Tulsa Oklahoma Drone Operator Salary 2026: $61.2K + Part 107
Tulsa drone operator salary: $61,200 median, $35,700-$95,200 range, Part 107, take-home pay, Indeed $31.35/hr, Glassdoor $84.5K, and ZipRecruiter context.
Drone operator salary in Tulsa, Oklahoma is modeled at $61,200 median pay per year ($5,100/month, $29/hr) for the median commercial UAV role. The local calculator range is $35,700-$95,200, while the supporting FAQ separates the common $52,000-$78,000 Part 107 range from the $65,000-$95,000 oil, gas, utility, pipeline, construction, and infrastructure inspection band. June 2026 salary-page checks now split sharply by title: generic operator snapshots sit around $44.3K-$65.2K, while broader Tulsa Drone Pilot pages show $84.5K-$119.6K. Compare the exact title to the actual mission type before treating one average as the market. The same local work may be listed as commercial drone pilot, UAV pilot, or Part 107 operator.
Quick answer: drone operator salary in Tulsa, Oklahoma
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a drone operator is estimated at $35,700 entry level, $61,200 median, and $95,200 senior level. After estimated 2026 federal tax, Oklahoma income tax, and FICA, the median salary leaves about $48,600 per year, or $4,050 per month. June 2026 public salary-page checks show a wide title split across Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and Salary.com, so use the industry table below before treating one aggregate as the Tulsa market.
Drone operator salary Tulsa Oklahoma searches need one fast answer and one caveat: Salario models a $61,200 median and a $35,700-$95,200 entry-to-senior range for the local commercial drone pilot page, while June 2026 public salary-page snapshots now split by title. Indeed shows Tulsa Drone Operator at $31.35/hr, ZipRecruiter shows Oklahoma Drone Operator at $44,256/year, Salary.com shows a $49,662 U.S. Drone Operator median, Glassdoor shows Tulsa Drone Pilot at $84,458/year from a small local sample, and ZipRecruiter shows Tulsa Drone Pilot at $119,575/year. BLS does not publish a direct Tulsa drone-operator SOC, so this page separates generic operator snapshots from Part 107 mapping, construction, utility, oil, gas, and infrastructure inspection work.
Drone operator salary in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Most people searching this role use "drone operator," while many job postings use "commercial drone pilot" or "UAV pilot." In Tulsa, the practical salary question is not only the title; it is whether the work is basic real estate media, construction progress imagery, GIS mapping, utility inspection, or higher-value industrial inspection. This page was reviewed June 15, 2026 to answer the exact Tulsa/Oklahoma search wording first, then show methodology and source caveats.
Fast answers for Tulsa drone salary searches
| Search wording | Answer to use | Best supporting page |
|---|---|---|
| drone operator salary Tulsa Oklahoma | $61,200 modeled median, $35,700-$95,200 calculator range | This calculator page |
| commercial drone operator salary Tulsa Oklahoma | $52K-$78K typical Part 107 range; $65K-$95K for industrial inspection | Tulsa FAQ and Oklahoma drone guide |
| Tulsa OK drone operator salary Indeed / ZipRecruiter | Indeed shows $31.35/hr; ZipRecruiter shows $44,256/year for Oklahoma Drone Operator; Glassdoor shows $84,458/year for Tulsa Drone Pilot | Use as title-specific snapshots, not inspection-specialist pay |
| Part 107 drone pilot salary Tulsa | Use Part 107 as the credential baseline, then price by mission type | FAA/OESC source-check sections below |
| Tulsa drone operator take-home pay | About $48,600 per year, or $4,050/month, before benefits and voluntary deductions | Tax and paycheck section on this page |
Which Tulsa drone salary number should you use?
