5 Everyday Jobs You Didn’t Know Drones Are Already Doing

When you think of drones, you might think of photography or hobby flying. But drones are already working in real jobs across many industries—even ones you might not expect.

• Delivery / Food & Retail: In Dallas-Fort Worth, DoorDash and Flytrex teamed up to offer drone delivery from restaurants like Papa John’s and The Brass Tap in Little Elm and Frisco. These drones carry up to 6.6 pounds and operate between 8:00 AM and 9:30 PM, serving over 30,000 households.

• Surveying & Inspections: Companies use FAA-certified pilots to inspect infrastructure, roofs, agricultural fields, cell towers, and power lines. These jobs often pay well—some listings in similar roles offer $80,000-$150,000/year depending on experience and location.

• Real Estate & Media: Drone pilots are hired for real estate photos/videography, weddings, events, and content creation. Even early on, people who pass Part 107 begin earning for small gigs.

• Security & Monitoring: Private security firms, campus security teams, and fire departments are exploring drones for patrol, aerial monitoring, emergency situations, and rapid assessment (e.g., after storms or during large events).

• Agriculture & Research: Drones are used for crop monitoring, assessing soil health, pest detection, and even precision spraying in some places.

Why This Matters for You

• Many of these roles require FAA Part 107 certification. Once certified, you're eligible for jobs in multiple sectors.

• The average pay for certified pilots is climbing. According to ZipRecruiter, Part 107 pilots are seeing average annual salaries around $130,900/year in many parts of the U.S.

• Because so many of these roles are new, there is less competition among minorities—this is the moment to step in.

👉 Get ahead: Host a workshop in your city or join our upcoming free webinar. Learn how to get certified, where the jobs are, and how to leverage your skills.