Remote Sensing Technicians
Science, Technology, Engineering and MathematicsO*NET 19-4099.03United States
Apply remote sensing technologies to assist scientists in areas such as natural resources, urban planning, or homeland security. May prepare flight plans or sensor configurations for flight trips.
- Median annual earnings
- $62,006
- Projected change
- +7.6%
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Employment
- 85.49K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
70.4% of the workforce
Growing to 91.99K by 2035
Explore this career by location
Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.
Showing United States
Loading available locations…
Build the skills
ASU learning related to this career
These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
Loading related ASU learning
The work
What remote sensing technicians do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Collect geospatial data, using technologies such as aerial photography, light and radio wave detection systems, digital satellites, or thermal energy systems.
- Verify integrity and accuracy of data contained in remote sensing image analysis systems.
- Integrate remotely sensed data with other geospatial data.
- Consult with remote sensing scientists, surveyors, cartographers, or engineers to determine project needs.
- Adjust remotely sensed images for optimum presentation by using software to select image displays, define image set categories, or choose processing routines.
- Merge scanned images or build photo mosaics of large areas, using image processing software.
- Manipulate raw data to enhance interpretation, either on the ground or during remote sensing flights.
- Participate in the planning or development of mapping projects.
- Prepare documentation or presentations, including charts, photos, or graphs.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $38,226
- 25th percentile
- $47,454
- 50th percentile
- $62,006
- 75th percentile
- $80,607
- 90th percentile
- $107,073
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $62,006 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+7.6%faster than average
202585,493 jobs
2035 projected91,985 jobs
6,492 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
- 70.4%
- High school diploma or less
- 9.5%
- Associate degree
- 9.2%
- Some college
- 6%
- Certificate
- 4.5%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 0.3%
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.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- 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.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- 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.
- Programming
- Writing computer programs for various purposes.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- 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.
- 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.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Image Scientists156 postings
- 02LiDAR Technicians141 postings
- 03Geospatial Analysts131 postings
- 04Remote Sensing Technicians95 postings
- 05Imagery Analysts81 postings
- 06Geospatial Technicians78 postings
- 07Lead Meteorologists52 postings
- 08LiDAR Analysts50 postings
- 09Scientists34 postings
- 10Technicians28 postings
- 11Exploit Developers27 postings
- 12Geospatial Specialists25 postings
- 13Locate Technicians24 postings
- 14Geospatial Intelligence Analysts23 postings
- 15Surveillance Managers23 postings
- 16Capture Managers22 postings
- 17Postdoctoral Researchers22 postings
- 18Analysts21 postings
- 19Algorithm Engineers20 postings
- 20Equipment Operators19 postings
Top employers
- 01BAE Systems82 postings
- 02Analytical Mechanics Associates62 postings
- 03Bowman & Company Llp59 postings
- 04Leidos57 postings
- 05Res Agency54 postings
- 06Booz Allen Hamilton42 postings
- 07SAM38 postings
- 08Westwood Professional Services37 postings
- 09L3Harris Technologies32 postings
- 10Geo Owl28 postings
- 11Apple25 postings
- 12NV525 postings
- 13Stake Center Locating24 postings
- 14KBR23 postings
- 15Slingshot Aerospace23 postings
- 16MIT Lincoln Laboratory21 postings
- 17Altamira19 postings
- 18CVS Health19 postings
- 19Grvty19 postings
- 20CACI International18 postings
Keep looking