Also called: sUAS Operator, UAV Pilot, Drone Operator
Flies small drones to film, inspect, map, or survey for businesses, construction, agriculture, and media.
One day you film a real estate listing; the next you fly around a cell tower or roof looking for damage while software stitches a 3D model. You check airspace rules on an app, plan the flight, and process data at your laptop afterward.
Estimated; many are freelancers, and inspection or mapping specialists earn more than photo work.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 0 years after high school. FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate (one written exam). Skills in photography, GIS, or inspection make you more valuable.
Ways in: Certification, Self-taught, On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Geography / GIS, Photography.
Growing much faster than average. Fast-growing use across industries.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Drones increasingly fly auto-missions from docks; demand grows, but one operator runs many drones.
Age 16+. One way to start: Study the free FAA Part 107 materials for a couple of weeks, then book the knowledge test at a test center First: FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate (one knowledge test, about $175)
Classes: Physics, Photography or media, Computer science.
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.