Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
Science, Technology, Engineering and MathematicsO*NET 19-2099.01United States
Apply remote sensing principles and methods to analyze data and solve problems in areas such as natural resource management, urban planning, or homeland security. May develop new sensor systems, analytical techniques, or new applications for existing systems.
- Median annual earnings
- $116,784
- Projected change
- +5.1%
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Employment
- 32.28K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
76% of the workforce
Growing to 33.92K by 2035
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The work
What remote sensing scientists and technologists do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Manage or analyze data obtained from remote sensing systems to obtain meaningful results.
- Analyze data acquired from aircraft, satellites, or ground-based platforms, using statistical analysis software, image analysis software, or Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
- Integrate other geospatial data sources into projects.
- Organize and maintain geospatial data and associated documentation.
- Compile and format image data to increase its usefulness.
- Prepare or deliver reports or presentations of geospatial project information.
- Discuss project goals, equipment requirements, or methodologies with colleagues or team members.
- Process aerial or satellite imagery to create products such as land cover maps.
- Design or implement strategies for collection, analysis, or display of geographic data.
- Develop or build databases for remote sensing or related geospatial project information.
- Collect supporting data, such as climatic or field survey data, to corroborate remote sensing data analyses.
- Monitor quality of remote sensing data collection operations to determine if procedural or equipment changes are necessary.
- Train technicians in the use of remote sensing technology.
- Set up or maintain remote sensing data collection systems.
- Direct all activity associated with implementation, operation, or enhancement of remote sensing hardware or software.
- Attend meetings or seminars or read current literature to maintain knowledge of developments in the field of remote sensing.
- Conduct research into the application or enhancement of remote sensing technology.
- Recommend new remote sensing hardware or software acquisitions.
- Use remote sensing data for forest or carbon tracking activities to assess the impact of environmental change.
- Develop automated routines to correct for the presence of image distorting artifacts, such as ground vegetation.
- Develop new analytical techniques or sensor systems.
- Participate in fieldwork.
- Apply remote sensing data or techniques, such as surface water modeling or dust cloud detection, to address environmental issues.
- Direct installation or testing of new remote sensing hardware or software.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $59,220
- 25th percentile
- $78,652
- 50th percentile
- $116,784
- 75th percentile
- $164,909
- 90th percentile
- $225,430
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $116,784 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+5.1%average or slower
202532,278 jobs
2035 projected33,916 jobs
1,638 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Bachelor's degree
- 76%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 20%
- Associate degree
- 4%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Science
- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Operations Analysis
- Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Marketing Data Scientists26 postings
- 02Remote Sensing Technicians10 postings
- 03Sensing Scientists9 postings
- 04Image Scientists6 postings
- 05Research Scientists5 postings
- 06Research Scientists/Engineers5 postings
- 07Data Scientists4 postings
- 08Charge Capture Specialists2 postings
- 09Exploit Developers2 postings
- 10Lead Data Scientists2 postings
- 11Principal Scientists2 postings
- 12Technical Application Specialists2 postings
- 13Atmospheric Scientists1 postings
- 14Computer Vision Algorithm Engineers1 postings
- 15Data Analytics Scientists1 postings
- 16Economics Research Assistants1 postings
- 17Electrical/Electronics Technicians1 postings
- 18Imaging Research Scientists1 postings
- 19Senate Fellows1 postings
- 20Technology Research Specialists1 postings
Top employers
- 01US Tech Solutions18 postings
- 02Arcfield6 postings
- 03Pacific Northwest National Laboratory6 postings
- 04Parametrix6 postings
- 05Sandia Corporation6 postings
- 06Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University5 postings
- 07Muon Space5 postings
- 08Colorado State University2 postings
- 09Geosearch2 postings
- 10Leidos2 postings
- 11MIT Lincoln Laboratory2 postings
- 12Northern Arizona University2 postings
- 13University of California2 postings
- 14University of Colorado System Office2 postings
- 15University of Georgia2 postings
- 16Auburn University1 postings
- 17Booz Allen Hamilton1 postings
- 18Cognizant Technology Solutions1 postings
- 19E Source1 postings
- 20Global Science & Technology1 postings
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