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Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeLower pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $122,570 Median per year · $58.93/hr Most earn $67,000–$195,190

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Organize and maintain geospatial data and associated documentation.
  • Develop or build databases for remote sensing or related geospatial project information.
  • Manage or analyze data obtained from remote sensing systems to obtain meaningful results.
  • Monitor quality of remote sensing data collection operations to determine if procedural or equipment changes are necessary.
  • Develop new analytical techniques or sensor systems.
  • Monitor quality of remote sensing data collection operations to determine if procedural or equipment changes are necessary.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 1,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Federal government, excluding postal service38.8%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools19.2%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals7.2%
  • Crop production6.5%
  • Aerospace product and parts manufacturing3.6%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This is not usually an entry-level job. Most people earn a bachelor's degree, then spend about 2 to 4 years in related work (often as a remote sensing technician) before taking on this career.

  1. Bachelor's degree in geography, earth science, or remote sensing

    4 years

    You learn the basics of satellite and aerial imagery, GIS software, and earth science, which gives you the foundation for hands-on work.

  2. Remote Sensing Technician

    2-4 years

    You collect, process, and check imagery and data under a senior team, building the practical skills and experience employers look for before giving you more independent analysis.

  3. Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist

    Ongoing career

    You apply remote sensing methods to real problems like land management, city planning, or security, and you may help design new sensors or analysis techniques.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Remote Sensing Scientist

    Several years in this career of experience first

    You take on bigger projects, lead analysis work, and guide less experienced staff, usually by showing strong technical skill and good project results.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math, physics, and earth science classesStrong math and science give you the base you need for a college degree in geography or earth science.
  • Join a science, robotics, or geography clubTeamwork on projects helps you practice data collection and problem-solving in a hands-on way.
  • Enter science fairs or GIS-related contestsCompetitions let you test a mapping or environmental data project and show initiative to future colleges.
  • Volunteer for a local environmental or land groupHelping with habitat surveys or local mapping shows you how maps and data are used in real decisions.
  • Try basic mapping softwareFree or school-provided mapping tools let you learn how spatial data works before you reach college.

In college

  • Major in geography, earth science, or remote sensingA degree in one of these fields covers imagery analysis, GIS, and the science behind what sensors measure.
  • Take statistics, programming, and GIS coursesCoding and statistics let you process large sets of imagery and data, which is a core part of the job.
  • Get an internship or research assistant jobWorking with a lab, government office, or company gives you real remote sensing experience that counts toward the 2 to 4 years employers often want.
  • Join a student GIS, geography, or environmental clubClubs offer hands-on projects and networking with people already working in the field.
  • Earn a GIS or remote sensing certificate if your school offers oneA certificate can show employers you have specific software and analysis skills beyond your degree.

Tips for getting started

  • Learn GIS and image-processing software (such as ArcGIS or QGIS, and tools for analyzing satellite images) early, since job ads for this field ask for them often.
  • Look for part-time or summer jobs and volunteer work involving maps, drones, or environmental data, so you build experience before you graduate.
  • Keep a simple portfolio of maps or image analyses you have made, to show employers what you can do.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

  • Natural Sciences Bachelor's degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $38,655 a year · typical debt $24,938
  • Marine Sciences Bachelor's degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $39,446 a year · typical debt $17,875
  • Physical Sciences, Other Bachelor's degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $51,144 a year · typical debt $19,500

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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