Which military jobs become a Commercial Drone Pilot?

15W (Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator), 6173 (Helicopter Crew Chief (CH-53)), AWF (Naval Aircrewman Helicopter) transfer well into a Commercial Drone Pilot role.

What does a Commercial Drone Pilot make?

The national median is about $134,630 per year (BLS), varying by state and experience.

How to Become a Commercial Drone Pilot After the Military

Your service already built most of what a Commercial Drone Pilot role needs. Here are the military jobs that transfer into it, the skills that carry over, and where to start.

Also hires under: UAS Operator (Government) · Helicopter Pilot (with training) · Helicopter Pilot (with additional training)

National median pay

$134,630/yr

Military jobs that transfer into Commercial Drone Pilot

15W — Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator

Army

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6173 — Helicopter Crew Chief (CH-53)

Marines

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AWF — Naval Aircrewman Helicopter

Navy

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Skills you already have

Mission planningUAS flight operationsSensor operationsAirspace managementImage analysisSearch and rescueHelicopter operationsEmergency medicineUnderwater rescueSensor systemsHelicopter maintenanceCrew resource management

Translate your exact experience

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Salary data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), national median for the mapped occupation. Actual pay varies by state, employer, and experience. Informational only.