okay so this is kind of exciting but also stressful. a company reached out - they do a mix of survey work and some commercial real estate video, based about 40 minutes from me - and they want to bring on a staff pilot. not a contractor, an actual W2 employee position with benefits. ive been freelancing for 18 months and this would be my first time going the employee route in this industry.

the base offer they threw out is honestly a bit lower than i expected given what i know they charge clients but i dont really know what staff pilots make as a baseline. and i have no idea what else to negotiate for. like do people in these roles negotiate for equipment allowances? reimbursement for keeping certs up? i dont want to lowball myself but i also really want the job and dont want to come across as difficult. the hiring manager seemed pretty laid back in the interview so maybe theres wiggle room, idk

congrats that's a solid move if the company is legit. definitely negotiate, most companies building out a drone team have more flexibility than the initial offer suggests, especially if they came to you rather than posting a job listing. a few things worth bringing up: who pays for your part 107 renewal (it's every two years and while it's not huge it's a precedent), wether they'll cover any additional certs they might want you to get down the line, and if there's a mileage or per diem situation for jobs that take you far from the office. also ask about equipment - are you flying their stuff exclusively or can you bring your own and get reimbursed? some pilots prefer flying their own gear, others dont want the liability of being the owner, just depends on your situation.

the salary range for staff pilot positions doing survey and commercial work varies a lot by region but roughly speaking $50-70k is pretty common for someone with your level of experience, more if they really need your specific skills. if they offered below $50 i'd push back pretty confidently

one thing nobody tells you - ask about whos responsible if you have an incident on the job. like does the company carry hull insurance on the aircraft and are you personally covered or are they expecting you to carry your own liability. had a friend get into a messy situation with a small company that just assumed the pilot handled all that themselves. get it in writting whatever they say