Flies small unmanned aircraft for paid work such as surveying, mapping, construction progress, infrastructure inspection, film and agriculture. BLS does not publish separate figures for surveying and mapping technicians; it counts them within surveying and mapping technician (SOC 17-3031), whose median pay is $54,240 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 17-3031
- Architecture and Engineering
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Commercial Drone Pilot in four numbers
- Median pay
- $54,240a year, or $26.08/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $38KTop 10% $82K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.8%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 6,90058,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202558.8K
- Projected 203562.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 58.8K Projected 2035 62.2K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: UAS Operator, Remote Pilot, Drone Operator, UAV Pilot, sUAS Pilot, Drone Inspection Pilot.
Pay
How much do Surveying and Mapping Technicians make?
Every commercial drone pilot in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$54,240
Middle half earn $45,430 to $66,700
- 10th
- $37,520
- 25th
- $45,430
- 75th
- $66,700
- 90th
- $81,630
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $37,520 |
| 25th | $45,430 |
| Median | $54,240 |
| 75th | $66,700 |
| 90th | $81,630 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $54,240
- Median hourly wage
- $26.08/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $58,000
- People employed
- 58,010
Versus all US occupations
At $54,240, Surveying and Mapping Technicians earn 6% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $3,260 a year.
Versus architecture and engineering occupations
Inside the Architecture and Engineering group, where the middle occupation pays $104,110, this is 48% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $81,630 or more while the bottom 10% earn $37,520, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 26% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($78,110), but once local prices are taken into account Alaska leads at $75,196 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Surveying and Mapping Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $78,110 | $70,547 | 3,340 |
| 2Alaska | $76,970 | $75,196 | 300 |
| 3Minnesota | $73,190 | $74,213 | 1,060 |
| 4Washington | $62,720 | $58,610 | 1,030 |
| 5Maryland | $61,600 | $58,690 | 470 |
| 6North Dakota | $60,870 | $68,425 | 160 |
| 7New Jersey | $60,720 | $55,806 | 750 |
| 8Montana | $60,330 | $63,743 | 430 |
| 9Ohio | $60,330 | $65,029 | 1,350 |
| 10Rhode Island | $60,320 | $58,975 | 110 |
Job outlook
Is Commercial Drone Pilot a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | +5.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Surveying and Mapping Technicians to change 5.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 3,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 6,900 openings are projected each year, 11.7% of the 58,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Commercial Drone Pilot
Anyone flying a drone for pay in the United States needs an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107, earned by passing the Unmanned Aircraft General knowledge test at an approved testing center and keeping it current with free online recurrent training. No college degree is required.
Employers value pilots who also understand the data, so training in GIS, photogrammetry, thermography or surveying helps, and some community colleges offer UAS certificates. Specialized work such as night operations, flights over people or beyond visual line of sight may need FAA waivers. Industry groups such as AUVSI publish training and safety standards.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does a Commercial Drone Pilot do?
Commercial drone pilots fly small unmanned aircraft to collect images and data that used to need a helicopter, a scaffold or a survey crew. Typical jobs include mapping a construction site, inspecting roofs, cell towers, bridges, wind turbines and power lines, capturing aerial video for real estate or film, and scouting crops.
The flight itself is only part of the work. Pilots check airspace, request authorizations near airports through the FAA's LAANC system, plan automated flight grids, maintain batteries and aircraft, and process the results into orthomosaic maps, 3D models or inspection reports with photogrammetry software. Many work for survey, engineering, utility and inspection firms, and others run their own small businesses.
Day-to-day tasks
- Check airspace restrictions and request LAANC authorization before flights
- Plan automated flight paths for mapping and inspection missions
- Fly drones to capture photos, video, thermal or LiDAR data
- Process imagery into maps, 3D models and inspection reports
- Maintain aircraft, batteries, sensors and flight logs
- Conduct pre-flight site safety assessments with clients
- Keep the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate current through recurrent training
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Drone pilots work outdoors at job sites in most weather, often on construction sites, rooftops, farms and utility corridors, then spend office time processing data. Travel between sites is common. The work involves carrying cases of equipment, standing for long periods and following site safety rules, including hard hats and high-visibility gear.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.6
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Mathematics3.3
- Active Listening3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Speaking3.0
- Writing2.9
- Active Learning2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 |
| Mathematics | 3.3 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Time Management3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Coordination2.9
- Systems Analysis2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Management of Personnel Resources2.8
- Operation and Control2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Systems Analysis | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 2.8 |
| Operation and Control | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Commercial Drone Pilot?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RIC) built on O*NET's Surveying and Mapping Technician profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Commercial Drone Pilot |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.0
- Conventional5.6
- Investigative4.4
- Artistic1.9
- Social1.0
- Enterprising1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Commercial Drone Pilot
O*NET related occupations
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
- Computer and Mathematical
Geographic Information Systems Technologist and Technician
$116,580median a year
Most earn $56K to $188K
+5.1%Bachelor's - Architecture and Engineering
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
Geological Technician, Except Hydrologic Technicians
$53,350median a year
Most earn $36K to $100K
+3.6%Associate's
More architecture and engineering careers
Median annual pay, with surveying and mapping technicians highlighted
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960
- Electrical Engineer$120,630
- Environmental Engineer$107,110
- Mechanical Engineer$104,110
- Automotive Engineer$104,110
- Industrial Engineer$102,440
- Civil Engineer$100,840
- Architect$99,280
- Commercial Drone Pilot$54,240
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 |
| Automotive Engineer | $104,110 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 |
| Architect | $99,280 |
| Commercial Drone Pilot | $54,240 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Commercial Drone Pilot appears on
Questions
Commercial Drone Pilot: frequently asked questions
How much do Surveying and Mapping Technicians make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for surveying and mapping technicians. It counts them within surveying and mapping technician, whose median pay is $54,240 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $45,430 and $66,700, and the top 10% earn $81,630 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Commercial Drone Pilot?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Surveying and Mapping Technicians. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is Commercial Drone Pilot a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.8% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 6,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Commercial Drone Pilot do?
Commercial drone pilots fly small unmanned aircraft to collect images and data that used to need a helicopter, a scaffold or a survey crew. A typical task: check airspace restrictions and request LAANC authorization before flights. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software, Development environment software.
Which states pay Surveying and Mapping Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Surveying and Mapping Technicians are California ($78,110), Alaska ($76,970), Minnesota ($73,190) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Alaska moves to the top at $75,196.
What personality type suits a Commercial Drone Pilot?
O*NET scores Surveying and Mapping Technicians highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.