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.

1-6 of 6 Jobs

Agricultural Drone Pilot

  • Salinas, CA
  • 4 days ago
  • Salinas, CA
  • 4 days ago

The UAS Drone Pilot will work closely with farm managers and agronomists to monitor pest activity, optimize application methods, and enhance overall crop protection....

Need licensed drone operator Salton Sea

  • Niland, CA
  • 6 days ago
  • Niland, CA
  • 6 days ago

Need licensed drone operator Salton Sea (So Salton Sea) compensation: $500 I need five minutes of good footage of the lithium drill rig a mile off shore at the so end of Salton Sea. Also possibly...

Need a FPV DRONE Operator for an independent film

  • Ontario, CA
  • 14 days ago
  • Ontario, CA
  • 14 days ago

un Need a FPV DRONE Operator for an independent film image 1 of 2 compensation: $300 We are looking for an experienced DRONE OPERATOR for a low budget superhero film. The operator should be able...

I need to hire a drone operator to film a property

  • Santa Barbara, CA
  • 17 days ago
  • Santa Barbara, CA
  • 17 days ago

un I need to hire a drone operator to film a property (Mission canyon) compensation: Project based - please submit bids I need footage of a home and the views and property of this home, then an...

Looking for Experienced Drone Operator + Video Editor

  • San Luis Obispo, CA
  • 24 days ago
  • San Luis Obispo, CA
  • 24 days ago

un Looking for Experienced Drone Operator + Video Editor (San Luis Obispo) compensation: TBA I'm a local professional looking for a skilled drone operator and video editor to help film and edit...

Photographer or Drone Pilot for Real Estate Marketing Project

  • Chula Vista, CA
  • 45+ days ago
  • Chula Vista, CA
  • 45+ days ago

un Photographer or Drone Pilot for Real Estate Marketing Project (Chula Vista) compensation: TBD Need a real estate photographer, videographer, or drone pilot in Chula Vista for a co-marketing project...

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
40.5%
Vocational Degree or Certification
24.6%
Bachelor's Degree
15.6%
Associate's Degree
9.7%
Master's Degree
5.4%
Some College
2.3%
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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