How much do drone pilots make

Her class teaches students how to set up their drone if they already have one, as well as photography basics. For remote students, she also offers drone lessons as a contractor through photo retailer Polar Pro. The photography gear site last month expanded its offering from selling photo gear to launching PolarPro EDU, a series of live, one-on-one educational classes. But it is also turning into a blessing in disguise for Buenrostro. While she gets offered fewer gigs shooting videos, more people are buying drones, which means more people needing lessons.

And as drones become ubiquitous, more companies are learning how they can benefit from aerial data. Farmers are increasingly seeking aerial data to optimize water or pesticide usage, biologists are using them to track animal patterns, and construction companies want aerial images to survey their progress.

Drone pilots say the market for easy drone piloting jobs, like taking simple real estate photos, is the most crowded. But the pilots who are making six-figures say the trick is to specialize. Moss said the people who are making the most money have GIS and mapping experience. Dean has cornered the market in aerial thermal imagery for commercial restorations. Add billing, invoicing and marketing, and actually flying the drone only makes up a small percentage of the day, Moss added.

Compete with quality. As first published in MarketWatch: Looking for a gig that pays six figures? Consider being a freelance drone pilot.

His story is not unusual. By way of instance, construction companies are adding in-house firing pilots for their employees to conduct aerial surveys of the work websites. In some cases, larger companies may assemble multi-person groups of drone technologists to fly drones and handle drone operations and process the information collected. In another example, public security organizations put the drone up programs and coach their officers to fly drones for search and rescue missions.

These illustrations represent opportunities for professionals already established in a specific career field to locate employment flying drones. More companies are embracing drone use in their everyday operations and locating themselves needing drone pilots.

Our drone jobs manual takes a close look at the very top 11 businesses where drone pilots have discovered work. The increasing demand for accredited drone pilots is matched or perhaps surpass by a developing supply. The FAA has issued almost , Component certificates.

With all that competition, many drone pilots contribute to business for themselves instead of competing job boards. The attractiveness of preparing your drone company is the start-up prices are relatively low. Professional-grade drones are readily available to just about anybody from dozens of favorite retailers. Someone comfortable purchasing a factory refurbished drone may be upward for much less.

Another draw of this drone premier route is the broad range of drone solutions to pick from when deciding what offers to integrate into their business model. A growing number of businesses are beginning to understand the value drones can provide, from agriculture to telecommunications. Droneprenuers may create a company around aerial services like GIS mapping and surveying, thermal imaging, safety surveillance, and inspecting, to mention a couple.

Freelance and client-based operate a hotbed of drone activity. For newly minted drone pilots, getting their name in the marketplace can be challenging. Freelance providers such as Upwork and Fiverr work with drone operators, but you will find drone-specific hiring and record websites too. We have put together a listing of accredited drone directories and national drone programs here, where you can submit your data and get recorded.

Of these networks and directories, among the most prolific is DroneBase, an internet service that provides customers with vetted drone pilots within their region. Professional drone solutions are a youthful field, so there are not just any wages criteria set up. In a sense, the site is still relatively decentralized and remains heavily leaning on freelance gigs. One of the lack of criteria is that the prices for drone services may vary widely across different businesses.

For example, the hourly fee of professional drone mapping providers can be far greater than what a drone photographer could bill. There are cases where prices may vary across different cities and states, mainly because the local marketplace dictates how much the conventional or aggressive prices are.

If you want to earn more, you have to be offering a service that not many drone pilots can offer. Pilot Institute may earn commission from sales that happen when you click on links.

We are a member of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Your email address will not be published. Sign me up for the newsletter! Subscribe now and get a weekly video sent to your inbox on various drone topics hosted by Greg.

Blog Exclusive articles on drones and airplanes. Go to blog home. What is the average pay for drone pilots? About author. Pilot Institute. Similar articles. Comments Share now.