How Engineering College Students Can Make $72,000 Before They Graduate

DeQon Hardister
Jul 7
6 min read

How future engineers are quietly taking over the drone industry

July 07, 2025

If I was wrapping up an engineering degree today, I’d jump straight into drones. Why? It’s where technical minds are already winning — and getting paid 2-3X faster than they would grinding it out in entry-level engineering roles.

This week’s report is for you if you’re an engineer (or even halfway technical) wondering where the next big opportunity is hiding.

Even if you’re not, it might not be too late — especially if you’re interested in exterior-focused businesses like construction, painting, or roofing.

"My first 10 gigs were done for free. Then, boom! $2,500 contract for 6 weeks."

Since this is my first newsletter, I wanted to be sure I give back to the community that changed my life, my engineer homies! Coming from the inner city of Dallas, Texas, PLEASANT GROVE IN THE BUILDING! I had no clue that I'd be a creator or an engineer. Going to Skyline High School and going to college for football, my dreams was to play professionally for the Dallas Cowboys! Then reality set in. I suffered a punctured lung playing against the great Kyler Murray in high school and from there, my sports path went downhill.

Long story short, I transferred to the University of North Texas, where I eventually earned my Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. I knew engineering was for me the moment I realized problem-solving was the gift I was blessed with. More importantly, I saw the chance to make a real impact and earn big. But I also want to shine a light on how tough it is to get that first solid opportunity — and be compensated in a way that feels truly rewarding after all those long nights studying and stressing.

Everyone tells you “engineering is safe & lucrative” — but forget to mention how cutthroat it is to land that first opportunity.

1.) Hundreds of applicants for each entry-level role.

Most want 2-3 years of experience for an entry-level position.
“Must have internship or co-op experience” becomes a hidden gate. If you didn’t land one during college, doors close fast.

2.) The financial mismatch is brutal.

You push through $30K - $60K+ in student loans, spend 4-5 years with endless labs & projects, only to see many companies offer $60K or less starting out.
Meanwhile, tradespeople you went to high school with might be making more right away, with no debt.

3.) The long nights don’t end after graduation.

You’re often expected to learn on the job, pick up expensive certifications, and even work unpaid overtime to “prove yourself.”
The stress doesn’t let up — it just changes shape.
Promotions take years, and raises can lag inflation.

4.) Getting rejected after investing everything hurts differently.

The emotional hit of getting a “we went with someone with more experience” after studying through holidays, weekends, and mental health dips is real.
You start questioning: Was this worth it?

Anyways, some may look at this and say that's just the way it is but, this is what I wish someone told me sooner:

Start building your own opportunities — with drones.

Pick up a DJI Mini or Air and get your Part 107 license. It costs less than a semester’s worth of textbooks.
Start offering simple aerial photo and video packages to realtors. These pay $300–$500 a pop, for just a few hours of work.
Layer on thermal scans or 3D mapping for roofing companies, insurance adjusters, or construction managers. Those gigs routinely pay $750 to $1,500+ each.
Pitch monthly retainer deals to local businesses who need consistent visuals — like site updates or “visual risk insurance.” Just a couple of these can pull in $2,000+ per month.

Instead of begging for experience, you’ll be creating it:

You’ll have real clients, not just class projects.
You’ll build a portfolio of deliverables that show off problem-solving, tech skills, and data-driven reporting.
You’ll be making money now — often more than most entry-level engineers.

Plus, when you do sit down in front of a hiring manager, you’ll have a story that stands out. Because at the end of the day, businesses care about results.

If you can show you already know how to solve problems, work with clients, and run tech projects independently, your lack of “formal experience” stops mattering real quick.

Potential numbers:

$300–$500: Standard for simple aerial photos + video for local realtors or small businesses.
$750–$1,500: Roofing thermal scans, insurance documentation, or basic 3D site models.
$2,000+ / month: Just 2-3 monthly retainer deals with contractors or developers for regular site updates, marketing visuals, or compliance checks.

That means with even a part-time effort, you could realistically bring in $1,500–$6,000 a month — while still in school or job hunting.

Multiply that out:

That’s $18K–$72K a year on the side — which rivals or exceeds many starting engineering salaries.
And you keep your schedule flexible.

How to make it actually happen (using your student profile):

Leverage LinkedIn:

Post your drone shots, your first small jobs, or even your training footage.
Use captions like: “Applied some thermal imaging principles today on a residential roof — helping homeowners catch hidden damage. Always fun merging my engineering background with drone tech.”
This positions you as a future engineer who already solves real problems with technology.

Use your student credibility:

People love giving students a chance.
Pitch your first jobs as a student pilot looking to help local businesses while building your portfolio.
Offer a slight discount, but make sure they know they’re getting pro-level deliverables.

Turn school projects into credibility:

Did you build a small CAD project, do any structural analysis, or write a paper on materials?
Mention how that technical rigor now helps you with drone inspections, thermal anomaly detection, or site mapping.
This makes you sound 10x more legit to contractors and property owners.

Keep sharing online:

Every small job you do, post it.
Share insights like: “Saved a contractor 2 hours by delivering a pre-bid roof model. Using drones isn’t just cool — it’s smart business.”
Now your LinkedIn, Instagram, or even your resume shows you’re not waiting around for experience. You’re out there making it.

Why It Works?

It’s simple: the system isn’t built to reward engineers early. It rewards gatekeepers.

College trains you to chase internships and 2+ years of experience you may never get. Meanwhile, bills, loans, and real life stack up fast. So here’s why launching your own drone side hustle flips the entire game:

You stop waiting for someone to give you “experience.”

When you run drone jobs, you’re literally getting paid to build your portfolio. • Each flight = a real project.

Each client = a case study.
Each invoice = proof you can deliver.

You’re proving your engineering mindset — without HR approvals.

Running missions for roofers or developers means:

You analyze problems (like leaks or heat loss),
Gather data (imagery, 3D models, thermal maps),
And turn it into actionable reports. That’s engineering in the real world. No one can take that away from you.

You create cash flow that rivals starting salaries — on your time.

No waiting 3 months for a second interview. No $62K offer that’s eaten by loans. A few local jobs a week can realistically bring in $1,500–$6,000/month. Stack that for a year? You’re pacing $18K–$72K — while building long-term leverage.

You build a story that makes hiring managers and future clients pay attention. It’s one thing to say you’re a problem solver. It’s another to show up with drone reports that caught a $15K roof issue before it spread, or marketing visuals that sold a $500K listing faster.

That’s why it works. Because at the end of the day, businesses — whether they’re your clients or your future employers — care about one thing:

“Can you solve problems and make us money?”

This side hustle is your engineering lab, your marketing degree, and your cash machine all rolled into one.

And you’re doing it on your schedule, with your name on the invoices, and your skills getting sharper every single job. If you can make the right choice even 30% of the time, those actions will be the ones that radically shape your future for the better. Thank you for reading. I hope you can see this through. Until next time!

– DeQon