Drone Security Jobs: Roles, Pay and How to Qualify (2026)

Security companies have started posting jobs that ask for something most guards do not have: an FAA drone license. Some want a guard who can also fly. Others want someone to sit in an operations center and fly drones over sites in other states. A few want a technician who can fix the drone when it comes back with a broken propeller at 3 a.m.

For a guard who wants a pay bump without leaving the industry, this is one of the cheapest upgrades available. This guide covers the job titles to search for, what real 2026 listings paid, what the work looks like on a shift, what it costs to qualify, and whether it is worth it.

The four kinds of drone security jobs

“Drone security operator” is not one job. Postings fall into four groups, and they pay and feel very different:

Role	What you do	Usually requires
Security officer or supervisor – drone pilot	Normal guard or supervisor duties, plus flying the site drone for patrols, alarms and incident footage	State guard license, Part 107, often TWIC
Remote drone operator (security operations center)	Fly drones and watch live video over client sites from a control room, often in another state	Part 107 required or preferred, comfort with screens and controllers
Drone or robotics technician	Set up, maintain and repair drones and docks at client sites, often with heavy travel	Part 107, mechanical and technical experience
Public safety drone pilot (police, fire)	Drone as first responder and incident support	Sworn or agency employment, not private security

The first three are open to private security professionals. The fourth is a government job: the federal counter-drone rule that took effect July 1, 2026 gives authority to certified police and corrections agencies, not to private security or contractors.

Real drone security job postings from 2026

Here is what employers actually posted this year. These are examples, not a salary survey, and some have closed:

Employer and role	Location	Pay	Key requirements
Allied Universal – Security Shift Supervisor, Drone Pilot	Carson, CA	$30.75/hour	Part 107 required, TWIC preferred
Allied Universal – Security Supervisor, oil refinery	Oil refinery site	$26.00/hour	Drone pilot license and TWIC required
Asylon Robotics – Security Robotics Operator	Norristown, PA (on site)	$21.00/hour	High school diploma, comfort with game controllers; Part 107 and security experience preferred; night and overnight shifts required
Asylon Robotics – Drone Pilot/Robotic Maintenance Technician	Norristown, PA, up to 80% travel	$60,000–$70,000/year	Part 107, 1 year UAS experience, 1 year mechanical experience, non-DJI controller experience
Cascadia Global Security – Remote UAS Pilot (1099 contractor)	Dallas, TX or Tempe, AZ (on site)	Not listed	Part 107 current, day and night shifts, 20–40 hours a week

Two patterns stand out. First, Part 107 is the one requirement almost every posting shares. Second, the remote operator jobs look a lot like a monitoring or dispatch job with a joystick, and they are a realistic first step for a guard with no flight experience.

What the work looks like on a shift

• Scheduled patrols. Flying preplanned routes over fences, roofs, lots and yards, often at set times through the night.
• Alarm response. Launching the drone when a sensor trips, so the team sees what set it off before an officer walks into it.
• Live monitoring. Watching video feeds, spotting people or vehicles where they should not be, and calling it in.
• Coordination. Talking to officers on the ground, client security teams and, when needed, police.
• Documentation. Flight logs, incident reports and saved footage after every event.
• Care of the aircraft. Batteries, propellers, firmware updates and pre-flight checks.

Remote operator jobs are shift work in front of screens. Night and overnight shifts are common because that is when most sites want coverage.

How much do drone security operators make?

Role or source	Pay
Security guard, US median (BLS, May 2025)	$38,020 a year (about $18.28 an hour)
Entry-level remote security robotics operator (Asylon, 2026)	$21.00 an hour
Refinery security supervisor with drone license (Allied, 2026)	$26.00 an hour
Security shift supervisor – drone pilot (Allied, 2026)	$30.75 an hour
Drone pilot and robotics technician (Asylon, 2026)	$60,000–$70,000 a year
Drone pilot, all industries (Indeed)	$57,526 a year
Drone pilot, all industries (ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor)	about $131,000 a year

Be careful with the six-figure averages. They mix in specialist pilots for surveying, inspection, film and defense, and the job-board estimates disagree by more than $70,000. For a guard, the realistic win is moving from guard pay to a $21 to $31 an hour drone role, or to a technician salary if you are good with tools.

Do you need a Part 107 license for a drone security job?

If you fly a drone as part of your job, yes. Any flight for work or pay is a commercial operation under FAA rules, and it needs a Part 107 remote pilot certificate. Your state guard license does not cover it, and neither does the free recreational TRUST certificate.

Some remote operator jobs list Part 107 as preferred rather than required. In those roles the company runs the flight program, and you may be trained on the job. Having the certificate before you apply still puts you ahead of other candidates. Our drone certifications guide explains every license and course in detail.

