Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Remote Sensing Technician

Find Schools Near

What is a Remote Sensing Technician?

Occupation Description 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.

Life As a Remote Sensing Technician: What Do They Do?

  • Integrate remotely sensed data with other geospatial data.
  • Merge scanned images or build photo mosaics of large areas, using image processing software.
  • Operate airborne remote sensing equipment, such as survey cameras, sensors, or scanners.
  • Develop specialized computer software routines to customize and integrate image analysis.
  • Collect remote sensing data for forest or carbon tracking activities involved in assessing the impact of environmental change.
  • Collect verification data on the ground, using equipment such as global positioning receivers, digital cameras, or notebook computers.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Remote Sensing Technician?

Remote Sensing Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

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 Jobs

  • Graphics Edit Technician
  • Verification Technician
  • Remote Sensing Monitoring Technician
  • Senior Stereo Compiler Team Lead
  • Meteorologist Liaison

Remote Sensing Technician Employment Estimates

In the United States, there were 76,100 jobs for Remote Sensing Technician in 2016. 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 9,900 job openings in this field each year.

undefined

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.

Remote Sensing Technician Average Salary

Remote Sensing Technicians make between $29,830 and $80,370 a year.

undefined

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

What Tools do Remote Sensing Technicians Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Remote Sensing Technicians may use on a daily basis:

  • 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 do I Become a Remote Sensing Technician?

Education needed to be a Remote Sensing Technician:

undefined

How many years of work experience do I need?

undefined

Where do Remote Sensing Technicians Work?

undefined

The table below shows the approximate number of Remote Sensing Technicians employed by various industries.

undefined

References:

Image Credit: U.S. Department of Energy from United States via public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.