Salary AI Book a Demo

Hourly Wage for Drone Operator Salary in the United States

Drone Operator Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Drone Operator?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly pay of Drone Operator in the United States is $24. While Salary.com is seeing that the highest pay for Drone Operator in the US can go up to $29 and the lowest down to $19, but most earn between $22 and $26. Salary.com shows the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Drone Operator in the United States.

Develop a Job description
Pay Equity
Salary Grading Scale
Pay Strategy
2026 Compensation Trend
Compensation Consulting
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
View as table View as graph
Drone Operator Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Hourly Pay Rate Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Drone Operator Salary $19 US August 01, 2026
25th Percentile Drone Operator Salary $22 US August 01, 2026
50th Percentile Drone Operator Salary $24 US August 01, 2026
75th Percentile Drone Operator Salary $26 US August 01, 2026
90th Percentile Drone Operator Salary $29 US August 01, 2026
25% $22 10% $19 90% $29 75% $26 $24 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
Employers: Find Surveys For This Job Employers: Price Your Company Jobs Employees: View your Salary
Change Search Criteria
Check out Drone Operator jobs in Columbus, Ohio
Apply Now
Apply Now
Apply Now

Local CDL-A Truck Driver - Home Daily

C.R. England - Columbus, OH

Apply Now
Search More Drone Operator Jobs in Columbus, Ohio
See it in Action

Drone Operator

Review the job openings, similar jobs, level of education, and experience requirements for the Drone Operator job to confirm that it is the job you are seeking.

See user submitted job responsibilities for Drone Operator.

Search Drone Operator Job Openings

Job Openings for Drone Operator

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    Machine Operator I

    0 - 1 years experience
    High School Diploma or Technical Certificate

  2. This Job:

    Drone Operator

    1 - 3 years experience
    High School Diploma or Technical Certificate

  3. Up a level:

    Machine Operator III

    3 - 5 years experience
    High School Diploma or Technical Certificate

Not the job you're looking for? Search more salaries here:

Understand the total hourly compensation opportunity for a Drone Operator, hourly wage plus other pay elements

Average Hourly Wage

Core compensation

 
 
 
22
26
24

Average Total Hourly Cash Compensation

Includes base and short-term incentives

 
 
 
24
31
27
These charts show the average hourly wage (core compensation), as well as the average total hourly cash compensation for the job of Drone Operator in the United States. The average hourly rate for Drone Operator ranges from $22 to $26 with the average hourly pay of $24. The total hourly cash compensation, which includes base and short-term incentives, can vary anywhere from $24 to $31 with the average total hourly cash compensation of $27.

Discover how your pay is adjusted for skills, experience, and other factors

How much should you be paid?

For a real-time salary target, tell us more about your role in the four categories below.

22
26

 

Recently searched related titles: Food Production Worker, Heavy Machine Operator, Forge Operator

Learn more about: Compensation Packages, Employee Flight Risk, Gender Pay Gap, Job Openings for This Role

Jobs with a similar salary range to Drone Operator : Deburr Technician, Die Cast Operator, Agricultural Equipment Operator