What are the main factors that influence an Uav Operator's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change An Uav Operator's salary?

An Uav Operator's salary grows with experience: a Uav Operator (0-2 years)earns $60,337, a Social Media Communications Specialist II (2-4 years)earns $68,455, a Social Media Communications Specialist III (4-7 years)earns $93,545, a Social Media Communications Specialist IV (7+ years)earns $115,429, a Social Media Communications Manager (7+ years)earns $115,122,

What are the highest paying states for an Uav Operator?

Uav Operator salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Uav Operator roles are District of Columbia $63,765, California $63,523, Massachusetts $62,677. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Uav Operator roles make?

Salaries for Uav Operator level roles vary by specialization: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Pilot: $134,602; UAV Pilot Collector: $118,685; Uav Engineer: $91,349; Uav Drone Pilot: $89,513; Uav Pilot: $75,392.

Uav Operator Salary in Rhode Island

How much does an Uav Operator make in Rhode Island?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for an Uav Operator in Rhode Island is $59,711 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

However, an Uav Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $69,474
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,685 to $64,821
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,467

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Uav Operator Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$64,821	$5,402	$1,247	$31
Average	$59,711	$4,976	$1,148	$29
25th Percentile	$50,685	$4,224	$975	$24

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Uav Operator Salaries

An Uav Operator'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Uav Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Uav Operator'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): $60,337
Early Career (1-2 years): $68,455
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $93,545
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $115,429
Expert (over 8 years): $115,122

Levels	Salary
Uav Opera... Level Uav Operator	$60,337
Social Me... Level Uav Operator	$68,455
Social Me... Level Uav Operator	$93,545
Social Me... Level Uav Operator	$115,429
Social Me... Level Uav Operator	$115,122

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Uav Operator 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 Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $63,765.
California: $63,523.
Massachusetts: $62,677.

District of Columbia $63,765 California $63,523 Massachusetts $62,677 Washington $62,446 New Jersey $62,423 Alaska $62,342 Connecticut $61,548 New York $61,225

Hawaii $60,194 Rhode Island $59,711 Maryland $59,382 Minnesota $58,933 Colorado $58,760 Illinois $58,703 Oregon $58,484 Delaware $58,323

New Hampshire $58,221 Virginia $57,994 Pennsylvania $57,332 Nevada $56,998 North Dakota $56,889 Michigan $56,716 Wisconsin $56,652 Vermont $56,526

Texas $56,174 Maine $56,151 Arizona $56,117 Ohio $56,077 Georgia $55,547 Indiana $55,282 Wyoming $55,230 Utah $55,149

Iowa $55,115 Kansas $54,838 Louisiana $54,758 North Carolina $54,729 Missouri $54,717 Florida $54,493 Montana $54,372 Nebraska $54,257

Kentucky $54,193 South Carolina $53,963 Tennessee $53,819 Idaho $53,761 New Mexico $53,341 Oklahoma $53,249 Alabama $52,909 South Dakota $52,339

Arkansas $52,028 West Virginia $51,861 Mississippi $51,360

Top Paying Cities for Uav Operators

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:

Adamsville: $60,457
Albion: $59,946
Ashaway: $60,342

Adamsville, RI $60,457 Albion, RI $59,946 Ashaway, RI $60,342 Barrington, RI $59,788 Block Island, RI $60,121 Bradford, RI $60,306 Bristol, RI $60,019 Carolina, RI $60,206

Charlestown, RI $60,228 Chepachet, RI $60,109 Clayville, RI $59,941 Coventry, RI $59,944 West Greenwich, RI $60,109 East Greenwich, RI $59,903 Exeter, RI $60,092 Fiskeville, RI $59,787

Forestdale, RI $60,248 Foster, RI $60,077 Glendale, RI $60,252 Greene, RI $60,156 Greenville, RI $59,810 Harmony, RI $59,887 Harrisville, RI $60,227 Hope, RI $59,825

Hope Valley, RI $60,289 Hopkinton, RI $60,369 Jamestown, RI $60,167 Kenyon, RI $60,199 Little Compton, RI $60,448 Manville, RI $60,025 Mapleville, RI $60,120 Newport, RI $60,228

Middletown, RI $60,254 North Kingstown, RI $60,007 North Scituate, RI $59,888 Oakland, RI $60,185 Pascoag, RI $60,266 Pawtucket, RI $59,699 Central Falls, RI $59,726 Cumberland, RI $60,065

Lincoln, RI $59,785 Portsmouth, RI $60,221 Prudence Island, RI $60,098 Rockville, RI $60,360 Saunderstown, RI $60,131 Shannock, RI $60,202 Slatersville, RI $60,248 Slocum, RI $60,129

Tiverton, RI $60,405 Wakefield, RI $60,182 Kingston, RI $60,159 Narragansett, RI $60,199 Peace Dale, RI $60,175 Warren, RI $59,943 Warwick, RI $59,776 Westerly, RI $60,357

West Kingston, RI $60,178 West Warwick, RI $59,849 Wood River Junction, RI $60,264 Woonsocket, RI $60,251 North Smithfield, RI $60,114 Wyoming, RI $60,202 Providence, RI $59,682 Cranston, RI $59,690

North Providence, RI $59,697 East Providence, RI $59,686 Riverside, RI $59,705 Rumford, RI $59,696 Smithfield, RI $59,817 Johnston, RI $59,717

Uav Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Uav Operator'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 May 01, 2026

$50,685

Average $59,711/year

$64,821

$4,224

Average $4,976/month

$5,402

$975

Average $1,148/week

$1,247

$24

Average $29/hour

$31

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$64,821	$5,402	$1,247	$31
Average	$59,711	$4,976	$1,148	$29
25th Percentile	$50,685	$4,224	$975	$24

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