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Remote Backcountry Pilot Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Remote Backcountry Pilot information

See salary details

$49.5K

$130.9K

$201K

How much do remote backcountry pilot jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for remote backcountry 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Remote Backcountry Pilot, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Remote Backcountry Pilot, you need a commercial pilot's license, strong airmanship, navigation skills, and experience with bush or STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft in rugged terrains. Familiarity with GPS navigation, advanced avionics, and wilderness survival certifications are often required due to the challenging and remote environments. Excellent decision-making, adaptability, and strong communication abilities help pilots manage unpredictable weather, isolation, and emergency situations. These skills are crucial to ensure safe and efficient operations in remote areas where resources and support are limited.

What is the difference between Remote Backcountry Pilot vs Remote Bush Pilot?

AspectRemote Backcountry PilotRemote Bush Pilot
CertificationsCommercial Pilot License, Endorsements for Backcountry FlyingCommercial Pilot License, Bush Flying Endorsements
Work EnvironmentRemote, rugged terrains, mountain and wilderness areasRemote, wilderness areas, often in rural regions
Industry UsageAdventure tourism, wilderness access, aerial surveysWildlife management, cargo, passenger transport in remote areas

Both Remote Backcountry Pilots and Remote Bush Pilots require similar certifications and operate in remote, rugged environments. The main difference lies in terminology and specific industry usage, with 'Backcountry' often emphasizing adventure and tourism, while 'Bush' is more common in wildlife and cargo transport sectors. Both roles demand specialized flying skills for challenging terrains.

What is a Remote Backcountry Pilot?

A Remote Backcountry Pilot is a professional pilot who operates small aircraft in remote, rugged, or wilderness areas that often lack traditional airport infrastructure. These pilots are responsible for transporting people, supplies, or conducting survey and rescue missions in challenging environments. They must possess advanced flying skills and adaptability to handle unpredictable weather, rough terrain, and limited navigation aids. Often, these roles require a high level of self-sufficiency and knowledge of wilderness survival. Remote Backcountry Pilots play a crucial role in supporting communities, scientific research, and emergency operations in hard-to-reach locations.

What are some unique challenges a Remote Backcountry Pilot typically faces in their daily work?

Remote Backcountry Pilots often operate in rugged, isolated environments where weather conditions can change rapidly and landing strips may be unpaved or improvised. These factors require strong decision-making skills, adaptability, and a high level of situational awareness to ensure safety. Additionally, pilots may work independently for extended periods, requiring self-sufficiency and excellent communication with ground crews or dispatch. Collaboration with local teams and resourcefulness in handling unexpected situations are key components of the job.
What are the most commonly searched types of Backcountry Pilot jobs? The most popular types of Backcountry Pilot jobs are:
What states have the most Remote Backcountry Pilot jobs? States with the most job openings for Remote Backcountry Pilot jobs include:
Infographic showing various Remote Backcountry Pilot job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 34% Locum Tenens, 36% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 9% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 5% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,916 per year, or $62.9 per hour.

Field Operations Specialist

Rainmaker Technology Corporation

Pendleton, OR • Remote

$65K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision

Posted 22 days ago


Job description

Department: Field Operations

Reports To: Program Manager

Type: Contract (concludes April 30, 2027)

Salary: Hourly, $65,000k annual equivalent + overtime

About Rainmaker

Rainmaker is pioneering a modern cloud seeding system to address water scarcity and inclement weather

challenges worldwide. We develop and integrate radar validation, weather-resistant UAS, numerical weather

modeling, and sustainable seeding agents into an effective precipitation enhancement solution.

Rainmaker is building something that hasn't existed before. If you're the kind of person who gets energized

by hard problems, new territory, and the opportunity to do work that has real impact on water resources, we

want to hear from you.

About the Role

It's 10:24 PM. You were waiting for the call.

Your phone buzzes. Rainmaker's meteorologists have identified an overnight seeding window within the mountain range of your area of operations. Conditions are ideal. You've got about ten hours to turn supercooled liquid water into the snow that will eventually melt and feed into the aquifers, farms, and communities that need water now more than ever.

At headquarters, your team scouts the mission and loads the F-150 with drones, generators, laptops, and a Starlink. Your dog jumps in the cab with you, ready for adventure.

The Agile Deployment Vehicle smells like Red Bull as your crew heads north towards the mountains. The temperature outside is dropping. Single digits by the time you reach the launch site.

Your fingers are clumsy with the cold as you run pre-flight checks, but you've done it enough times that your hands know what to do.

Your drone lifts into the sky, then out of sight.

What happens next is invisible. At 10,000 feet, the drone releases seeding particles into supercooled clouds, coaxing ice into existence, nudging the atmosphere toward something it was almost ready to do on its own.
You are making it snow.

Over the next few hours, precipitation falls across the mountains. Snowpack deepens. In just one mission, your team has created millions of gallons of water for a place that has suffered from drought for far too long.


You and your team were the reason.

As dawn breaks, you pack up and drive home before sunrise to sleep, ready to do it again when given the chance.

You are a Rainmaker Field Operations Specialist. This is the job.

Become a Rainmaker. 

Qualifications Required
  • Willingness and ability to work in remote, physically demanding, and weather-exposed environments

  • Strong attention to detail and discipline in following procedures

  • Reliable, self-directed, and able to work with minimal supervision

  • Ability to work effectively as part of a small field team

  • Comfort with frequent travel, including to remote or international locations

  • Valid driver's license

Preferred
  • Experience in field operations, aviation, military, emergency management, construction, or similar hands-on environments

  • Mechanical or technical aptitude, including equipment maintenance and troubleshooting

  • Experience operating or supporting UAS

  • FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

  • Experience handling logistics, inventory, or supply

  • Familiarity with GIS tools and spatial data (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth)

  • Wilderness or backcountry experience

Rainmaker participates in E-Verify. To learn more, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit

E-Verify.gov.

Rainmaker is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Rainmaker is governed on the basis of

merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion,

gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity,

marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

No recruiting agencies.


$65,000 - $65,000 a year
Benefits:
  • Full health coverage (medical, dental, and vision insurance)
apply for this job