Drone Pilot (UAS Operator)
StableAviation
Flies drones commercially for crop spraying in paddy and oil palm, mapping and surveying, inspection and filming. You need a CAAM remote pilot certificate (RCoC) from an approved training organisation, and you must be at least 18 for the basic and agriculture certificates.
You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.
Picture the job
Where you'd usually workOutdoors, on a survey site
An illustration of a typical workplace, not a photo. Real workplaces vary.
In Malaysia
- How people get into it here
- SPM (age 18+) → train at a CAAM-approved Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO) → pass the CAAM online theory exam and practical flight test for RCoC-B, adding Module 2 (AGR) for commercial spraying, or RCoC-AL for private farm spraying → join a drone service, plantation or survey company, or start your own service with CAAM operating approvals.
Sources:caam.gov.my
Pay in the private market
Monthly pay from fresh grad to mid-career, from the salary guide cited on this page.
No official pay figure is published for this job, so we show none.
Government pay isn't shown: we haven't yet sourced the SSPA civil-service salary tables, and we won't estimate them.
Job demand outlook
Steady, reliable demand: a consistent number of openings.
Your readiness
How your current SPM subjects line up with this career.
Add your SPM grades to see how ready you are for this career.
Add my gradesHow to get here
Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.
TVET
Hands-on trades with strong employability: ILP, ADTEC, kolej vokasional, GiatMARA.
Asasi / Foundation
One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.
Diploma
Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.
Check what you may qualify for
Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.
Quick answers
How do you become a Drone Pilot (UAS Operator) in Malaysia?
SPM (age 18+) → train at a CAAM-approved Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO) → pass the CAAM online theory exam and practical flight test for RCoC-B, adding Module 2 (AGR) for commercial spraying, or RCoC-AL for private farm spraying → join a drone service, plantation or survey company, or start your own service with CAAM operating approvals. Registration with Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM): Remote Pilot Certificate of Competency (RCoC-B, Module 2 AGR or RCoC-AL), plus operating authorisations is required to practise.
Can I become a Drone Pilot (UAS Operator) straight after SPM?
Yes. This career can be started with a certificate, diploma or TVET training straight after SPM, without a degree.
What should I study to become a Drone Pilot (UAS Operator)?
Related fields of study: Aviation and Agriculture. SPM subjects that help most: Physics, Additional Mathematics, English and Biology.
How much does a Drone Pilot (UAS Operator) earn in Malaysia?
We don't yet have a Malaysian source we can cite for Drone Pilot (UAS Operator) pay, so we show no figure.
Subjects that matter here
The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.
Skills to build
About this information
This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org