How to become a drone security operator

1. Be 16 or older and able to read, speak and understand English, as the FAA requires.
2. Get an FAA Tracking Number by creating a profile in IACRA, the FAA’s online application system.
3. Study for the Part 107 knowledge test. It covers airspace, weather, loading and performance, emergency procedures, radio communication and regulations. Free FAA study materials exist, and a printed study guide or paid course helps if you test poorly. Check price
4. Book and pass the test in person at an FAA-approved testing center: $175, 60 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours, 70% to pass. If you fail, you wait 14 days and pay again.
5. Apply for your certificate in IACRA. The TSA runs a background check before the certificate is issued.
6. Log real flight time. The test is written only, and employers want to see you can actually fly. A budget drone is fine for practice.
7. Get a TWIC card if you want refinery, port or other maritime-regulated sites. It costs $125.25 and lasts five years.
8. Keep your guard license current. The drone certificate does not replace it.
9. Complete free FAA recurrent training online every 24 calendar months to keep flying under Part 107.

How long does it take and what does it cost?

Most people study for a few weeks. After you pass the test, a temporary certificate usually arrives by email within a few days to three weeks, and you can fly commercially with it while the plastic card is mailed.

Item	Cost	How often
Part 107 knowledge test	$175	Once (each retake is another $175)
Drone registration	$5 per drone	Every 3 years
Recurrent training	Free	Every 24 calendar months
TWIC card (if needed)	$125.25	Every 5 years
Practice drone	A few hundred dollars	Once
Optional: AUVSI TOP Level 1	$649	Once

Many employers supply the drone you fly at work. You only need your own for practice.

Skills that get you hired

• Report writing. Drone footage still needs a clear written report. See our incident report template.
• Calm radio and phone communication with officers, clients and police during an incident.
• Knowing what you cannot do. Employers want pilots who respect privacy limits and never try to take down another drone. Read what to do when a drone flies over your site.
• Thermal camera experience for night shifts.
• Basic maintenance: batteries, firmware, propellers and flight logs.
• Experience with non-DJI systems. Many security and defense clients ban DJI, and at least one 2026 posting asked for it directly.

Where to find drone security jobs

• Large security companies’ career pages. Search for “drone pilot” or “UAS” alongside “security”.
• Security robotics and drone-in-a-box companies, which hire remote operators and field technicians.
• Drone-specific job boards, including boards aimed at veterans.
• General job sites with search terms such as “security drone pilot”, “remote UAS pilot”, “security robotics operator” and “drone operator security”.

Industrial sites such as refineries, ports, utilities, large construction projects and logistics yards are where most of these jobs appear first.

Questions to prepare for in an interview

• When do you need airspace authorization, and how do you get it?
• What would you do if a drone you did not launch appeared over the site?
• How do you handle a lost link or a low battery during a patrol?
• What is in a good incident report?
• Are you current on Part 107 recurrent training?

Clear, specific answers matter more than flight hours for entry-level roles.

Is it worth it?

For most guards, yes. $175 and a few weeks of study can open roles that pay several dollars an hour more than standard guard work, and the skills carry over to inspection, mapping and public safety work if you ever leave security. It is less worth it if you have no interest in screens, logs and maintenance, because that is a large part of the job.

Where these jobs are heading

Two rule changes will shape this market. The FAA’s Part 108 rule for beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights was proposed in August 2025 and has been in final White House review since July 10, 2026. It had still not been published in mid-October 2026, and the FAA has said it hopes to publish by the end of 2026. Once it takes effect, remote and docked drone patrols will be much easier to run at scale, which likely means fewer pilots on site and more remote operators covering several sites at once. And the federal counter-drone rule that took effect July 1, 2026 keeps takedown authority with certified police and corrections agencies, so the private security jobs are in detection, documentation and response.

For the bigger picture, read our drones for security guide, and compare other paths in the security careers guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do security guards need a drone license?

Only if they fly a drone for work. Any work flight needs an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate, regardless of your state guard license. Some remote operator jobs list it as preferred and train new hires.

How much does a drone security operator make?

Real 2026 listings paid $21 an hour for an entry-level remote security robotics operator, $26 to $30.75 an hour for drone-qualified security supervisors, and $60,000 to $70,000 a year for a drone technician. General drone pilot salary estimates range from about $57,500 to about $131,000, but those include specialist pilots outside security.

Can I get a drone security job with no experience?

Yes, at entry level. Remote operator roles have hired people with a high school diploma and comfort with screens and controllers. A Part 107 certificate and some practice flight time make you a much stronger candidate.

How much does a Part 107 license cost?

The FAA knowledge test costs $175 at an approved testing center. Registering a drone costs $5 for three years. Recurrent training is free, and study courses are optional.

How long does it take to get a Part 107 certificate?

Most people study for a few weeks, then take the test and apply through IACRA. A temporary certificate usually arrives within a few days to three weeks after the TSA background check.

Does a Part 107 certificate expire?

No. The certificate does not expire, but you must complete the FAA’s free online recurrent training every 24 calendar months to keep flying under it.

Do I need a TWIC card to be a drone security operator?

Only for sites that require one, such as ports, refineries and other maritime-regulated facilities. One 2026 refinery posting required it. A new TWIC card costs $125.25 and is valid for five years.

Can security drone operators take down other drones?

No. Private security has no legal authority to shoot down, jam or capture a drone. Since July 1, 2026, that authority belongs to certified police and corrections agencies.