Starting a Career as a Crop Dusting Pilot

Though they most often spread fertilizers and insecticides over farmland to cultivate and protect crops, they can also help protect parks or even use helicopter rotor wash to dry off some types of crops sensitive to moisture.

Crop duster pilots boast a tight-knit community and are rightfully proud of what they do. Becoming a crop duster can take years of training, preparation, and apprenticeship, but succeeding can be incredibly rewarding not only for the payoff but also the goal of the job.

As with all professional pilots, crop dusters must complete a series of training requirements established by the FAA.

After passing a private pilot exam to be able to fly an airplane in the first place, hopeful crop duster pilots must then pass a commercial pilot exam to earn the right to be paid for their skills. Most pilots complete this training in airplanes, but some pursue helicopter certificates instead of, or in addition to, their airplane ratings to access a unique niche of agricultural flying.

Many agricultural pilots also pursue a tailwheel endorsement, as many crop dusting aircraft are set up in such a configuration. Tailwheel aircraft such as the Air Tractor and the Grumman Ag Cat were even produced primarily as crop dusting aircraft.

Some agricultural pilots do pursue instrument ratings, though doing so is not necessarily required to enjoy a career as a crop duster.

In addition to FAA requirements, many crop dusters are required to obtain a license to dispense crop protection materials from a state’s department of agriculture. These licenses certify that the holder has practical knowledge of pest problems and control practices associated with agricultural operations and the proper storage, use, handling, and disposal of pesticides and containers. Holders must also be able to read and understand pesticide labels and prove they can comply with printed instructions, warnings, and restrictions, among other things. 

Crop dusting pilots who only spread pesticides on their own property or on property their employer owns or rents are often only required to have a private applicator license, though others must have a commercial applicator license. The requirements can vary slightly by state, and some allow pesticide applicator licenses from other states to be used under specific conditions.

Once you have received all the licenses required to become an agricultural pilot, you must next seek out an apprenticeship with a seasoned crop duster. This will help you learn the tools, tricks, and nuances of the trade and gain your first practical experience in crop dusting.

This apprenticeship will often be your first real job in agricultural aviation, and it may not involve very much flying. Your training will start with mixing loads, fueling aircraft, performing aircraft maintenance, and more. This will not only grow your knowledge and skill but also prove your commitment to the trade and your desire to make a career out of agricultural aviation.

As you spend more time working with a mentor, you will gradually transition into flying roles. This may be on a part-time or seasonal basis at first, but with more experience—not only flying but also participating in the crop dusting operation as a whole—you will take on a bigger and bigger flying responsibility within your organization.

A critical part of advancing within the organization may be attending agricultural pilot conventions, sponsored both by industry trade groups and state licensing associations. These events offer the opportunity to learn more about the tricks of the trade and will help grow your knowledge of the skills required to be a top-notch applicator.

There is a certain amount of fluctuation by region, but the average crop duster pilot earns about $130,000 per year, or a little over $60 per hour. The lowest-earning agricultural pilots, potentially including those just starting their careers as apprentices, earn about $50,000. But you can reach six figures fairly quickly, with the bottom 25th percentile earning $100,000.

Top earners, meanwhile, earn upward of $175,000 per year, reflecting the immense skill, experience, and attention to detail that comes with flying agriculturally.

These are handsome salaries, but keep in mind that reaching the status of a full-time agricultural pilot takes effort, experience, and patience. Higher pay comes with added experience in the agricultural field and takes time to achieve.

Becoming a full-fledged agricultural pilot takes years of studying, training, and preparation. For people with a passion for flying and farming, it can be a rewarding career with an incredible payoff. With focus, passion, and drive, aerial application is a career field open to all who are interested and want to make a positive impact in their communities.