Also called: Aerial Cinematographer, Drone Videographer
Shoots aerial video for movies, commercials, real estate, sports, and weddings.
You plan a sweeping shot with a director, fly a camera drone down a canyon at 50 mph, and nail it on the third take. Freelancers also edit and market their own work.
Hollywood specialists earn far more than typical freelancers.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 0 years after high school. FAA Part 107 certificate; skills often self-taught.
Ways in: Certification, Self-taught. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Film Production, Photography.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years).
Medium risk for 10 years. AI video and generated footage replace some stock aerial shots; real events, films and creative camera work stay human.
Age 16+. One way to start: Study for and pass the FAA Part 107 test, then offer real estate or event drone shots First: FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate (needed for any paid drone flying)
Classes: Photography or film, Art, Computer science, Journalism.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-4031.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.