JobAfterNext

Remote Sensing Technicians

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.

Wages

BLS doesn't publish wages for Remote Sensing Technicians separately. These are the figures for Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other (19-4099), its parent occupation.

Median annual wage, U.S.$62,280
Employment, U.S.73,910
Median hourly wage$29.94
Annual wage percentiles, U.S., May 2025
10th25thMedian75th90th
$39,000$48,030$62,280$79,780$102,690
By state (51)
StateEmploymentMedian annualLocation quotient
Alabama350$59,5000.35
Alaska170$70,7001.10
Arizona420$58,2400.27
Arkansas350$59,3100.56
California10,090$78,3501.17
Colorado1,860$63,7601.37
Connecticut320$66,7100.40
Delaware90Not available0.39
District of Columbia150$79,2300.45
Florida1,830$63,1800.39
Georgia2,230$69,3200.96
Hawaii1,050$50,8803.53
Idaho550$50,6001.36
Illinois750$59,4100.26
Indiana750$48,6500.50
Iowa420$50,4800.57
Kansas880$65,2701.28
Kentucky320$68,2300.33
Louisiana1,610$53,3601.75
Maine390$66,7301.27
Maryland3,510$68,3902.67
Massachusetts1,140$63,8200.66
Michigan1,040$59,1000.50
Minnesota1,350$49,4100.97
Mississippi330$59,4900.60
Missouri2,100$50,4101.51
Montana130$52,2600.55
Nebraska300$48,6400.61
Nevada350$54,0700.47
New Hampshire360$64,2501.10
New Jersey2,140$55,9801.05
New Mexico180$56,4200.45
New York7,390$63,8101.61
North Carolina2,310$49,2000.98
North Dakota180$69,3500.87
Ohio1,020$49,2100.39
Oklahoma460$86,2600.57
Oregon1,690$60,8101.80
Pennsylvania2,630$57,6800.91
Rhode Island210$69,6300.87
South Carolina1,290$58,9601.17
South Dakota60$51,6300.28
Tennessee2,150$62,0501.38
Texas9,170$48,9601.37
Utah$59,290
Vermont160$63,4601.14
Virginia2,710$67,2401.39
Washington980$73,5300.58
West Virginia230$59,7500.68
Wisconsin1,070$47,2100.76
Wyoming220$64,5101.67

Similar occupations

Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.

#OccupationJob ZoneSimilarity
1Cartographers and Photogrammetrists40.965
2Geodetic Surveyors40.960
3Surveying and Mapping Technicians30.957
4Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists40.957
5Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians40.956
6Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians40.939
7Surveyors40.937
8Hydrologists40.931
9Logistics Analysts40.930
10Computer Programmers40.930

One skill away

Among the 50 occupations most similar to Remote Sensing Technicians, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.

OccupationSkill to buildLevel gapSimilarity
Geodetic SurveyorsMathematics1.000.960
Power Distributors and DispatchersOperation and Control0.870.924
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersOperations Analysis3.380.921
Blockchain EngineersOperations Analysis3.000.917
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development ManagersManagement of Personnel Resources0.880.915
Environmental Compliance InspectorsMonitoring0.760.911
Environmental Engineering Technologists and TechniciansScience1.000.911

Software to learn next

Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Remote Sensing Technicians, excluding software Remote Sensing Technicians already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.

SoftwareSimilar jobs using itLift
Geographic information system GIS software11 of 207.2x
Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript8 of 2010.9x
Microsoft Visual Basic11 of 205.3x
Node.js7 of 2013.5x
Unified modeling language UML7 of 2012.9x
ESRI ArcView8 of 209.2x
PostgreSQL7 of 2010.4x
Carlson SurvCADD4 of 2046.2x
JavaScript Object Notation JSON6 of 2010.7x
Extensible markup language XML9 of 204.8x

Skills

From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.

