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Illinois, FAA register October 2026

Part 107 jobs and licensed drone pilots in Illinois

3 open jobs in Illinois require the FAA Part 107 certificate today. At least 5,955 licensed remote pilots live in the state, 46.8 for every 100,000 residents (below the US rate of 53.5); most around Chicago, Naperville and Champaign.

5,955

licensed remote pilots

7th

of 51 states by pilots

42nd

per resident

3

open Part 107 jobs

Open jobs in Illinois that require Part 107

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Where Illinois's licensed pilots live

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

  1. 1. Chicago678
  2. 2. Naperville93
  3. 3. Champaign92
  4. 4. Bloomington89
  5. 5. Springfield66
  6. 6. Aurora63
  7. 7. Plainfield55
  8. 8. Normal54

Counting every pilot within 30 miles: Chicago 2,677, 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 Illinois'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 Illinois?

At least 5,955: the FAA's public airmen file (October 2026) lists that many Part 107 remote pilots with a Illinois mailing address, 7th 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 Illinois?

Yes: 3 open jobs on our board require the certificate in Illinois today, at Amazon Prime Air. They are listed on this page with the pay each posting states.

Which Illinois city has the most drone pilots?

Chicago, with 678 licensed remote pilots on the FAA file, then Naperville (93) and Champaign (92).

How do I get a Part 107 license in Illinois?

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.