Life As a Remote Sensing Technician
Job Description & Duties 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.
Remote Sensing Technician Responsibilities
- Collect verification data on the ground, using equipment such as global positioning receivers, digital cameras, or notebook computers.
- Calibrate data collection equipment.
- Consult with remote sensing scientists, surveyors, cartographers, or engineers to determine project needs.
- Participate in the planning or development of mapping projects.
- Collect remote sensing data for forest or carbon tracking activities involved in assessing the impact of environmental change.
- Collaborate with agricultural workers to apply remote sensing information to efforts to reduce negative environmental impacts of farming practices.
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Remote Sensing Technician Required Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Remote Sensing Technicians say are important on the job.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
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.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Types of Remote Sensing Technician
- LIDAR Technician (Light Detection and Ranging Technician)
- Project Manager-Process Development
- Digital Cartographic Technician
- Remote Sensing Monitoring Technician
- Senior Research Analyst
Is There Going to be Demand for Remote Sensing Technicians?
There were about 76,100 jobs for Remote Sensing Technician in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 7,400 new jobs for Remote Sensing Technician by 2026. There will be an estimated 9,900 positions for Remote Sensing Technician per year.
The states with the most job growth for Remote Sensing Technician are Utah, Texas, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Maine, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Remote Sensing Technicians Salary
The typical yearly salary for Remote Sensing Technicians is somewhere between $29,830 and $80,370.
Remote Sensing Technicians who work in Maryland, Connecticut, or Rhode Island, make the highest salaries.
How much do Remote Sensing Technicians make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $46,600 |
| Alaska | $56,470 |
| Arizona | $51,250 |
| Arkansas | $50,740 |
| California | $56,670 |
| Colorado | $51,890 |
| Connecticut | $62,090 |
| District of Columbia | $61,000 |
| Florida | $45,200 |
| Georgia | $52,690 |
| Hawaii | $57,310 |
| Idaho | $42,220 |
| Illinois | $51,130 |
| Indiana | $51,970 |
| Iowa | $46,740 |
| Kansas | $51,960 |
| Kentucky | $52,340 |
| Louisiana | $47,250 |
| Maine | $55,220 |
| Maryland | $69,500 |
| Massachusetts | $63,450 |
| Michigan | $43,640 |
| Minnesota | $50,440 |
| Mississippi | $52,950 |
| Missouri | $49,590 |
| Montana | $43,930 |
| Nebraska | $58,150 |
| Nevada | $47,690 |
| New Hampshire | $57,990 |
| New Jersey | $60,660 |
| New Mexico | $59,850 |
| New York | $53,380 |
| North Carolina | $53,390 |
| North Dakota | $52,050 |
| Ohio | $52,690 |
| Oklahoma | $57,950 |
| Oregon | $51,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,410 |
| Rhode Island | $59,480 |
| South Carolina | $56,910 |
| South Dakota | $45,190 |
| Tennessee | $43,440 |
| Texas | $54,290 |
| Utah | $50,980 |
| Virginia | $52,180 |
| Washington | $55,920 |
| West Virginia | $55,930 |
| Wisconsin | $52,500 |
| Wyoming | $53,940 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Remote Sensing Technicians
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Remote Sensing Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Python
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- SAS
- UNIX
- R
- Bentley Microstation
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Interface definition language IDL
- ESRI ArcView 3D Analyst
- ITT Visual Information Solutions ENVI
How to Become a Remote Sensing Technician
What education or degrees do I need to become a Remote Sensing Technician?
What work experience do I need to become a Remote Sensing Technician?
Where Remote Sensing Technicians Work
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
References:
Image Credit: U.S. Department of Energy from United States via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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