Also called: RPA Pilot, UAV Operator
Flies large military drones or operates their cameras and sensors from a ground control station.
You sit in a dark control trailer, flying an aircraft thousands of miles away by satellite link, watching video feeds for hours with total focus.
Military pay plus housing and benefits; varies by rank.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. Enlist or commission in the military; officers need a bachelor's.
Ways in: Military. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Growing faster than average. Military demand; civilian contractor roles also exist.
Medium risk for 10 years. Drones fly themselves more, so one crew can run several; watching sensors and making judgment calls stays human.
Classes: Computer science, Geography, Physical education, JROTC.
Official data: O*NET occupation 55-3014.
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.