| Question or source type | Number to cite | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Exact local calculator answer | $61,200 median; $35,700-$95,200 range | Use for "drone operator salary Tulsa Oklahoma" and local take-home-pay planning. |
| Generic drone-operator salary pages | Indeed $31.35/hr; ZipRecruiter Oklahoma $44,256/year; Salary.com $49,662 U.S. base | Use as public operator snapshots; they can understate specialized inspection, mapping, or field-program roles. |
| Drone-pilot title-mix pages | Glassdoor Tulsa Drone Pilot $84,458/year; ZipRecruiter Tulsa Drone Pilot $119,575/year | Use as high-side warnings because "drone pilot" can include broader aviation, lead pilot, or specialized industrial work. |
| Inspection or industrial mission | $65K-$95K planning band | Use for oil, gas, pipeline, utility, construction, GIS, infrastructure, or thermal inspection work. |
| Official wage guardrails | BLS related Tulsa occupations: $46,760 surveying/mapping, $61,890 construction inspectors, $137,490 commercial pilots | Use to explain that BLS/OESC does not publish one direct Tulsa drone-operator SOC. |
| Tulsa drone work type | Typical pay band | What moves pay up |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate media | $40K-$60K | portfolio, fast turnaround, editing workflow, realtor relationships |
| Construction progress imagery | $55K-$75K | repeat site visits, OSHA awareness, mapping deliverables, client reporting |
| GIS mapping and surveying support | $60K-$85K | RTK/GCP workflow, Pix4D or DroneDeploy, photogrammetry, CAD/GIS handoff |
| Utility and infrastructure inspection | $62K-$90K | thermal payloads, safety training, inspection reports, controlled-airspace planning |
| Oil and gas inspection | $65K-$95K+ | asset inspection experience, thermal/visual documentation, field safety, enterprise contracts |
| June 2026 salary cross-check | Current public figure | How to use it for Tulsa drone pay |
|---|---|---|
| Salario modeled Part 107 drone operator | $61,200 | Best direct answer for Tulsa drone operator / commercial drone pilot searches. |
| Indeed Tulsa Drone Operator | $31.35/hr | About $65,208 annualized on a 2,080-hour schedule; current local operator snapshot. |
| ZipRecruiter Oklahoma Drone Operator | $44,256/year | Generic statewide operator salary snapshot; useful as a lower-side check before inspection specialization. |
| Salary.com Drone Operator | $49,662 US average base | National benchmark as of June 1, 2026; not Tulsa-specific and not industry-specific. |
| Glassdoor Tulsa Drone Pilot | $84,458/year | Small 3-salary title snapshot; useful as a middle-to-high drone-pilot check, not a direct operator SOC. |
| ZipRecruiter Tulsa Drone Pilot | $119,575/year | High-side title-mix warning; "drone pilot" pages can capture specialized or broader pilot intent. |
| BLS Tulsa surveying and mapping technicians | $46,760 median | Relevant for GIS mapping, photogrammetry support, RTK/GCP workflows, and CAD/GIS handoff. |
| BLS Tulsa construction and building inspectors | $61,890 median | Useful comparison for construction progress, roof, utility, and infrastructure inspection work. |
| BLS Oklahoma camera operators | $55,210 median | State benchmark for media-heavy drone work; Tulsa metro estimate was not released. |
| BLS Tulsa commercial pilots | $137,490 median | Upper context only. This broader aviation occupation can make job-board drone estimates look inflated. |
Source and methodology check, reviewed June 15, 2026: BLS May 2025 OEWS was released on May 15, 2026. BLS does not publish a direct Tulsa "drone operator" SOC, so the table uses official related occupations and current salary-page snapshots as guardrails while keeping the page's main answer as a modeled Part 107 benchmark.
Why Tulsa drone salary estimates vary
Some salary pages count only job postings, some use national models, and some mix employee pay with freelance project rates. In the June 15, 2026 check, Indeed put Tulsa Drone Operator at $31.35/hr, ZipRecruiter put Oklahoma Drone Operator at $44.3K/year, Salary.com showed a $49.7K U.S. Drone Operator median, Glassdoor put Tulsa Drone Pilot at $84.5K/year from a small local sample, and ZipRecruiter put Tulsa Drone Pilot much higher at $119.6K/year. This page separates the Tulsa drone operator estimate by real estate media, construction, GIS mapping, utility inspection, and oil and gas inspection so the answer matches the work a Part 107 operator is actually doing.
- Tulsa drone operator FAQ - industry ranges, Part 107, employers, and take-home pay.
- Oklahoma commercial drone operator salary - statewide ranges and Tulsa vs OKC context.
- Commercial drone pilot salary guide - national role and specialty benchmarks.
- W-2 vs 1099 comparison - compare employee pay to freelance drone project revenue.
Part 107 and Oklahoma drone-market checkpoints
Required baseline
FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107 for paid commercial drone work.
Registration
FAA drone registration is separate from the pilot certificate and applies to commercial aircraft operations.
Tulsa angle
Oklahoma's UAS/AAM strategy supports drone commerce, testing, public-sector use, and advanced mobility programs.
- For commercial work, match the salary expectation to the mission: media work is easier to enter, inspection and mapping pay more because they require safer repeatable deliverables.
- For Tulsa, the strongest high-value angle is not generic "drone pilot"; it is energy, utility, construction, and mapping work where operators document assets and reduce inspection cost.
- For 1099 drone operators, compare gross pay to take-home pay because equipment, insurance, editing time, travel, and self-employment tax can change the real hourly rate.
Drone operator salary Tulsa Oklahoma source map
Tulsa drone salary searches split between drone operator, commercial drone pilot, UAV pilot, Part 107 pilot, and Salary.com-style comparison queries. The best answer is a local $61,200 median benchmark, then a source check against public wage guardrails and local mission type.
| Benchmark | Annual | Hourly | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Commercial Drone Pilot | $35,700 | $17.16/hr | Entry-level local benchmark for this role. |
| Early-career Commercial Drone Pilot | $48,450 | $23.29/hr | 1-3 year local benchmark before senior specialization. |
| Median Commercial Drone Pilot | $61,200 | $29.42/hr | Main Tulsa salary estimate for this page. |
| Senior Commercial Drone Pilot | $95,200 | $45.77/hr | Experienced role with stronger specialization, scope, or leadership. |
| Top local estimate | $119,000 | $57.21/hr | Lead pilot, inspection specialist, field program owner, or unusually high-value local drone work before outlier agency-owner income. |
Tulsa and Oklahoma salary source check
| Source | Current public figure | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Salario Tulsa salary calculator | $61,200 median | Best direct local answer for Tulsa drone operator, commercial drone operator, and UAV pilot salary searches. |
| Salario entry-to-senior range | $35,700-$95,200 | Local calculator range from entry to senior commercial drone pilot work after Tulsa cost-of-living adjustment. |
| Indeed Tulsa Drone Operator | $31.35/hr | June 2026 local job-board snapshot, about $65,208 annualized on a 2,080-hour schedule; useful as a current Tulsa operator check, not a full inspection-specialist wage distribution. |
| ZipRecruiter Oklahoma Drone Operator | $44,256/year | June 11, 2026 statewide operator snapshot; useful for generic Oklahoma drone-operator intent, not for high-value Part 107 inspection work. |
| ZipRecruiter Tulsa Drone Pilot | $119,575/year | June 11, 2026 city page for the broader Drone Pilot title; useful as a high-side title-mix warning because it can include broader pilot or specialized work. |
| Glassdoor Tulsa Drone Pilot | $84,458/year | June 2026 Tulsa title page from 3 submitted salaries; useful as a mid-to-high drone-pilot snapshot, not a direct operator wage series. |
| Salary.com Drone Operator | $49,662 US average base | June 1, 2026 national salary-page benchmark with a $44,764-$54,889 25th-to-75th percentile base range; not Tulsa-specific. |
| BLS Tulsa surveying and mapping technicians | $46,760 median; $51,630 mean | Closest official May 2025 OEWS guardrail for mapping, photogrammetry, RTK/GCP, and GIS handoff support work. |
| BLS Tulsa construction and building inspectors | $61,890 median | Useful May 2025 OEWS guardrail for construction progress, roof, utility, and infrastructure inspection work. |
| BLS May 2025 OEWS release | Current metro wage table set | BLS released May 2025 OEWS data on May 15, 2026; use it as the current official wage-table source, while keeping drone operator as a modeled title because no direct Tulsa drone SOC is published. |
| FAA Part 107 | Required credential | Baseline credential for most paid small-drone work in Tulsa and the rest of the United States. |
- Primary answer target: drone operator salary Tulsa Oklahoma, commercial drone operator salary Tulsa Oklahoma, and commercial drone pilot salary Tulsa Oklahoma.
- Use $61,200 as the local calculator median, then adjust upward for oil, gas, utility, pipeline, construction, and GIS inspection work.
- Use $35,700-$95,200 as the local entry-to-senior calculator range, not as a guaranteed employer pay band.
- Use job-board snapshots carefully because they can mix FAA Part 107 small-drone work with broader commercial-pilot or freelance project income.
- Tulsa intent is stronger when the page names Part 107, BLS May 2025 OEWS, Oklahoma UAS/AAM context, and the specific industrial inspection work that pushes pay higher.
Reviewed June 15, 2026 against FAA Part 107 commercial drone guidance, FAA Remote Pilot Certificate guidance, the BLS May 2025 OEWS release and wage tables, Oklahoma aerospace/UAS context, local industry mix, Indeed Tulsa, Glassdoor Tulsa, ZipRecruiter Oklahoma/Tulsa, Salary.com national drone-operator benchmarks, and public salary-page patterns. This is a modeled local benchmark, not a guaranteed employer offer.
Also known as: Drone Operator, UAV Pilot, Commercial Drone Operator, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Pilot, RPAS Pilot. Salary data on this page applies to all of these job titles in Tulsa, OK.
Commercial Drone Pilot Take-Home Pay in Tulsa
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $61,200 |
| Federal Tax | -$5,164 |
| State Tax (4.5%) | -$2,754 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$4,682 |
| Annual Take-Home | $48,600 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $4,050 |
Living Cost Comparison
Commercial Drone Pilot Requirements
Key Skills
Commercial Drone Pilot salary search terms in Tulsa
People comparing Commercial Drone Pilot pay in Tulsa, OK may use related job-title wording. Salario keeps the main estimate tied to the Commercial Drone Pilot role, then treats the terms below as comparison phrases that should be checked for licensing, employer type, seniority, and role scope.
| Comparison point | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Primary local answer | $61,200 median salary, $35,700-$95,200 modeled range, and $48,600 estimated take-home pay in Tulsa. |
| Title variants | Drone Operator, UAV Pilot, Commercial Drone Operator, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Pilot, RPAS Pilot can point to similar searches, but some variants may represent a narrower specialty or a higher/lower seniority band. |
| Offer comparison | Compare base salary, hourly equivalent, take-home pay, certifications, local cost of living, and whether the job is employee, contractor, public-sector, commission-heavy, or management-level. |
Tulsa Job Market Overview
Tulsa, Oklahoma has a population of 413,066 and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. The top industries are Energy, Aerospace, Healthcare. The local job growth rate is 1.5%, and the average commute time is 21 minutes.
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Commercial Drone Pilot Salary in Nearby Oklahoma Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown — Commercial Drone Pilot in Tulsa
Based on the cost-of-living-adjusted distribution for Commercial Drone Pilot in Tulsa, OK, here's how earnings break down across the workforce:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $35,700 | $17/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $48,450 | $23/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $61,200 | $29/hr | Mid-career, 1-3 years |
| 75th | $95,200 | $46/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $119,000 | $57/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
Percentiles estimated using a log-normal salary distribution model calibrated to Commercial Drone Pilot compensation data. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Tulsa's Energy sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Commercial Drone Pilot salaries in Tulsa have grown approximately 25.0% over the past 5 years, outpacing local CPI inflation in many cases. Here's the historical and projected trajectory:
Year-over-year, an average Commercial Drone Pilot can expect a 21.7% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 5 years in Tulsa. Negotiation, certifications (FAA Part 107, sUAS Certificate), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Tulsa vs National Average
The national median Commercial Drone Pilot salary is $72,000. In Tulsa, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $61,200 is 15.0% below the national figure. This reflects Tulsa's cost of living index of 85 (lower than the national average of 100).
For Commercial Drone Pilots, this means: rent typically consumes 23.5% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Tulsa costs about 3.7× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Tulsa.
Industry Context: Energy in Tulsa
Tulsa's economy is anchored by Energy, Aerospace, Healthcare, with 413,066 residents and 3.2% unemployment as of 2026. Commercial Drone Pilots working in the Energy sector typically earn at or above the local median due to industry-specific demand. The state's overall job growth rate is 1.5%, and Commercial Drone Pilot occupations specifically are projected to grow 35.0% nationally through 2034 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Commercial Drone Pilot salaries in Tulsa, OK:
- Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available. For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Tulsa index of 85 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs checked separately.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), OK state income tax of 4.5%, and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine — occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation and cost-of-living data
- U.S. Census Bureau — Tulsa QuickFacts — population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — Tulsa unemployment rate
Last reviewed: 2026. Salary data updated annually as new BLS releases become available. Commercial Drone Pilot salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Energy vs others in Tulsa), specific skill set (FAA Part 107, Aerial Photography, GIS Mapping), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the drone operator salary in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2026?
What does the latest BLS data say about drone pilot pay in Tulsa?
Is a drone operator the same as a commercial drone pilot?
Why do Indeed, Salary.com, and ZipRecruiter show different drone salary numbers?
What certification is required for paid drone work in Tulsa?
What is the average Commercial Drone Pilot salary in Tulsa, OK?
