A person working as Drone Engineer in Zambia typically earns around 5,230 ZMK. Salaries range from 2,770 ZMK (lowest) to 7,950 ZMK (highest).
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Drone Engineer salaries in Zambia vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Minimum Salary 2,770 ZMK |
Median 4,720 ZMK |
Maximum 7,950 ZMK |
Salaries for the position Drone Engineer in Zambia range from 2,770 ZMK (starting salary) to 7,950 ZMK (maximum salary). It should be noted that the given figure is not the legally mandated minimum wage; rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that included thousands of participants and professionals from all regions of the country.
With a median salary of 4,720 ZMK, half of the professionals who work as Drone Engineer in Zambia earn less than this amount, and the other half earn more. The median salary denotes the middle value of salaries. Ideally, you would want to belong to the group earning more than the median salary, located on the right side of the salary distribution graph.
The median is closely associated with two other values known as the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution chart, it can be determined that 25% of professionals employed as Drone Engineer in Zambia earn less than 3,930 ZMK, while 75% earn more. Similarly, the chart shows that 75% earn less than 5,340 ZMK while 25% earn more.
To provide a better understanding of expected salaries, we categorized the frequently occurring salaries into different ranges. This approach provides a more precise representation of salary distribution for the job title Drone Engineer in Zambia compared to simply calculating the average. The majority of reported salaries, approximately 65%, fall within the range of 3,090 ZMK to 4,200 ZMK. About 20% of salaries are below the 3,090 ZMK mark, while 10% fall within the range of 4,200 ZMK to 4,700 ZMK. Only 5% of individuals have salaries exceeding 4,700 ZMK.
0 - 2 Years | 3,190 ZMK | |
2 - 5 Years | +23% | 3,910 ZMK |
5 - 10 Years | +42% | 5,550 ZMK |
10 - 15 Years | +17% | 6,480 ZMK |
15 - 20 Years | +10% | 7,130 ZMK |
20+ Years | +6% | 7,540 ZMK |
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage. We broke down salaries by experience level for people working as Drone Engineer and this is what we found.
Employees with less than two years of experience earn approximately 3,190 ZMK.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 3,910 ZMK, 23% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 5,550 ZMK, 42% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, professionals whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 6,480 ZMK, 17% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 7,130 ZMK, 10% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 7,540 ZMK, 6% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
High School | 3,860 ZMK | |
Certificate or Diploma | +13% | 4,380 ZMK |
Bachelor's Degree | +31% | 5,730 ZMK |
Master's Degree | +32% | 7,540 ZMK |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down salaries by education level for the position Drone Engineer in order to make a comparison.
Employees at this education level have an average salary of 3,860 ZMK.
At this level, the average salary becomes 4,380 ZMK, 13% more than the previous level.
At this level, the average salary becomes 5,730 ZMK, 31% more than the previous level.
At this level, the average salary becomes 7,540 ZMK, 32% more than the previous level.
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Zambia costs anywhere from 30,100 ZMK to 90,300 ZMK and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch to a higher-paying job. The numbers seem to support the theory. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
If you can afford the costs of higher education, the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? For the people who work as Drone Engineer in Zambia, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 13%.
Male | 5,470 ZMK | |
Female | -11% | 4,860 ZMK |
Individuals working as Drone Engineer in Zambia are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 8% every 28 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 5% granted to employees every 28 months.
The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
91% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 9% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 1% to 3% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 9% | |
No Bonus | 91% |
The most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
The minimum pay rate per hour for people working as Drone Engineer in Zambia is 16 ZMK. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense | -100% | |
Aeronautical Engineer | 6,250 ZMK | +19% |
Aerospace Engineer | 7,300 ZMK | +39% |
Aerospace Technician | 5,880 ZMK | +12% |
Air Crew Member | 3,690 ZMK | -29% |
Air Crew Officer | 4,120 ZMK | -21% |
Air Traffic Assistant | 3,520 ZMK | -33% |
