The median pay for Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists is $122,570 a year ($58.93/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 2.1% through 2035, with about 1,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 19-2099
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $122,570a year, or $58.93/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $67KTop 10% $195K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.1%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,40026,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202526.6K
- Projected 203527.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 26.6K Projected 2035 27.1K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Associate's4%
- Bachelor's60%
- Post-bacc certificate16%
- Master's20%
Highest education held by remote sensing scientists and technologists Segment Value Associate's 4% Bachelor's 60% Post-bacc certificate 16% Master's 20%
Also advertised as: Geospatial Intelligence Analyst, Image Scientist, Remote Sensing Analyst, Remote Sensing Scientist, Research Scientist, Scientist.
Pay
How much do Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists make?
Every remote sensing scientist and technologist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$122,570
Middle half earn $86,620 to $161,890
- 10th
- $67,000
- 25th
- $86,620
- 75th
- $161,890
- 90th
- $195,190
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $67,000 |
| 25th | $86,620 |
| Median | $122,570 |
| 75th | $161,890 |
| 90th | $195,190 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $122,570
- Median hourly wage
- $58.93/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $129,230
- People employed
- 22,300
Versus all US occupations
At $122,570, Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists earn 140% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $71,590 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 49% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $195,190 or more while the bottom 10% earn $67,000, a gap of 2.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 85% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($156,730), but once local prices are taken into account North Dakota leads at $165,975 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $156,730 | $142,610 | 790 |
| 2Minnesota | $147,890 | $149,958 | 540 |
| 3North Dakota | $147,650 | $165,975 | 70 |
| 4Maryland | $141,290 | $134,614 | 1,810 |
| 5South Carolina | $141,130 | $150,540 | 70 |
| 6Massachusetts | $138,380 | $130,847 | 350 |
| 7Georgia | $137,680 | $142,980 | 1,020 |
| 8Alabama | $135,350 | $152,382 | 140 |
| 9Pennsylvania | $134,780 | $138,134 | 460 |
| 10Colorado | $134,440 | $130,458 | 710 |
Job outlook
Is Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +2.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | +2.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists to change 2.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,400 openings are projected each year, 5.3% of the 26,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as remote sensing scientists and technologists.
- Bachelor's Degree60%
- Master's Degree20%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate16%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 60% |
| Master's Degree | 20% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 16% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist do?
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.
Day-to-day tasks
- Manage or analyze data obtained from remote sensing systems to obtain meaningful results.
- 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.
- Develop or build databases for remote sensing or related geospatial project information.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Writing3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Science3.9
- Mathematics3.8
- Active Learning3.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Science | 3.9 |
| Mathematics | 3.8 |
| Active Learning | 3.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Systems Analysis3.6
- Systems Evaluation3.6
- Operations Analysis3.3
- Coordination3.0
- Instructing3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.6 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.6 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Application server software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Cloud-based management software · in demand
- Configuration management software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Expert system software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Investigative6.1
- Realistic4.9
- Conventional4.8
- Artistic1.9
- Enterprising1.4
- Social1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Architecture and Engineering
Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist and Technician
$73,900median a year
Most earn $48K to $110K
+2.6%Associate's - Computer and Mathematical
Geographic Information Systems Technologist and Technician
$116,580median a year
Most earn $56K to $188K
+5.1%Bachelor's - Life, Physical, and Social Science
Geological Technician, Except Hydrologic Technicians
$53,350median a year
Most earn $36K to $100K
+3.6%Associate's - Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with remote sensing scientists and technologists highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist$122,570
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist | $122,570 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist appears on
Questions
Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist: frequently asked questions
How much do Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists make?
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists earn a median of $122,570 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 140% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $58.93/hr. The middle half earn between $86,620 and $161,890. The top 10% earn $195,190 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 60.0% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 2.1% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist do?
Apply remote sensing principles and methods to analyze data and solve problems in areas such as natural resource management, urban planning, or homeland security. A core O*NET task: manage or analyze data obtained from remote sensing systems to obtain meaningful results. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Application server software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.
Which states pay Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists the most?
The highest state medians for Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists are District of Columbia ($156,730), Minnesota ($147,890), North Dakota ($147,650) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, North Dakota moves to the top at $165,975.
What personality type suits a Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist?
O*NET scores Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, INTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.