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UAV Pilot Collector Salary in the United States

How much does an UAV Pilot Collector make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an UAV Pilot Collector in the United States is $118,778 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $57.

However, an UAV Pilot Collector's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $143,270
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $102,206 to $131,598
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $87,118
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence UAV Pilot Collector Salaries

An UAV Pilot Collector's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects UAV Pilot Collector Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an UAV Pilot Collector's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $117,836
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $144,044
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $166,588
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $198,933
  • Expert (over 8 years): $172,918
Levels Salary
UAV Pilot... Level UAV Pilot Collector$117,836
Pilot II Level UAV Pilot Collector$144,044
Pilot III... Level UAV Pilot Collector$166,588
Pilot IV Level UAV Pilot Collector$198,933
Chief Pil... Level UAV Pilot Collector$172,918
View as Graph

How Do UAV Pilot Collector Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract UAV Pilot Collectors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $131,511.
  • California: $131,012.
  • Massachusetts: $129,266.

Top Paying Cities for UAV Pilot Collectors

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $149,815
  • San Francisco: $148,174
  • Oakland: $145,052

What Skills Can Increase an UAV Pilot Collector's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 15% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Aviation (Mentioned in 5% Job Postings): Aviation is the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. Aircraft includes fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air craft such as hot air balloons and airships.
  • Counterintelligence (Mentioned in 5% Job Postings): Counterintelligence is an activity aimed at protecting an agency's intelligence program from an opposition's intelligence service.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 15%
Aviation 5%
Counterintelligence 5%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an UAV Pilot Collector's salary.

  • Security Clearance: Can increase your salary by up to 35%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 34%.
  • Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Security Clearance $160,350
35%
Leadership $159,163
34%
Planning $146,097
23%
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UAV Pilot Collector Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For UAV Pilot Collector roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 45% above the average. In contrast, UAV Pilot Collector positions in Biotechnology or Chemicals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view UAV Pilot Collector as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an UAV Pilot Collector

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$172,228$83.045%
Business Services$160,350$77.035%
Construction$148,472$71.025%
Energy & Utilities$136,595$66.015%
Healthcare$124,717$60.05%

How Education impacts an UAV Pilot Collector's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many UAV Pilot Collectors enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an UAV Pilot Collector with a No Diploma is between $111,595 and $121,843).

UAV Pilot Collector Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for UAV Pilot Collector
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 14.0%
High School 14.0%
Associates 16.3%
Bachelors 65.1%
Masters 4.7%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

UAV Pilot Collector Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an UAV Pilot Collector's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$102,206
Average $118,778/year
$131,598
$8,517
Average $9,898/month
$10,967
$1,966
Average $2,284/week
$2,531
$49
Average $57/hour
$63
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $131,598 $10,967 $2,531 $63
Average $118,778 $9,898 $2,284 $57
25th Percentile $102,206 $8,517 $1,966 $49

Most common benefits for UAV Pilot Collector

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for UAV Pilot Collector

Here are companies hiring for UAV Pilot Collector and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about UAV Pilot Collector

1. What industry pays the highest salary for UAV Pilot Collector?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for UAV Pilot Collector roles, with salaries approximately 45% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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