Search and rescue team member. ... Drone flight instructor.
How much do military drone operators make?
The salary starts at $41,653 per year and goes up to $60,859 per year for the highest level of seniority.
How much does a drone pilot make an hour?
Based on the data, a Drone Pilot with less than a year of experience can charge $20.70 per hour but can earn more than $26.49 per hour if they have more than five years of experience. The estimated salary for a UAV Pilot is significantly higher – about $75,000 per year on average.
How much does a UAV pilot make?
According to the data, a UAV pilot with one to four years of experience can earn around $51,000 in a year – roughly equivalent to the average numbers for a Drone Pilot. The great news is that a UAV Pilot with more than five years of experience has an average earning capacity of $99,820 annually. The numbers get even higher for UAV Pilots ...
How many drone pilots are there in the US?
The numbers support this – as of the end of 2018, there were already more than 120,00 licensed commercial drone pilots in the US.
How much does a 10% percentile make?
The lower 10% percentile earns $39,571 while the upper 10% percentile earns $109,506. Those with less than two years of experience earn around $70,671, which is almost $8000 less than the average earnings for the industry. On the other hand, those with 10 to 14 years of experience can earn $82,522 annually on average.
Do drone pilots make money?
Professional drone services are a very young field so there aren’t exactly any salary standards in place. The way it works right now is that most drone pilots charge rates based on their level of experience, the investment they have made on their gear, the specific field they are working in, and how much profit they are targeting. In a way, the field is still very decentralized and is still heavily leaning on freelance gigs.
Is drone mapping still decentralized?
In a way, the field is still very decentralized and is still heavily leaning on freelance gigs. Compounding the lack of existence of standards is that the rates for drone services can vary widely across different industries. For instance, the hourly rate for professional drone mapping services can be much higher than what a drone photographer can ...
Is drone mapping hourly?
For instance, the hourly rate for professional drone mapping services can be much higher than what a drone photographer can charge. There are even cases where rates can vary across different states and cities, mostly because the local market dictates how much the standard or competitive rates are. This means that the average rate, as declared by ...
How Much Does a Drone Pilot Make?
A pointed question for those looking to switch careers or augment their existing career.
What is the industry trend of drones?
The industry trend started as companies hired freelancers, then attempted to start their own drone programs. While there have been several successful programs, many of them struggle to be successful. We believe the most recent industry trend is actually a hybrid of hiring employees and freelancers. Freelance drone pilots have even been brought in to help, then get hired on permanently.
What is dronebase job?
The Dronebase jobs are entry-level real estate jobs, inspection jobs, and basic photography. Oftentimes you can find roof inspection work on Dronebase as well.
When drones can control their own movement, we might find businesses using drones more and more?
When drones can control their own movement, we might find businesses using drones more and more as they realize the power of drones. Capabilities and uses are expanding very quickly, and they are revolutionizing every industry that picks them up.
Do drone pilots work in the media?
Now media and production can cover a wide gamut of potential jobs. We will also say that a vast majority of drone pilots working in the media, were entrepreneurs.
Is drone pilot salary accurate?
If you research online, you will find drone pilot salary statistics that are grossly inaccurate. In fact, most data sources just aggregate data from jobbing companies and Glassdoor.
Is the drone industry at a tipping point?
The drone industry is at a similar tipping point.
How much does it cost to start a drone business?
After the small cost of obtaining a Part 107 certification and purchasing a quality unit, a person can start up drone photography/videography business for well under $2,000. Someone comfortable buying a factory refurbished drone can be up for even less.
What sectors are drones used in?
According to a 2018 report by Skyward, some of the sectors where drone adoption is growing most are Construction & Engineering, Government, and Transportation & Warehousing.
Is it worth setting up an aerial business?
Setting up your own aerial services business is not something to dive into without careful consideration, but it can provide satisfying financial gains for the person who does it right.
Is drone technology a part of aerospace?
Drones are the wave of the future of aerospace. Aviation is traditionally a slow-and-steady market, but drone technology is innovating at a rapid pace, propelling the market forward at high speed. Their capabilities and uses are expanding as fast as people can think up uses, and they are poised to revolutionize just about any industry you can think of. Right now is the right time to become a Part 107 compliant drone pilot so you can make an entry into the market before it becomes totally saturated.
Who hires Drone Pilots
In order to get a good idea of what a drone pilot salary looks like, first we have to find out who hires drone pilots!
Self-employed Drone Pilot Salary
With a multitude of jobs available, drone pilots can work as much as they want to. As their skill and work quality improves, they can start charging more for their work and make their time more profitable.
Realistic Drone Pilot Salaries
Self-employed drone pilot salaries usually start at $50,000 a year but a self employed drone pilot with a couple years of experience and a good portfolio can double the starting salary and make over six figures easily.
Start making money as a Drone Pilot
In order to start making money as a drone pilot, there’s a couple things necessary steps, and a couple things to consider.
Making Good Money as a Drone Pilot
Once you’ve started making money as a drone pilot, the easiest way to make good money is to pick an area to specialize in.
Equipment for becoming a Drone Pilot
There are several crucial pieces of equipment you’re going to need in order to become a successful drone pilot!
Becoming a Legal Drone Pilot
Legally selling your drone flying services in the US means that you must meet all of the FFA requirements and get a Remote Pilot Certificate. Thankfully, it’s not too hard to do!