SkillTypeImportanceLevel
Critical ThinkingEssential skill 3.75 3.88
Reading ComprehensionEssential skill 3.50 4.12
MathematicsEssential skill 3.50 3.88
SpeakingEssential skill 3.50 3.62
Active ListeningEssential skill 3.38 3.75
Judgment and Decision MakingTransferable skill 3.38 3.62
MonitoringEssential skill 3.38 3.62
Systems AnalysisTransferable skill 3.38 3.12
WritingEssential skill 3.25 3.75
Complex Problem SolvingTransferable skill 3.25 3.38
CoordinationTransferable skill 3.12 3.38
Active LearningEssential skill 3.00 3.50
Quality Control AnalysisTransferable skill 2.88 2.88
Social PerceptivenessTransferable skill 2.88 2.75
Time ManagementTransferable skill 2.88 2.75
ProgrammingTransferable skill 2.75 3.25
Operations MonitoringTransferable skill 2.75 3.12
Learning StrategiesEssential skill 2.75 3.00
Systems EvaluationTransferable skill 2.75 3.00
InstructingTransferable skill 2.62 3.25
ScienceEssential skill 2.62 2.75
Management of Personnel ResourcesTransferable skill 2.62 2.50
PersuasionTransferable skill 2.50 2.88
Service OrientationTransferable skill 2.50 2.62
NegotiationTransferable skill 2.50 2.50
TroubleshootingTransferable skill 2.38 2.38
Operation and ControlTransferable skill 2.38 2.25
Equipment SelectionTransferable skill 2.12 2.38
Equipment MaintenanceTransferable skill 2.12 2.00
Management of Material ResourcesTransferable skill 2.12 1.88
Operations AnalysisTransferable skill 2.00not rated
Technology DesignTransferable skill 1.88 1.62
RepairingTransferable skill 1.88 1.50
Management of Financial ResourcesTransferable skill 1.88 1.38
InstallationTransferable skill 1.12not rated
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
Knowledge
NameImportanceLevel
Geography 4.28 6.15
Computers and Electronics 4.24 5.29
Mathematics 3.55 4.48
Customer and Personal Service 3.51 3.90
Engineering and Technology 3.49 3.98
Production and Processing 3.25 3.39
English Language 3.13 3.56
Education and Training 2.84 3.65
Administration and Management 2.83 3.01
Design 2.81 2.93
Administrative 2.44 3.59
Sales and Marketing 2.28 2.43
Communications and Media 2.22 2.20
Economics and Accounting 2.10 1.37
Psychology 2.08 1.84
Personnel and Human Resources 2.05 1.94
Telecommunications 2.01 1.75
Public Safety and Security 1.95 1.59
Physics 1.91 1.66
Transportation 1.65 1.28
Sociology and Anthropology 1.64 1.22
Law and Government 1.56 1.19
Mechanical 1.55 1.15
Building and Construction 1.55 1.08
Biology 1.48 1.09
History and Archeology 1.31not rated
Chemistry 1.28not rated
Foreign Language 1.25not rated
Fine Arts 1.12not rated
Therapy and Counseling 1.11not rated
Medicine and Dentistry 1.09not rated
Philosophy and Theology 1.02not rated
Food Production 1.00not rated
Abilities
NameImportanceLevel
Deductive Reasoning 3.75 3.88
Information Ordering 3.75 3.88
Problem Sensitivity 3.75 3.75
Oral Comprehension 3.62 4.50
Oral Expression 3.62 4.50
Inductive Reasoning 3.62 3.75
Near Vision 3.62 3.62
Written Comprehension 3.50 4.25
Written Expression 3.50 4.12
Speech Clarity 3.50 3.00
Flexibility of Closure 3.38 4.12
Fluency of Ideas 3.38 3.75
Speech Recognition 3.38 3.00
Mathematical Reasoning 3.25 4.12
Category Flexibility 3.25 3.88
Visualization 3.25 3.62
Originality 3.25 3.38
Selective Attention 3.25 3.38
Number Facility 3.12 3.75
Perceptual Speed 3.12 3.00
Far Vision 2.75 3.38
Visual Color Discrimination 2.75 3.00
Finger Dexterity 2.75 2.88
Speed of Closure 2.62 3.00
Control Precision 2.62 2.75
Memorization 2.62 2.62
Time Sharing 2.50 2.75
Arm-Hand Steadiness 2.50 2.38
Auditory Attention 2.50 2.38
Hearing Sensitivity 2.25 2.38
Depth Perception 2.25 2.12
Manual Dexterity 2.25 2.00
Multilimb Coordination 2.12 2.00
Response Orientation 2.12 1.62
Rate Control 1.88 1.25
Spatial Orientation 1.75 1.38
Wrist-Finger Speed 1.75 1.00
Reaction Time 1.62 1.00
Night Vision 1.25not rated
Trunk Strength 1.25not rated
Glare Sensitivity 1.12not rated
Peripheral Vision 1.12not rated
Dynamic Flexibility 1.00not rated
Dynamic Strength 1.00not rated
Explosive Strength 1.00not rated
Extent Flexibility 1.00not rated
Gross Body Coordination 1.00not rated
Gross Body Equilibrium 1.00not rated
Sound Localization 1.00not rated
Speed of Limb Movement 1.00not rated
Stamina 1.00not rated
Static Strength 1.00not rated

Software used

Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.

All 95
  • Microsoft Excel hot
  • Microsoft Outlook hot
  • Microsoft PowerPoint hot
  • Microsoft PowerShell hot
  • Microsoft Project hot
  • Microsoft SQL Server hot
  • Microsoft Visual Studio hot
  • Microsoft Windows hot
  • Microsoft Windows Server hot
  • Microsoft Word hot
  • MySQL hot
  • Oracle Database hot
  • Oracle Java hot
  • Perl hot
  • React hot
  • SAP software hot
  • SAS hot
  • Salesforce software hot
  • ServiceNow hot
  • Shell script hot
  • Splunk Enterprise hot
  • Structured query language SQL hot
  • UNIX hot
  • UNIX Shell hot
  • jQuery hot
  • Aeronautical charts
  • Agisoft Metashape
  • Airdata
  • Applied Imagery Quick Terrain Modeler
  • ArduPilot Mission Planner
  • BAE Systems SOCET SET
  • Calibration software
  • CloudCompare
  • Common MASINT Exploitation Tool COMET
  • Corpscon
  • Debugging software
  • Definiens Developer
  • ESRI ArcCatalog
  • ESRI ArcMap
  • ESRI ArcView 3D Analyst
  • ESRI Site Scan for ArcGIS
  • FLIR Thermal Studio Suite
  • GeoCue LIDAR and drone mapping software
  • GeoCue PointVue LE
  • Global positioning system GPS software
  • Hypertext preprocessor PHP
  • ITT Visual Information Solutions ENVI
  • Interface definition language IDL
  • Kitty Hawk
  • LP360
  • Laser imaging detection and ranging LIDAR system
  • Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE
  • Litchi
  • Magellan Firmware
  • Mathsoft Mathcad
  • Microsoft Image Composite Editor
  • OpenDroneMap
  • Opticks
  • Pix4D Pix4Dmapper
  • Structure query language SQL
  • Terrasolid TerraScan
  • UgCS
  • VMware
  • Verilog
  • Web browser software

Where it concentrates

BLS doesn't publish wages for Remote Sensing Technicians separately. These are the figures for Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other (19-4099), its parent occupation.

Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.

Metro areaEmploymentLocation quotientMedian annual
Johnson City, TN3408.83$38,410
Jefferson City, MO3007.85$36,750
Ithaca, NY1607.20$46,640
State College, PA1805.39$64,210
Knoxville, TN8104.01$62,050
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY8003.77$60,590
Urban Honolulu, HI7503.54$50,630
Ponce, PR1003.24$29,900
Baton Rouge, LA5802.99$53,360
Columbia, SC5402.88$51,840

More metros, other thresholds