How much does a Commercial Drone Pilot take home in Tulsa after taxes?
Is Tulsa a good city for Commercial Drone Pilots?
What skills are needed for a Commercial Drone Pilot in Tulsa?
How does Commercial Drone Pilot salary in Tulsa compare to the national average?
What job titles are similar to Commercial Drone Pilot in Tulsa?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the drone operator salary in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2026?
Drone operator salary in Tulsa, Oklahoma is modeled at $61,200 median pay in 2026, or about $29.42/hr. The local calculator range runs from $35,700 entry level to $95,200 senior level, while the supporting FAQ uses $52,000-$78,000 as the typical full-time Part 107 range and $65,000-$95,000 for higher-value oil, gas, utility, pipeline, construction, and infrastructure inspection roles.
What does the latest BLS data say about drone pilot pay in Tulsa?
BLS May 2025 OEWS data does not publish a direct "drone operator" occupation for Tulsa. The closest useful cross-checks are surveying and mapping technicians at $46,760 median, construction and building inspectors at $61,890 median, installation and repair workers all other at $45,380 median, Oklahoma camera operators at $55,210 median, and Tulsa commercial pilots at $137,490 median. That is why this page treats $61,200 as a modeled Tulsa Part 107 drone-operator benchmark, not as an exact BLS occupation wage.
Is a drone operator the same as a commercial drone pilot?
For salary searches, yes. Employers and job boards use drone operator, UAV pilot, commercial drone operator, and commercial drone pilot for overlapping FAA Part 107 work. The pay difference usually comes from the mission type: real estate media, construction progress imagery, GIS mapping, utility inspection, public safety, or oil and gas inspection.
Why do Indeed, Salary.com, and ZipRecruiter show different drone salary numbers?
Job-board salary pages mix different samples: posted jobs, user-reported pay, national pages, local pages, W-2 employee jobs, 1099 project work, and sometimes broader commercial-pilot roles. As checked June 15, 2026, Indeed showed $31.35/hr for Tulsa Drone Operator, ZipRecruiter showed $44,256/year for Oklahoma Drone Operator, Salary.com showed a $49,662 U.S. average base for Drone Operator, Glassdoor showed $84,458/year for Tulsa Drone Pilot from 3 salaries, and ZipRecruiter showed $119,575/year for Tulsa Drone Pilot. Treat those as title-specific snapshots; mapping, inspection, and energy asset documentation can price closer to specialized technical and inspection pay.
What certification is required for paid drone work in Tulsa?
Paid drone work in Tulsa normally requires an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107. The FAA also requires registration for applicable drones, and some work types may need controlled airspace authorization, night-operation compliance, operations-over-people compliance, insurance, or client-specific safety training.
What is the average Commercial Drone Pilot salary in Tulsa, OK?
The median Commercial Drone Pilot salary in Tulsa, OK is $61,200 per year as of 2026. This is adjusted for the local cost of living index of 85. Entry-level Commercial Drone Pilots earn around $35,700, while senior-level professionals can earn $95,200 or more.
How much does a Commercial Drone Pilot take home in Tulsa after taxes?
A Commercial Drone Pilot earning the median salary of $61,200 in Tulsa, OK takes home approximately $48,600 per year ($4,050/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 20.6%.
Is Tulsa a good city for Commercial Drone Pilots?
Tulsa, OK has a cost of living index of 85 (below national average). Commercial Drone Pilots here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.2% and top industries include Energy, Aerospace, Healthcare.
What skills are needed for a Commercial Drone Pilot in Tulsa?
Key skills for Commercial Drone Pilots include FAA Part 107, Aerial Photography, GIS Mapping, Inspection, Flight Planning. Typical education requirement is Certificate/Bachelor's. Valuable certifications include FAA Part 107, sUAS Certificate.
How does Commercial Drone Pilot salary in Tulsa compare to the national average?
The national median Commercial Drone Pilot salary is $72,000. In Tulsa, the adjusted salary is $61,200, which is 15.0% lower than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.
What job titles are similar to Commercial Drone Pilot in Tulsa?
Related search terms for Commercial Drone Pilot in Tulsa, OK include Drone Operator, UAV Pilot, Commercial Drone Operator, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Pilot, RPAS Pilot. Use them as comparison terms, not always exact matches: licensing, employer type, seniority, public-sector rules, and whether the role is W-2, contractor, clinical, technical, management, or sales-focused can change the salary range.