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About this Career
Drone Operators pilot unmanned aerial vehicles for commercial photography, agriculture, construction surveying, package delivery, and emergency services. FAA Part 107 certification required. One of the fastest-growing trade careers.
Pay
$42,000
Lower reported wage
—
Not available in our data
$95,000
Upper reported wage
Annual U.S. salaries. Actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience. The lower and upper figures do not represent starting and senior salaries.
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U.S. career guide. Program, employer, and state requirements can differ.
About this data
BLS does not track Drone/UAV Operator. May be reported under various SOCs (Commercial Pilots, Camera Operators, Civil Eng Techs, Farmworkers). FAA Part 107 is the credential.
Annual median review, October 27, 2026: No dedicated occupation mapping and annual median have been verified for this role. Adjacent occupations do not establish its earnings, and OEWS excludes self-employed workers. Sources: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2025/may/oes_stru.htm ; https://www.bls.gov/oes/oes_ques.htm . Existing employment and projection figures were not refreshed.
