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California, FAA register October 2026

Part 107 jobs and licensed drone pilots in California

16 open jobs in California require the FAA Part 107 certificate today. At least 16,383 licensed remote pilots live in the state, 41.6 for every 100,000 residents (below the US rate of 53.5); most around San Diego, Los Angeles and Sacramento.

16,383

licensed remote pilots

2nd

of 51 states by pilots

44th

per resident

16

open Part 107 jobs

Open jobs in California that require Part 107

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Show 6 more Part 107 jobs

Where California's licensed pilots live

By the city of their mailing address on the FAA file.

  1. 1. San Diego782
  2. 2. Los Angeles751
  3. 3. Sacramento332
  4. 4. San Francisco323
  5. 5. San Jose281
  6. 6. Bakersfield211
  7. 7. Long Beach192
  8. 8. Fresno189

Counting every pilot within 30 miles: Los Angeles 4,033, San Francisco 2,228 and San Diego 1,883, among the US areas with the most licensed pilots.

How these numbers are counted

Pilots: active Remote Pilot certificates in the FAA Airmen Certification Releasable Database (October 2026 file) by the holder's mailing address, so a floor: pilots who withheld their address are not in it. 8% of California's also hold a manned pilot certificate. Jobs: postings on the employers' own job boards, read every day, counted when they require the certificate. Every state compared.

Hiring drone pilots and flight operators? : we size the pool near your site, check each person against your brief and introduce only the people who said yes. How it works and what it costs.

Frequently asked questions

How many licensed drone pilots are there in California?

At least 16,383: the FAA's public airmen file (October 2026) lists that many Part 107 remote pilots with a California mailing address, 2nd of 51 states. Pilots who keep their address private are not in the file, so the true number is higher (the file shows about 37% of all US remote pilots).

Are there Part 107 jobs in California?

Yes: 16 open jobs on our board require the certificate in California today, at CHAOS Industries, Anduril Industries, Shield AI and Zipline and others. They are listed on this page with the pay each posting states.

Which California city has the most drone pilots?

San Diego, with 782 licensed remote pilots on the FAA file, then Los Angeles (751) and Sacramento (332).

How do I get a Part 107 license in California?

Pass the FAA's Unmanned Aircraft General knowledge test at an approved testing center (60 questions, 70% to pass, about $175), then apply for the certificate in the FAA's IACRA system. Anyone 16 or older can take it; it is the same everywhere in the US.