so ive been flying for about two years now mostly just hobby stuff, fpv in the backyard, some landscape shots at the lake near my house. a few people have seen my footage and said i should try to make money with it and honestly ive been thinking about it more lately. the part 107 test doesnt look that bad and i already know most of the airspace stuff from just flying responsibly.

my question is really whether its actually worth pursuing or if the market is already totally saturated. i keep seeing people online saying drone pilots are everywhere now and the rates have dropped a ton. but then i also see job boards with listings so im confused about what the reality is. does anyone actually make a living doing this or is it more of a side income thing for most people

honestly the saturation thing is real but its kind of overstated too. the guys who struggle are usually the ones who just get the cert and then post on facebook saying they do drone stuff. the ones doing well have niched down into something specific ? like i know a guy who does nothing but cell tower inspections and he stays booked. i do mostly real estate and construction progress stuff and its not life changing money but its a solid supplement to my regular work.

the 107 is worth getting no matter what because it opens doors even if you dont go full freelance. and having it on a resume for any tech or surveying adjacent job is genuinely useful. dont let the saturated market thing stop you from at least getting certified, worst case you have a credential and keep flying as a hobby

im kind of in the same boat as you actually, just passed my 107 last month. from what ive gathered talking to people here and in a couple facebook groups, the full time living from it is doable but takes a while to build up clients. most people seem to treat it as a side gig that pays for gear and maybe a bit more. real estate seems like the easiest entry point from what i can tell