Salary AI Book a Demo

Aerial Survey Pilot Salary in the United States

How much does an Aerial Survey Pilot make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aerial Survey Pilot in the United States is $128,658 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $62.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $150,196
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $116,435 to $139,932
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $105,307
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Aerial Survey Pilot Salaries

An Aerial Survey Pilot'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 Aerial Survey Pilot Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Aerial Survey Pilot'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): $129,506
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $150,816
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $170,472
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $194,962
  • Expert (over 8 years): $220,283
Levels Salary
Aerial Su... Level Aerial Survey Pilot$129,506
Senior Te... Level Aerial Survey Pilot$150,816
Lead Test... Level Aerial Survey Pilot$170,472
Test Pilo... Level Aerial Survey Pilot$194,962
Test Pilo... Level Aerial Survey Pilot$220,283
View as Graph

How Do Aerial Survey Pilot 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 Aerial Survey Pilots. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $142,450.
  • California: $141,910.
  • Massachusetts: $140,019.

Top Paying Cities for Aerial Survey Pilots

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: $162,276
  • San Francisco: $160,500
  • Oakland: $157,117

What Skills Can Increase an Aerial Survey Pilot's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 7.69% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Customer Training (Mentioned in 2.56% Job Postings): The process of educating your customers on how to successfully use your product or services in order to meet their goals.
  • Test Planning (Mentioned in 2.56% Job Postings): Test planning is an essential activity of testing, regardless of the project lifecycle approach.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 7.69%
Customer Training 2.56%
Test Planning 2.56%
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 Aerial Survey Pilot's salary.

  • Field Testing: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
  • Computer Vision: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • Test Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Field Testing $162,109
26%
Computer Vision $158,249
23%
Test Engineering $147,957
15%
Get Latest Data

Aerial Survey Pilot Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Aerial Survey Pilot roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Aerial Survey Pilot positions in Transportation or MFG Durable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Aerial Survey Pilot as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Aerial Survey Pilot

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$167,255$80.030%
Aerospace & Defense$141,524$68.010%

How Education impacts an Aerial Survey Pilot's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Aerial Survey Pilots enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Aerial Survey Pilot with a Bachelor's Degree is between $140,831 and $150,056).

Aerial Survey Pilot Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Aerial Survey Pilot
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 18.2%
High School 18.2%
Associates 72.7%
Bachelors 9.1%
Masters 72.7%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Aerial Survey Pilot Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Aerial Survey Pilot'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
$116,435
Average $128,658/year
$139,932
$9,703
Average $10,722/month
$11,661
$2,239
Average $2,474/week
$2,691
$56
Average $62/hour
$67
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $139,932 $11,661 $2,691 $67
Average $128,658 $10,722 $2,474 $62
25th Percentile $116,435 $9,703 $2,239 $56

Most common benefits for Aerial Survey Pilot

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

Common company salaries for Aerial Survey Pilot

Here are companies hiring for Aerial Survey Pilot and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Aerial Survey Pilot Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Aerial Survey Pilot job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Aerial Survey Pilot

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Aerial Survey Pilot?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Aerial Survey Pilot roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst