#commercial drones

State-by-state drone pilot salary data for 2026. Washington, New York, and California lead — but the highest-paying states depend on which industries drive local demand.

A 10-drone swarm costs $50,000–$60,000, surveys 500 acres in 2 hours instead of 10, and cuts labor costs by up to 80%. How military swarm tech is crossing into agriculture, construction, and infrastructure inspection.

The average US drone pilot earns $79K–$131K/year — but top operators clear $200K+. We break down real rates by country, sector, and experience level, and show what actually erodes your margins.