Aerial Survey Pilot

Median salary, education path, job outlook, and related careers — based on U.S. labor data.

What a Aerial Survey Pilot does

Flies precisely programmed flight lines at exact altitudes while operating LiDAR, photogrammetry, or magnetometry equipment to map terrain, pipelines, or geological formations from the air.

Education & path

The typical entry point is a bachelor's degree. About 4 years.

Estimated cost of that path: ~$40,000. Estimated payback: ~2 years. Estimates only — actual cost varies widely by school and financial aid; payback assumes ~20% of income applied.

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