Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists Career, Salary and Skills
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $122,570 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 22,300. Wage data is published for 108 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
19-2099.01
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$122,570
Hourly median
$58.93
Employment
22,300
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.38 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Writing | 3.88 | 4.62 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Science | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | 3.88 | 4.25 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Mathematics | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.62 | 3.88 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Manage or analyze data obtained from remote sensing systems to obtain meaningful results.
Technology
- MySQL
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Aeronautical charts
- Agisoft Metashape
- Airdata
- Amazon DynamoDB
- Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2
- Amazon Redshift
- Amazon Simple Storage Service S3
- Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Ansible software
- Apache Hadoop
- Apache Hive
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $170,980 · Employment 2,740
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists Salary in CAMedian $130,610 · Employment 2,320
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists Salary in TXMedian $100,920 · Employment 2,310
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists Salary in MDMedian $141,290 · Employment 1,810
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists Salary in NYMedian $117,820 · Employment 1,510
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists Salary in INMedian $68,670 · Employment 1,240
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists Salary in GAMedian $137,680 · Employment 1,020
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists Salary in Atlanta, GAMedian $137,680 · Employment 930
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists Salary in New York, NYMedian $139,560 · Employment 860
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $136,160 · Employment 820
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists Salary in DCMedian $156,730 · Employment 790
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists Salary in Albany, NYMedian $99,460 · Employment 780
Related careers
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansNational median $78,190
- Robotics TechniciansNational median $73,900
- Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerNational median $130,220
- Robotics EngineersNational median $122,930
- Avionics TechniciansNational median $82,280
- Hydrologic TechniciansNational median $64,790
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentNational median $74,090
- Radio Frequency Identification Device SpecialistsNational median $130,220
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.