May 28, 2025

By Timothy Brazzel

In 2023, I released a YouTube video titled “How to Get Drone Jobs?” and it quickly became one of my top-performing uploads. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and to this day, it's one of the highest-ranked videos on my channel. But something has shifted. The drone job market isn’t quite what it used to be. Pilots who are certified, passionate, and doing everything right are still struggling to find consistent work.

One recent comment I received perfectly sums up what so many drone pilots are feeling: “Dude!! I have been looking for something like this for a while. Thank you for posting this video. I'm signing up today! I've been struggling to get jobs on my own, driving around looking for construction sites, talking to Real Estate agents etc.. etc. One last question, did you set your fee with the insurance company, or did they tell you what they were willing to pay?”
This pilot had just signed up for TheDroningCompany.com, a job board and media platform centered around the drone industry. While it’s not a guaranteed job magnet, it’s still a valuable space to promote your brand and stay informed on the latest in the drone world. But platforms alone won’t get you the jobs you’re looking for. Today’s market requires something more.



1. The Reality of the Current Drone Market:


The drone space is saturated not with just certified drone pilots, but with hobbyists as well. With the affordability of consumer drones and the ease of certification such as TRUST, & Part 107, more pilots are entering the field than ever before. That means more competition, fewer easy wins, and a much higher need to stand out. I talk about this more in my corresponding YouTube video.

Traditional methods like cold-calling real estate agents or driving around construction sites aren’t as effective as they once were. Many of the companies that needed drone content have either already partnered with someone or are now doing it in-house. So how do you rise above the noise?


2. Be Where the Attention Is:


Platforms like TheDroningCompany.com are helpful — not necessarily for landing a flood of gigs, but for establishing an online presence. Your goal should be visibility. When companies look you up, what will they find? A professional pilot with a digital portfolio? Or someone with a dusty LinkedIn page and no current content?

Use job boards as a tool, but don’t rely on them. Use them to send traffic to your personal page, YouTube channel, or business website. Make it easy for people to trust and hire you.



3. Build Your Brand and Story:

People hire people, not just pilots. You need a brand. What do you stand for? What industries do you serve? How do you solve problems better than your competitors? Document your journey. Post behind-the-scenes content. Share your wins, your failures, and your lessons learned. Companies like DronePower1, where I briefly worked, weren’t just impressed by my drone skills or degree — the CEO appreciated my integrity, my communication, and how I carried myself.  In short, my character.



4. Develop Your Character and Reputation:

This part isn’t talked about enough: Character matters. One of the most underrated business strategies is simply being good to work with.

Are you reliable? Communicative? Open to feedback? People don’t want to chase you for updates or deal with egos. The industry is growing up, and professionalism matters more than ever.

Being a skilled pilot is table stakes. Being a pilot people enjoy working with — that’s your superpower.



5. Think Strategically, Not Desperately:


If you're waiting for opportunities to come to you, you'll be waiting a long time. Instead of hoping for jobs, start creating them. Identify businesses that could benefit from aerial content and pitch them with custom ideas. Offer free samples if needed to get your foot in the door.

And remember relationships beat resumes. People hire people they know, trust, and see value in. Show up in person. Network. Attend drone expos or local business events. Some that I’ve included are the 2025 Palm Springs Drone Fest, Commercial UAV, and the AUVSI Xponential trade shows.



Final Thoughts



The landscape has changed, but so have the opportunities. There’s still massive demand for drone work — but it’s going to those who are seen, trusted, and known. Don’t just chase jobs. Build a presence. Develop your brand. Cultivate your reputation. And most importantly, focus on being the kind of person others want to work with. I created this blog post for those drone pilots out there grinding every day, wondering why the calls aren’t coming in. You’re not alone, but you don’t have to stay stuck either. Let’s level up — together.



If you haven’t yet, check out my original video on “Why You're not Getting Drone Jobs in 2025 (And how to fix it)” and stay tuned for more insights coming soon. Also, subscribe to my YouTube channel as well (Inspire with Drones)

 

👉 Q&A for You: What’s been your biggest challenge in landing paid drone jobs—and what’s one thing you’ve tried that either worked or didn’t work at all? Send me an email to:

timothy@thedroningcompany.com

I’d love to hear your story and might even feature it in a future video!



Stay elevated,
Timothy Brazzel