Drone Operators - The Annual Occupation in China. Drone operators earn high salaries

This emerging economic field is developing at an astonishing speed in China

In Russia, couriers might be considered the annual occupation. Courier earnings can reach 200,000 rubles, surpassing doctors, engineers, and IT professionals. Moreover, to earn this much money, all you need is a motorcycle and a strong shoulder to carry packages.

When courier earnings exceed those of IT professionals, it clearly indicates serious economic problems. However, in China, the situation is different: young people are not riding bicycles around... but operating drones. "The drone flight planner" is the annual occupation in China, according to the Business Standard.

The Chinese Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has recently officially recognized this profession. By the way, this indicates that a new economic sector - the low-altitude economy (activities involving both manned and unmanned aircraft below 1,000 meters) is rapidly developing. The National Development and Reform Commission of China has also officially recognized this field recently.

"This emerging profession is attractive to young people with technical skills and creativity," said the vice director of the Department of Vocational Ability Construction of the Chinese Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

China's low-altitude economy is developing so fast that there is a severe shortage of talent in this field - about 1 million workers are needed. According to data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, as of the end of 2024, there were only 247,000 licensed drone operators nationwide. Meanwhile, the number of registered commercial drones has approached 2.2 million, doubling from 2023.

Drone operation is now a new reality in China. As is well known, commercial and civilian drones are banned in Russia. In China, the industry is not only developing rapidly, but also at an astonishing pace.

Currently, 14,000 Chinese companies use drones, covering areas such as trade and agriculture. According to Statista, by 2030, the number of drones in China will double again, reaching 4 million (the average price per unit will drop to $1,500, meaning that everyone can afford their own drone). It is not difficult to imagine how many professionals are needed to maintain such a large fleet of drones.

The growing talent gap in this field has attracted many job seekers, especially young people. Former construction workers, salespeople, and office staff are quitting their jobs to learn drone operations or flight planning and then work for one of the 14,000 companies using drones.

The application range of drones is expanding continuously. In China, drones are used in agriculture, environmental monitoring, geographic space mapping, fire-fighting, and energy equipment maintenance.

To address the huge interest in drone-related professions, Chinese universities are adjusting their curriculum. In April, the Chinese Ministry of Education approved the addition of the undergraduate major "Low-altitude Technology and Engineering." Beihang University and Beijing Institute of Technology will offer new related courses next academic year. The competition for admission is extremely fierce.

According to the head of the Yunnan drone operation training program, interviewed by the South China Morning Post, the number of students has increased threefold since the second half of 2024.

The head said that approximately 140 young people come to learn drone operation each month.

"Many people have seen the prospects of this profession, or they see it as a backup life plan, so they want to switch careers," the head said.

The China Daily reported a real case. 27-year-old Sun Ningning obtained a drone operator license and works full-time as a surveyor at a high-tech company, earning 8,000 yuan (about 1,100 dollars) per month. She is very satisfied with her job.

28-year-old Sui Hui once sold women's clothing online, tired of irregular working hours and fierce competition on e-commerce platforms. At some point, he switched careers to become a drone operator. Now he is preparing for the exam to obtain his license. Alongside him are 28-year-old Huang Kunlin, who previously worked in the IT department of a large e-cigarette production company.

Due to intensified competition among e-cigarette manufacturers, Huang Kunlin's salary was reduced by more than half - from 20,000 to 8,000 yuan. Now he plans to work in drone operation, hoping to restore his previous income level.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7534990256542614056/

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