What you can earn in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the center of North American aerial production, so the ceiling here is high: many pilots work film and TV first, luxury real estate second, and increasingly FPV and action-sports content alongside. The discipline that separates working LA pilots from the rest is airspace awareness -- the basin is dense with controlled zones needing LAANC, and temporary flight restrictions appear around wildfires, motorcades, and productions constantly. The pilots who check TFRs as a daily habit and reschedule cleanly are the ones clients trust with tight production calendars.
Typical earnings
$350 to $800 for a half-day real estate shoot, $1,000 to $2,500 for a single-operator production day, and far more for crewed cinema units, with 90% going straight to you.
We take a 10% platform commission. Standard payment processing fees (Stripe) apply and are charged separately from the commission.
Jobs you would take on in Los Angeles
Film and TV Aerial Units
LA pilots have the deepest talent pool for cinema drone work in the country. Many carry heavy-lift platforms that fly Alexa Minis or RED cameras. Union rules and production insurance requirements vary by project.
Luxury Real Estate Production
Beverly Hills, Malibu, Hollywood Hills, and Pacific Palisades listings routinely commission drone stills and video. Brokers at the top end use aerial tours as standard marketing, not upsells.
Commercial and Music Video Production
Brands, agencies, and music labels use drone shots as part of broader productions. LA pilots usually integrate into existing crews rather than delivering standalone packages.
Qualifications you need for Los Angeles drone work
FAA Part 107 covers commercial flight. The LA basin has many controlled-airspace zones requiring LAANC authorisation, and temporary flight restrictions spin up around wildfires, sporting events, motorcades, and film productions, so the B4UFLY and Aloft apps are daily tools. City parks largely ban drone use, and flights near studios or backlots need production approval regardless of FAA rules. For film work, expect clients to want production insurance and experience with cinema or FPV payloads.
Looking to hire a pilot in Los Angeles instead? See drone services in Los Angeles.
How Terasor works
Create your free pilot profile
List your drone, certifications, and territory so clients can match you to the right work.
Browse and bid on charters
Clients post jobs; you submit a price and a proposed date, or upload footage directly on fixed-price charters.
Get paid, keep 90%
Payment is held in escrow and released once the client reviews your footage.
Want the full picture? Learn how Terasor works for pilots.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I earn as a drone pilot in Los Angeles?
Real estate is the accessible end at USD 350 to 800 for a half day. A single-operator drone day on a small production runs USD 1,000 to 2,500, and a fully crewed heavy-lift unit on a feature can be USD 5,000 to 15,000 or more per day. You price your own bids and keep 90% after Terasor's flat 10%.
Do I need FAA Part 107 to take jobs in Los Angeles?
Yes, Part 107 is required for any paid work, and you will use LAANC constantly for the basin's controlled airspace. Film and brand clients often also want production insurance and proof of experience with the camera platform. List your certificate, gear, and specialties -- including FPV -- so the right briefs come to you.
What types of drone jobs are most common in Los Angeles?
Film and TV aerial units, luxury real estate in Beverly Hills and Malibu, commercial and music video production, action sports and lifestyle content, and FPV cinematic work, which is now standard on many productions. Most pilots keep real estate or commercial work as a base and take film when productions are casting.
How does bidding work on Terasor?
For Quote-Based charters you submit a USD price and a date against the brief and the client picks a bid. For Fixed-Price charters the fee is set and you upload footage to win it. Payment is held in Stripe escrow until the client approves, then released to you minus the flat 10% fee.
How do TFRs affect drone jobs during wildfire season?
Wildfires create active temporary flight restrictions that ground all civilian drones in the affected airspace, and flying near one carries federal penalties and endangers firefighting aircraft. Good pilots check the FAA TFR map and Aloft before every flight in fire season and cancel or reroute when a TFR appears. Communicating that discipline to clients up front is part of being hireable here.
Ready to find drone work in Los Angeles?
Join Terasor free, set your rates, and start receiving charter requests from clients in Los Angeles and beyond.