Drone Operator Jobs
Drone Operator jobs are open across construction, agriculture, filmmaking, public safety, and logistics, from entry-level pilot to senior operations roles, with specializations in aerial photography, precision agriculture, and infrastructure inspection. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Real Estate Photographer / Videographer / Drone Operator
NAV Productions
Overview
If you're a talented videographer who enjoys working with people, has great energy, and wants consistent shooting opportunities without the hassle of finding your own clients or managing the business side of things, this could be a great fit for you.
NAV Productions is looking for enthusiastic, professional videographers to represent our brand and capture high quality real estate media throughout East Tennessee.
With over 10years in business, NAV Productions has built a reputation for delivering clean, consistent, high-quality content for real estate professionals and high-caliber clients. We're expanding our in Tennessee and looking for talented media professionals who not only know how to capture great content but also know how to lead a shoot, communicate confidently with clients, and make people feel comfortable in front of the camera.
The ideal candidate brings positive energy to every shoot, takes initiative, and can confidently guide real estate agents through the process. You'll focus on capturing great content and providing an excellent client experience, while NAV Productions handles client acquisition and business operations.
Compensation is performance based, with you earning a percentage of the revenue from the shoots you complete through NAV Productions rather than receiving a fixed salary.
Location We're Hiring In
We're looking for videographers based in or able to regularly service the following areas:
- Crosville
- Knoxville
Please specify which area you're located in when applying.
Responsibilities
- Capture professional real estate photography, videography, and drone footage according to NAV's standards.
- Confidently direct clients on camera positioning, delivery, movement, and overall presentation.
- Bring positive energy and professionalism to every shoot, creating a comfortable and enjoyable experience for clients.
- Capture properties with a clear, consistent flow, covering interiors, exteriors, and key features.
- Maintain NAV's quality standards and visual style across all projects.
- Upload RAW files to our system on the same day as each shoot.
- Communicate professionally with clients and represent NAV Productions as an extension of our team.
- Arrive prepared, manage shoot time efficiently, and deliver consistent results.
Qualifications
- Experience in real estate photography and videography; portfolio required.
- Own professional camera, audio, lighting, and other equipment necessary for the services offered.
- Drone experience preferred; FAA Part 107 certification is a plus.
- Strong understanding of composition, lighting, framing, and real estate media workflows.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to confidently direct clients.
- Outgoing, personable, and comfortable working with different personalities.
- Reliable, punctual, organized, and able to work independently.
- Strong attention to detail and a commitment to high-quality work.
Position Details
- Compensation: Earn a percentage of the revenue from each shoot you complete through NAV Productions.
- Workload: Shooting opportunities based on client demand and availability.
- Equipment: Must provide your own professional equipment.
- Work Location: In person, serving one or more of our target Tennessee Markets.
- Work Structure: Independent fieldwork backed by an established real estate media company.
- Opportunity: Work with an established brand without having to find your own clients or manage the entire business operation.
Who We're Looking For
We're looking for more than someone who can simply operate a camera. We want someone with great energy, a professional attitude, and the confidence to take charge of a shoot.
Someone who can walk into a property, connect with the agent, provide clear direction, make people feel comfortable, and capture content that represents NAV Productions at a high level.
If you're passionate about real estate media, enjoy working with people, and want consistent opportunities with an established company, we'd love to hear from you.
Bring the skills and the energy. We'll bring the opportunities.
How to Apply
Please include the following when applying:
- A link to your portfolio or examples of your real estate photography and videography work.
- Your Instagram profile, if applicable.
- Location You're applying for.
- A brief introduction about your experience and the equipment you use.
Pay: $100.00 - $500.00 per day
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
Work Location: In person
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Find Drone Operator JobsDrone Operator Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in drone operator jobs.
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate required or ability to obtain before start date
- Proficiency operating multi-rotor and fixed-wing UAS platforms in varied environments
- Experience with flight planning and mapping software such as DJI Pilot or similar tools
- Ability to process and analyze aerial data outputs including orthomosaics and point clouds
- Valid driver's license and willingness to travel to job sites regularly
- Strong understanding of airspace regulations, NOTAMs, and flight safety protocols
Tips for Your Drone Operator Job Search
List your FAA certifications prominently
Put your FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate in the top third of your resume, not buried in a skills section. Hiring managers screen for it immediately, and missing it from a visible spot gets your application filtered out before anyone reads further.
Match your flight log hours to the posting
Many drone operator postings specify minimum logged flight hours for a particular platform or environment. Pull your actual hours by aircraft type and mission category from your logbook and state them explicitly in your resume so screeners can confirm fit without guessing.
Build a mission-specific portfolio reel
A single generic showreel rarely lands the job. Cut separate clips for each specialization you're targeting, such as thermal inspection, mapping, or cinematography, so you can send the reel that is directly relevant to the role and industry you're applying to.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists drone operator openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare for a practical flight assessment
Most employers in construction, utilities, and public safety require a live or recorded flight skills test before making an offer. Practice the specific maneuvers tied to the role, such as grid mapping passes or close-range structure orbits, so you're not improvising on the day.
Negotiate by citing mission complexity and payload
Generic salary research understates what experienced drone operators earn on specialized missions. When negotiating, reference the payload weight, sensor type, and regulatory environment you'll be operating in, since those factors drive rate differences far more than years of experience alone.
Drone Operator Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most drone operators?
The companies hiring the most drone operators right now include Bees360, NAV Productions, and Acuren, with the largest share of openings in California, Ohio, and Kansas, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is strongest in construction, energy, and public safety sectors.
How many drone operator jobs are remote?
About 40% of drone operator openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most flight operations. The sub-areas with the highest remote share are data processing, flight operations management, and mission planning roles where fieldwork is minimal.
How do you become a drone operator?
Start by passing the FAA Part 107 aeronautical knowledge test to earn your Remote Pilot Certificate, which is the baseline requirement for most commercial roles. Build logged flight hours across different platforms and environments, then develop a specialization in a high-demand area such as mapping, inspection, or aerial imaging. Assembling a portfolio of completed missions significantly strengthens your application.
Can you get hired as a drone operator with little experience?
Yes, entry-level drone operator roles exist, particularly in agriculture, real estate photography, and event coverage, where employers are willing to train candidates who already hold a Part 107 certificate. Focus on logging verifiable flight hours, completing a mission-specific portfolio, and applying to roles that list FAA certification as the primary requirement rather than years of experience.
What does the drone operator interview process look like?
Most drone operator interviews involve an initial screening call to confirm certifications and flight experience, followed by a technical interview covering airspace regulations, emergency procedures, and equipment troubleshooting. Employers in construction, utilities, and public safety frequently add a practical flight assessment or ask you to submit a sample data deliverable. Some roles also include a site visit before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to drone operator jobs?
You can find and apply to drone operator jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Find the roles that match your certifications, experience level, and preferred industry, then apply directly to each listing.
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