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Aerial Pilot Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Rotor Blade, LLC

Pilot

Georgetown, SC

Aerial Saw Pilot Position Overview Our company is seeking highly skilled and experienced MD500 pilots with long-line expertise and a demonstrated commitment to safety. The successful candidate will ...

Rotor Blade, LLC

Pilot

Georgetown, SC

Aerial Saw Pilot Position Overview Our company is seeking highly skilled and experienced MD500 pilots with long-line expertise and a demonstrated commitment to safety. The successful candidate will ...

Crossing Hurdles

Pilot

Manhattan, NY · Remote

$180 - $300/hr

Expression of Interest - Survey Pilot, Dayton, OH Aerial Firefighting Head of Crew Training Oklahoma, United States $40,001.00-$80,000.00 1 day ago Aerial Firefighting Head of Flight Operations ...

Vexcel

Check Airman / Training Pilot

Medford, OR

Description Vexcel Aerial Imagery is looking for a Check Airman/Training Pilot. This position assists in the development and verification of our commercial pilots in the safe operation of single and ...

TSMG

Drone Pilot

New York, NY

As a Drone Pilot, you should have a strong understanding of drone technology, excellent piloting ... Operate drones for aerial photography, videography, surveying, and inspections. * Conduct pre ...

TSMG

Drone Pilot

Miami, FL

As a Drone Pilot, you should have a strong understanding of drone technology, excellent piloting ... Operate drones for aerial photography, videography, surveying, and inspections. * Conduct pre ...

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Aerial Pilot information

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$49.5K

$130.9K

$201K

How much do aerial pilot jobs pay per year?

As of May 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for aerial pilot in the United States is $130,916.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,000.00 and $155,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Does an Aerial Pilot Do?

The job duties of an aerial pilot involve operating an aircraft to perform different airborne tasks. Your responsibilities vary depending on the industry. An aerial survey pilot performs data acquisition and mapping tasks while they fly over an area. As an aerial photography pilot, you take images from the air or fly a photography team over the site or event they want to photograph. An aerial firefighter pilot releases water or fire suppression liquid over a forest fire. Crop dusters release fertilizer or pesticide over farm fields.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Aerial Pilot, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Aerial Pilot, you need a commercial pilot’s license, strong aviation knowledge, and excellent flight proficiency, often supported by specialized training for aerial operations. Familiarity with navigation systems, GPS technology, and flight planning software is typically required, along with certifications such as an FAA Part 61 or 141 license. Attention to detail, situational awareness, and strong decision-making skills set exceptional aerial pilots apart. These skills and qualifications are crucial for ensuring flight safety, regulatory compliance, and effective execution of specialized missions like photography, surveying, or agricultural work.

What are some common challenges Aerial Pilots face when operating in diverse weather conditions?

Aerial Pilots often encounter rapidly changing weather patterns that can significantly affect flight safety and mission success. Navigating through turbulence, low visibility, and unexpected wind shifts requires quick decision-making and constant communication with ground control and co-pilots. Staying updated on weather reports and having contingency plans in place are essential parts of the job. Pilots must also be adept at adjusting flight plans on the fly to maintain safety and efficiency.

What are aerial pilots?

Aerial pilots are licensed professionals who operate aircraft for purposes other than commercial airline transportation. Their work often includes aerial photography, surveying, agricultural applications (like crop dusting), firefighting, search and rescue, and banner towing. Aerial pilots must have specialized training and certifications that depend on their specific area of work, and they must adhere to strict safety and regulatory standards. They often work in varied and sometimes challenging environments, and their skills are critical for tasks that require precision flying. Aerial pilots play an essential role in industries ranging from agriculture to emergency services.

What is the difference between Aerial Pilot vs Drone Operator?

AspectAerial PilotDrone Operator
CertificationsFAA pilot license, commercial pilot certificateRemote Pilot Certificate (Part 107)
Work EnvironmentAircraft in various outdoor settings, often in aviation or film industriesRemote control, often indoors or in designated outdoor areas
Industry UsageAviation, aerial photography, surveying, firefightingFilmmaking, inspections, agriculture, real estate

While both roles involve flying devices, Aerial Pilots operate manned aircraft requiring pilot licenses and often work in aviation or aerial services. Drone Operators control unmanned drones with remote licenses, mainly used for filming, inspections, or agricultural purposes. The key differences lie in certification requirements, work environment, and industry applications.

More about Aerial Pilot jobs
What cities are hiring for Aerial Pilot jobs? Cities with the most Aerial Pilot job openings:
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Aerial Pilot jobs near you
Infographic showing various Aerial Pilot job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,916 per year, or $62.9 per hour.
Jr. Drone Pilot (Jr. Unmanned Aerial Systems Pilot) - Houston Region

Jr. Drone Pilot (Jr. Unmanned Aerial Systems Pilot) - Houston Region

Arch Aerial LLC

Houston, TX

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

Arch Aerial LLC is seeking a highly motivated Junior UAS Pilot (Drone Pilot) to create and collect both captivating content and high utility industrial inspection data (for our construction and energy service lines). This is a full time hourly position which can expect 35-45 hours per week.
Functions & Responsibilities
Execute scheduled UAS (unmanned aerial systems) missions for Arch Aerial LLC, primarily in industrial settings. Duties and responsibilities include execution of UAS flights, data management, and data transfer. Must be familiar with multi-rotor UAS operation; fixed wing UAS operational experience is a plus. As this is an entry level Junior UAS Pilot role, previous professional UAS Pilot experience is not required, but is highly recommended. Whether a candidate has previous professional UAS Piloting experience or not, training will be conducted by Arch Aerial on Arch Aerial piloting, process, safety, and technical skills for all new hires.
Workload will consist of roughly 35 - 45 hours of operation per week, with opportunities for overtime beyond 40 hours per week. Travel is to be expected, and candidates should understand that duties are often performed outside in Gulf Coast and Southwest climates which include hot and humid conditions. Additional opportunities for piloting work both inside and outside of the Greater Houston area will become available from time-to-time. Opportunities may become available for training as a Junior Data Technician as well. Piloting duties will be conducted in the field, and any administrative or data technician duties require the Junior UAS Pilot to be in-office (i.e. this position is not remote).
We value (i) experience, (ii) a strong and efficient work ethic, and (iii) strong piloting skills, and (iv) integrity more than a specific educational degree.
Requirements
  • Part 107 UAS Remote Pilot Endorsement
  • Strong organizational skills.
  • Must be able to utilize a variety of computer applications including MS Office, and other on-line cloud storage and data transfer tools like Dropbox.
  • Must have a safety-oriented attitude on and off-site.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to effectively communicate with all levels of management, staff, customers, and industry.

Highly recommended, but not required:
  • 1 Year of Commercial UAS Piloting Experience (at minimum)
  • Adobe Suite Experience
  • Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
  • Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

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