South Dakota, FAA register October 2026
Part 107 jobs and licensed drone pilots in South Dakota
No open job in South Dakota requires the Part 107 certificate today. At least 783 licensed remote pilots live in the state, 83.7 for every 100,000 residents (above the US rate of 53.5); most around Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Brookings.
783
licensed remote pilots
46th
of 51 states by pilots
7th
per resident
0
open Part 107 jobs
Open jobs in South Dakota that require Part 107
Where South Dakota's licensed pilots live
By the city of their mailing address on the FAA file.
- 1. Sioux Falls167
- 2. Rapid City99
- 3. Brookings43
- 4. Watertown23
- 5. Mitchell23
- 6. Aberdeen21
- 7. Box Elder19
- 8. Spearfish18
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. 9% of South Dakota'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 South Dakota?
At least 783: the FAA's public airmen file (October 2026) lists that many Part 107 remote pilots with a South Dakota mailing address, 46th 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 South Dakota?
Not on our board today. 52 jobs in other states require it right now; the full list is on our Part 107 jobs page, and new ones are added as employers post them.
Which South Dakota city has the most drone pilots?
Sioux Falls, with 167 licensed remote pilots on the FAA file, then Rapid City (99) and Brookings (43).
How do I get a Part 107 license in South Dakota?
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.