Air Traffic Controller | 6,540 ZMK | +25% |
Air Traffic Management Automation Engineer | 6,660 ZMK | +27% |
Aircraft 3D Printing Technician | 5,370 ZMK | +3% |
Aircraft Assembler | 3,290 ZMK | -37% |
Aircraft Body Repairer | 2,750 ZMK | -47% |
Aircraft Cabin Interior Designer | 6,560 ZMK | +25% |
Aircraft Captain | 10,200 ZMK | +95% |
Aircraft Cybersecurity Specialist | 7,610 ZMK | +45% |
Aircraft Electrician | 3,460 ZMK | -34% |
Aircraft Electronics Techician | 3,230 ZMK | -38% |
Aircraft Engineer | 6,590 ZMK | +26% |
Aircraft Fueler | 2,730 ZMK | -48% |
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer | 5,780 ZMK | +10% |
Aircraft Maintenance Manager | 9,930 ZMK | +90% |
Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor | 6,150 ZMK | +18% |
Aircraft Maintenance Technician | 2,790 ZMK | -47% |
Aircraft Mechanic | 3,170 ZMK | -39% |
Aircraft Pilot | 9,870 ZMK | +89% |
Aircraft Pneudraulics Repairer | 3,050 ZMK | -42% |
Aircraft Quality Assurance | 8,600 ZMK | +64% |
Aircraft Rigging Assembler | 3,000 ZMK | -43% |
Aircraft Service Technician | 2,940 ZMK | -44% |
Airfield Management Specialist | 8,940 ZMK | +71% |
Airfield Operations Specialist | 7,020 ZMK | +34% |
Airline Augmented Reality Developer | 5,400 ZMK | +3% |
Airline Cabin Crew | 5,830 ZMK | +11% |
Airline Copilot | 7,070 ZMK | +35% |
Airline Customer Experience Designer | 6,650 ZMK | +27% |
Airline Data Analyst | 5,950 ZMK | +14% |
Airline Pilot | 10,200 ZMK | +95% |
Airlines Sales Director | 11,800 ZMK | +130% |
Airlines Sales Manager | 11,500 ZMK | +120% |
Airlines Structural Assembler | 2,640 ZMK | -50% |
Airport Services Agent | 4,140 ZMK | -21% |
Airport Services Manager | 12,200 ZMK | +130% |
Airport Services Supervisor | 7,420 ZMK | +42% |
Airport Sustainability Manager | 8,120 ZMK | +55% |
Assistant Aircraft Mechanic | 2,830 ZMK | -46% |
Autonomous Air Taxi Coordinator | 3,960 ZMK | -24% |
Aviation Analyst | 8,020 ZMK | +53% |
Aviation Biofuel Specialist | 6,880 ZMK | +31% |
Aviation Engineer | 6,340 ZMK | +21% |
Aviation Inspector | 7,360 ZMK | +41% |
Aviation Manager | 13,000 ZMK | +150% |
Aviation Operations Controller | 7,100 ZMK | +36% |
Aviation Resources Manager | 10,700 ZMK | +100% |
Aviation Safety Assistant | 3,720 ZMK | -29% |
Aviation Safety Manager | 12,100 ZMK | +130% |
Aviation Safety Officer | 6,170 ZMK | +18% |
Aviation Security Specialist | 7,780 ZMK | +49% |
Aviation Sustainability Consultant | 8,150 ZMK | +56% |
Aviation Technician | 2,810 ZMK | -46% |
Aviation Training Specialist | 6,670 ZMK | +27% |
Cargo and Freight Agent | 2,760 ZMK | -47% |
Cargo Executive | 5,920 ZMK | +13% |
Chief Pilot | 10,300 ZMK | +97% |
Drone Compliance Officer | 6,360 ZMK | +22% |
Drone Delivery Specialist | 5,330 ZMK | +2% |
Drone Emergency Response Coordinator | 5,140 ZMK | -2% |
Drone Engineer | 5,230 ZMK | -0% |
Drone Event Coordinator | 5,070 ZMK | -3% |
Drone Fleet Manager | 6,810 ZMK | +30% |
Drone Geospatial Analyst | 5,960 ZMK | +14% |
Drone Infrastructure Engineer | 6,550 ZMK | +25% |
Drone Inspection Specialist | 5,310 ZMK | +1% |
Drone Inspector | 5,410 ZMK | +3% |
Drone Insurance Underwriter | 4,830 ZMK | -8% |
Drone Light Show Choreographer | 5,030 ZMK | -4% |
Drone Operator / Pilot | 4,200 ZMK | -20% |
Drone Payload Specialist | 4,470 ZMK | -15% |
Drone Pilot Instructor | 4,800 ZMK | -8% |
Drone Security Specialist | 5,680 ZMK | +9% |
Drone Software Engineer | 5,540 ZMK | +6% |
Drone Surveyor | 4,410 ZMK | -16% |
Drone Technician | 3,800 ZMK | -27% |
Drone Traffic Controller | 3,800 ZMK | -27% |
Drone Traffic Management Specialist | 5,810 ZMK | +11% |
Drone Traffic Safety Engineer | 5,780 ZMK | +10% |
Drone Videographer | 4,790 ZMK | -8% |
First Officer | 4,600 ZMK | -12% |
Fleet Controller | 9,620 ZMK | +84% |
Fleet Management Officer | 4,200 ZMK | -20% |
Flight Attendant | 4,140 ZMK | -21% |
Flight Planner | 5,440 ZMK | +4% |
Flight Scheduler | 5,250 ZMK | +0% |
Flight Simulation Engineer | 5,670 ZMK | +8% |
Freight and Cargo Inspector | 4,350 ZMK | -17% |
Helicopter Pilot | 6,640 ZMK | +27% |
Loading Bridge Operator | 2,740 ZMK | -48% |
Pilot | 10,500 ZMK | +100% |
Ramp Agent | 2,680 ZMK | -49% |
Reservations Sales Agent | 3,540 ZMK | -32% |
Safety and Quality Specialist | 6,360 ZMK | +22% |
Test Pilot | 7,530 ZMK | +44% |
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operator | 4,680 ZMK | -11% |
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Technician | 4,580 ZMK | -12% |
Virtual / Augmented Reality Flight Simulator Designer | 5,800 ZMK | +11% |
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in Zambia is 17% on average across all career fields.
Private Sector | 5,600 ZMK | |
Public Sector | +17% | 6,560 ZMK |
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 4,720 ZMK and 5,340 ZMK. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
The base salary for a careers like Drone Engineer in Zambia ranges from 2,770 ZMK to 3,930 ZMK. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary