Drone Pilot Jobs in California

A Drone Pilot in the transportation industry operates unmanned aircrafts, commonly known as drones, for various purposes such as delivering goods, inspecting infrastructure, and acquiring aerial data. They are responsible for navigating the drones safely and efficiently, ensuring adherence to regulations, maintaining the drones, and conducting pre-flight inspections. Crucially, they are also tasked with interpreting and analyzing data collected by the drone. Therefore, essential skills for a Drone Pilot include excellent hand-eye coordination, attention to detail, technical proficiency, analytical abilities, understanding of aviation laws, and strong communication skills.

Before becoming a Drone Pilot, a candidate may have held roles such as a survey technician, where they would acquire skills in data collection and analysis; or as a photographer or videographer, where they could gain familiarity with drone operation for capturing images or footage. In some cases, a background in logistics or transportation could also be beneficial. Drone Pilots should be certified by a recognized authority, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. This often requires passing an aeronautical knowledge test, hence, a good understanding of aviation is necessary. Further, having a Remote Pilot Certificate or similar credentials is typically a requirement for professional Drone Pilots.

1-10 of 10 Jobs

Drone Operator

  • Irvine, CA
  • 1 day ago
  • Irvine, CA
  • 1 day ago

DESCRIPTION The Drone Operator recruitment is an Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) internal recruitment. Only applications from current, non-probationary OCFA safety personnel will be accepted....

15W UAV Operator

  • San Miguel, CA
  • 2 days ago
  • San Miguel, CA
  • 2 days ago

Military drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are used in the field to gather intelligence for tactical operations. As an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator in the Army National...

UAS Pilot

  • Red Bluff, CA
  • 2 days ago
  • Red Bluff, CA
  • 2 days ago

Knowledge of data delivery, including uploading images with hotspot/Star Link connectivity Experience with drone photography, able to quickly adjust photo settings mid-flight....

Remote Work

Partners with Flight Ops Manager and Aviation Safety Officer; ensure test team conducts safe and effective ground and flight test operations....

Drone pilot in Yreka for wedding

  • Yreka, CA
  • 12 days ago
  • Yreka, CA
  • 12 days ago

Drone pilot in Yreka for wedding (Yreka) compensation: $30~$35 h Drone Pilot needed Aug 18th 3:30pm-7pm for a small intimate outdoor wedding in a horse ranch in Yreka. $30~35h Raw footage is okay!...

$28/hr - Mapping and Data Collection Autonomous Vehicle Operator

  • Mountain View, CA
  • 12 days ago
  • Mountain View, CA
  • 12 days ago

Ami Arroyo, Inc. $28/hr - Mapping and Data Collection Autonomous Vehicle Operator Sign in to apply Mountain View, CA Sign in to apply About the Role Our client is seeking a skilled and...

Autonomous Vehicle Operator

  • Mountain View, CA
  • 12 days ago
  • Mountain View, CA
  • 12 days ago

Looking for Autonomous vehicle Operator $29.00 USD Per Hour Schedule Monday- Friday 8:AM- 4:30PM and 3:PM- 12:AM Bachelor's Degree in any field; demonstrated communication, analytic, mathematical...

Contract Photographer & Drone Operator: Showcase San Diego Farms!

  • San Diego, CA
  • 26 days ago
  • San Diego, CA
  • 26 days ago

Responsibilities Conduct on-site photoshoots and videography sessions at San Diego farms. Capture high-quality photographs showcasing farm landscapes, production processes, and produce....

Sr. Staff Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Pilot

  • Palmdale, CA
  • 30+ days ago
  • Palmdale, CA
  • 30+ days ago

Partners with Flight Ops Manager and Aviation Safety Officer; ensure test team conducts safe and effective ground and flight test operations....

Autonomous Vehicle Operator, San Francisco - PM Shift

  • San Francisco, CA
  • 30+ days ago
  • San Francisco, CA
  • 30+ days ago

Autonomous Vehicle Operator, San Francisco - PM Shift at Nuro California - SF Who We Are Nuro exists to better everyday life through robotics. Founded in 2016, Nuro has spent eight years...

Demographic Data for California

Moving to California? Find some basic demographic data about California below.


Local
National
39,536,271
996,598

Drone Pilot Online Courses and Training Opportunities

iHireTransportation curates thousands of courses in order to recommend the best ones to help further your career. If you register for a course using the links on our site, we may receive a small commission.
DJI Drones: How To Become The Ultimate Pilot
**** Compatible with DJI Spark, Mavic Pro or Phantom 4 Drones **** Fly with confidenceFly safely and within your lawsFly without crashing or damaging your new droneGet silky smooth, cinematic...
Safe Drone Flight - Procedures & Practices for New Pilots
Despite what some drone manufacturer marketing materials may claim, flying a drone is a complicated thing. While drones may be able to "fly themselves" using Artificial Intelligence and collision...
Private Pilot Ground School
This is a three-day workshop that took place during the MIT Independent Activities Period (IAP) in January, 2019. This workshop aims to provide information for students to prepare for the FAA...

Salary for Drone Pilot Jobs in California

Estimated salary range based on data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and iHireTransportation research efforts.

Licensing / Certification

Required or preferred licenses and certifications for Drone Pilot positions.



Highest Education Level

Drone Pilots in California offer the following education background
High School or GED
39.9%
Vocational Degree or Certification
24.5%
Bachelor's Degree
15.7%
Associate's Degree
10.1%
Master's Degree
5.6%
Some College
2.5%
Some High School
1.3%
Doctorate Degree
0.5%

Average Work Experience
Here's a breakdown of the number of years' experience offered by Drone Pilots in California
2-4 years
51.4%
4-6 years
19.8%
1-2 years
8.2%
6-8 years
7.3%
10+ years
7.2%
Less than 1 year
6.1%



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