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Drone Operations Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Staffingine LLC

Drone Data Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$109K - $131K/yr

Drone Operations Data Execution * Plan execute and optimize drone missions for inspection surveillance mapping and monitoring use cases * Ensure reliable collection of highquality video image LiDAR ...

Aerotek

Drone Logistics Specialist

Pendleton, OR

$25 - $34/hr

Support daily drone operations by handling and organizing equipment, including batteries and related components. * Drive company vehicles throughout the test range to retrieve drones, parts, gather ...

FOCUSPOINT

Drone Operator

Brentwood, TN · On-site

$16.75 - $22.50/hr

Drone Operator (Swing Shift) Location: Brentwood, TN Employment Type: Full Time Compensation ... Key Responsibilities Mission Planning & Flight Operations * Lead and support mission planning ...

TSMG

UAS Drone Pilot

Houston, TX

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled UAS Drone Pilot to join our team for operations across various sectors, including but not limited to surveying, infrastructure inspection, agriculture ...

TSMG

UAS Drone Pilot

Houston, TX

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled UAS Drone Pilot to join our team for operations across various sectors, including but not limited to surveying, infrastructure inspection, agriculture ...

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Drone Operations information

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$11

$26

$53

How much do drone operations jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for drone operations in the United States is $26.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.79 and $30.29 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Drone Operations vs Drone Pilots?

AspectDrone OperationsDrone Pilots
CertificationsFAA Part 107 certification, safety trainingFAA Part 107 certification, flight training
Work EnvironmentTeam coordination, planning, and managementFlying drones, on-site or remote
Employer & Industry UsageMedia, agriculture, construction, inspectionFilming, surveying, inspection

Drone Operations involves managing drone missions, coordinating teams, and planning flights, often requiring additional project management skills. Drone Pilots focus primarily on flying drones and capturing footage or data. While both roles require FAA Part 107 certification, Drone Operations emphasizes coordination and planning, whereas Drone Pilots concentrate on piloting skills and flight execution.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in drone operations, and how can they be addressed?

Drone operations professionals frequently encounter challenges such as changing weather conditions, regulatory compliance, and maintaining equipment reliability. Adapting flight plans to sudden weather shifts and staying updated on evolving FAA regulations are essential for safe and legal operation. Additionally, effective pre- and post-flight maintenance routines help minimize technical issues. Collaborating closely with team members, such as airspace coordinators and data analysts, ensures that missions are completed efficiently and safely.

What do drone operators earn?

Drone operators typically earn between $40,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Certified operators with specialized skills in aerial photography, surveying, or inspection can earn higher salaries, especially in commercial or industrial settings.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Drone Operations Specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Drone Operations Specialist, you need strong piloting skills, a solid understanding of aviation regulations, and often a Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107) from the FAA. Familiarity with flight planning software, GPS navigation systems, and various drone platforms is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication help you manage missions safely and collaborate with team members. These skills ensure safe, compliant, and efficient drone operations across a range of industries.

What are drone operations?

Drone operations refer to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for various tasks such as aerial photography, surveying, inspection, mapping, delivery, and surveillance. These operations involve planning flight paths, piloting drones, ensuring compliance with regulations, and collecting or analyzing data captured by the drone. Drone operators may work in industries like agriculture, construction, real estate, public safety, and logistics, depending on the mission and type of drone used. Safety, accuracy, and adherence to legal requirements are key aspects of successful drone operations.

How do you get a job as a drone operator?

To become a drone operator, you typically need to obtain a remote pilot certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or relevant authority, which requires passing an aeronautical knowledge test. Experience with drone flight, knowledge of safety protocols, and proficiency with drone equipment are also important for securing employment in this field.

How much do drone operators get paid?

Drone operators typically earn between $15 and $30 per hour, with annual salaries ranging from approximately $30,000 to $70,000 depending on experience, location, and industry. Certified operators with specialized skills in aerial photography, surveying, or inspection may command higher wages.

Is drone operation a good career?

Drone operation is a growing field with opportunities in industries such as photography, surveying, and inspection. It requires skills in piloting, knowledge of regulations, and often certification, making it a viable career path for those interested in technology and aviation. Job prospects depend on industry demand and regional regulations.
More about Drone Operations jobs
What cities are hiring for Drone Operations jobs? Cities with the most Drone Operations job openings:
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Drone Operations jobs near you
Infographic showing various Drone Operations job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 33% Temporary, and 67% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $54,588 per year, or $26.2 per hour.
Drone Data Engineer

Drone Data Engineer

Staffingine LLC

Houston, TX • On-site

$109K - $131K/yr

Contractor

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

Job Title: Drone Data Engineer
Job Location: Houston, Tx
Job Type: Contract

Job Description:

  1. Drone Data Execution Engineer Skydio
  2. Drone Operations Data Execution
  3. Plan execute and optimize drone missions for inspection surveillance mapping and monitoring use cases
  4. Ensure reliable collection of highquality video image LiDAR and telemetry data
  5. Oversee mission execution across multiple sites and operational environments
  6. Skydio Platform API Integration
  7. Design and implement integrations using Skydio APIs for
  8. Mission planning automation
  9. Flight data retrieval
  10. Media videoimage ingestion
  11. Telemetry and metadata extraction
  12. Integrate Skydio drone data with
  13. Enterprise data platforms
  14. Asset management systems
  15. GIS systems
  16. AIML analytics pipelines
  17. Handle authentication access control rate limits and API lifecycle management
  18. Data Pipelines Analytics Enablement
  19. Build and manage drone data ingestion pipelines batch nearrealtime
  20. Normalize and enrich drone datasets with spatial temporal and asset metadata
  21. Enable downstream processing for
  22. Computer vision models
  23. Defect detection
  24. Asset condition monitoring
  25. Digital twin platforms
  26. Work closely with data science teams to operationalize AI models on drone data
  27. Systems Cloud Integration
  28. Integrate drone data with cloud platforms Azure

Required Skills Qualifications

  1. Core Technical Skills
  2. 810 years of experience in drone systems robotics or aerial data platforms
  3. Strong handson experience with Skydio API integration
  4. Proficiency in Python mandatory JavaScriptJava is a plus
  5. Experience with REST APIs JSON OAuth and webhooks
  6. Strong understanding of
  7. Drone telemetry
  8. Flight logs
  9. Sensor data RGB thermal LiDAR
  10. Data Analytics
  11. Experience handling largescale video and image datasets
  12. Familiarity with computer vision workflows and AI model integration
  13. Knowledge of GIS tools spatial data formats and mapping systems
  14. Cloud Systems
  15. Experience with cloud platforms AWS Azure GCP
  16. Knowledge of object storage streaming and data pipelines
  17. Understanding of edgetocloud architectures
  18. Domain Experience Preferred
  19. Oil Gas domain experience is prefererred

Skills

Mandatory Skills : Skydio, IOT - PYTHON, O&G Upstream