How much do freelance drone pilots make?
Alright, this is probably what most of my readers have been looking forward to. It’s also what most new drone pilots in the field shoot for.
How much should you charge for your drone services?
How do I price my drone services to stay both competitive and profitable? – This is a valid question that comes up a lot.
Do drone pilots make good money flying drones?
While there is a lot that plays into how much someone can make from a job, we do have some metrics to answer this one.
How much do drone pilots make?
UAVcoach.com reports that drone pilots working for themselves can earn between $25/hr and $250/hr. That’s a pretty big swing, and the differentiator is if expertise is needed in what data is collected and if post-processing is required. Pilots in the real estate business start in the $25/hr range. However, those collecting data for a construction project start at $50/hr. The hourly rate jumps to $100/hr for utility inspections, $140/hr for those in the insurance business, and over $200/hr for filmmaking.
Do utility companies use drones?
Many utility companies hire pilots to operate a drone while their technicians diagnose issues with their electrical equipment. Others own their own drone business where they capture data for contractors, marketing firms, and wedding planners.
Do drone pilots work full time?
Let’s start with the qualifier that most commercial drone pilots do not do it full-time. In my experience, those commercially operating a UAS are either doing it as a side job or using drones as a tool for their existing full-time job.
What Does a Drone Pilot Do?
We’ve created this page to help you learn more about the jobs available in the drone industry, both for pilots and non-pilots, and to help you better understand all of the types of work currently being done with drones.
How Much Do Similar Professions Get Paid in the United States?
There are some different titles for Drone Pilot jobs, and the job title of Drone Pilot will vary in different companies. The job title has a lot to do with the department and responsibilities, and the same job title will vary in different departments. The following list is the salary of jobs similar to Drone Pilot, start to view Drone Pilot-related jobs you are interested in.
How much money do you make as a drone pilot?
Dean is on track to make $200,000 this year through his drone business. But it wasn’t always that easy.
How much does a drone pilot license cost?
The Federal Aviation Administration also requires that commercial drone pilots have a Part 107 drone pilot license, which costs $150 and must be renewed every two years.
How much does a drone cost?
Drones range from about $1,000 to more than $10,000. Flight planning startup Kittyhawk says the most commonly used drone among its users is the DJI Mavic Pro, which costs less than $1,000. For pilots who want to carry a thermal camera, the most popular drone is the DJI Inspire 2, which costs about $3,000. An accompanying thermal camera, such as Flir’s Zenmuse XT2, can cost $10,000.
What do drone pilots do?
For a drone pilot, no day is ever the same. Most drone pilots work as freelance contractors, flying drones for major companies and small businesses. They’re using drones for everything from gathering thermal images of the ground to producing 3-D models of buildings.
How much does a thermography degree cost?
Dean said that he lands most of his highest-paying gigs because of his thermography certification. Each level of thermography certification costs $2,000, and there are three levels (Dean has a level three certification).
What does it mean when a pilot is weather-contingent?
Most of a pilot’s business is weather-contingent, which means extreme cold and wind can shut down business, while the aftermath of a storm could mean an influx of business. Dean specializes in using drones for post-storm damage inspections, which means he only gets that kind of rapid business in the wake of a storm.
Is there room to be successful as a drone pilot?
Moss said that while more people are trying to make it as a drone pilot, there’s plenty of room to be successful.
How much do drone pilots make in 2020?
On average, drone pilots in the United States are making anywhere between $60-$200,000, based on research from indeed.com, payscale.com, salary.com, dice.com, and interviews conducted with drone pilots in 2020.
What is a drone pilot job?
The drone pilot job title is a general drone pilot job title seen across many industries and employers. It’s safe to say that this job title is the most average job title, and pay scale, that you will see when searching for drone jobs. It covers a wide degree of industries, the military and small companies.
What is a UAV operator?
UAV operator appears to be a base level role, typically for an entry-level drone pilot, or drone pilot not required to have a bachelor’s degree or significant post drone flight training. Did UAV operator job title can also signify UAV repair engineer, or UAV maintenance professional.
How much does it cost to start a drone business?
Start up costs are extremely low for drone businesses. You will generally spend anywhere between $5000 to $10,000 to set up your business. The actual drone equipment can range anywhere between $2500-$5000, when you factor in a drone, your FAA part 107 certification, as well as your test prep and piloting course.
What are the areas of specialization for drone pilots?
Areas of specialization include industrial inspection, surveying, agriculture, law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue, mining and construction . These areas are in fact underserved by drone pilots, as many drone pilots are driving hundreds of miles just to do a single job.
How to stay employed as a drone pilot?
There are lots of ways to stay fully employed as a drone pilot. Drone Base bills itself as the Uber for drones. Once you were in their database, you will receive leads for drone jobs in your area. For drone jobs like photography, home inspections, and other drone work, drone bass can be a nice addition to your client base. Much like Uber, you will be rated and be able to show your reputation easily from the past work that you’ve done. This is a great concept and we think that this is a great way for a drone pilot to get started and develop reputation in their local area. Drone Base is a great supplement to your business, and should be used in addition to the relationships you create on your own in your local area.
What do drones do?
Those drones will take to the skies and deliver your medicine from the local drugstore, they will perform tasks that endanger human lives, like inspecting powerlines and cell phone towers, assisting law-enforcement and fire departments and put human lives out of harm’s way.
