Drone Pilots
Overview
Introduction
Unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, are used to gather military intelligence, collect information on the health of crops and endangered species, survey damage after tornadoes and floods, check utility lines in inaccessible places, and perform many other tasks. Drone pilots operate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). They fly drones that range in size from those smaller than a computer mouse to the U.S. government’s MQ-4C Triton, which is 47.6-feet long and has a 130.9-foot wingspan. Drone pilots are also known as unmanned aerial ...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Starting salaries for drone pilots range from $50,000 to $60,000, although those who work for military contractors who are deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and other countries where the U.S. is currently fighting terrorism have higher earnings (in the $125,000 to $150,000 range). Contractors may receive additional compensation if they are deployed overseas. Unmanned vehicle operations spec...
Work Environment
Many drone pilots who are employed by the military or defense contractors work in command centers that are in the United States, while flying drones that are halfway around the world. Others work at facilities in war zones overseas or in the field along with troops or intelligence officers. The work area of a military/defense contractor drone operator includes a throttle quadrant, a control sti...
Outlook
Revenue in the global UAV market is expected to grow from $30.2 billion in 2024 to $48.5 billion in 2029, increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 9.9 percent from 2024 to 2029, according to MarketsandMarkets. The competitive intelligence and market research platform says that "market drivers include rising procurement for military applications, farm management optimization using agricult...
