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Career

Remote Sensing Technicians

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeLower pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

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

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 $62,280 Median per year · $29.94/hr Most earn $39,000–$102,690

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Collect verification data on the ground, using equipment such as global positioning receivers, digital cameras, or notebook computers.
  • Consult with remote sensing scientists, surveyors, cartographers, or engineers to determine project needs.
  • Manipulate raw data to enhance interpretation, either on the ground or during remote sensing flights.
  • Participate in the planning or development of mapping projects.
  • Calibrate data collection equipment.
  • Monitor raw data quality during collection, and make equipment corrections as necessary.

Job outlook

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 11,200 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

  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools36.6%
  • Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences10.6%
  • Self-employed (their own business)7.4%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service6.3%
  • Temporary help services5.4%

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

Remote sensing technician is usually not a job you walk into straight out of school. Most people earn a bachelor's degree, then spend about 2 to 4 years in a related hands-on role before moving into this work.

  1. Bachelor's degree in geography, geospatial science, environmental science, or a related field

    4 years

    You learn mapping, data analysis, and the science behind satellite and aerial imagery, which is the foundation for working with sensors and flight data.

  2. Surveying and Mapping Technician

    2-4 years

    You gain field experience with GPS, mapping equipment, and collecting and processing spatial data, which builds the hands-on skills that remote sensing work requires.

  3. Remote Sensing Technician

    Career goal

    You apply remote sensing tools to projects in natural resources, urban planning, or homeland security, and you help prepare flight plans and sensor setups.

Where it can lead

  1. Remote Sensing Scientist

    2-4 years of experience first

    You move from running the equipment and processing data to designing studies, analyzing results, and leading projects, which usually calls for a bachelor's degree and more experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take geometry, earth science, and computer scienceThese classes build the math, earth science, and coding skills you will use in remote sensing work.
  • Join a science, robotics, or coding clubTeamwork and hands-on projects show you how technical projects get done and give you something to talk about in applications.
  • Learn to use mapping toolsTry free mapping software or online map tutorials to see how location data is collected and shown.
  • Get a starter job or volunteer outdoorsHelping with a park survey, a community garden, or a local conservation group builds field experience and comfort with outdoor work.

In college

  • Major in geography, geospatial science, or environmental scienceThese majors cover mapping, imagery, and earth systems, which are the core of remote sensing work.
  • Take GIS, remote sensing, and statistics coursesDirect coursework in these areas builds the technical skills employers look for in this career.
  • Apply for a summer internship or research assistant jobWorking on real mapping or environmental projects gives you hands-on experience and professional contacts.
  • Join a geography, GIS, or drone clubClubs often run projects with real equipment and give you a team to learn from.
  • Look for campus jobs with lab or field data workJobs that involve collecting or organizing data build the careful, detail-focused habits this work needs.

Tips for getting started

  • Take statistics and computer programming early. Python and data analysis skills show up often in remote sensing job ads.
  • Look for part-time or summer work on mapping, GPS, or drone projects. Practical experience helps a lot when you apply.
  • Build a small portfolio of maps or image analyses you made from free public data, so employers can see 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

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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