What is 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.
What Do Remote Sensing Technicians Do On a Daily Basis?
- Collect verification data on the ground, using equipment such as global positioning receivers, digital cameras, or notebook computers.
- Evaluate remote sensing project requirements to determine the types of equipment or computer software necessary to meet project requirements, such as specific image types or output resolutions.
- Merge scanned images or build photo mosaics of large areas, using image processing software.
- Collect geospatial data, using technologies such as aerial photography, light and radio wave detection systems, digital satellites, or thermal energy systems.
- Consult with remote sensing scientists, surveyors, cartographers, or engineers to determine project needs.
- Collect remote sensing data for forest or carbon tracking activities involved in assessing the impact of environmental change.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Remote Sensing Technician?
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- IP/Mosaic Technician
- LIDAR Technician (Light Detection and Ranging Technician)
- Senior Research Analyst
- Project Manager-Process Development
- Graphics Edit Technician
Remote Sensing Technician Job Outlook
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.
Remote Sensing Technician Average Salary
Remote Sensing Technicians make between $29,830 and $80,370 a year.
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 & Technology 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
Becoming a Remote Sensing Technician
Individuals working as a Remote Sensing Technician have obtained the following education levels:
What work experience do I need to become a Remote Sensing Technician?
Where do Remote Sensing Technicians Work?
The table below shows the approximate number of Remote Sensing Technicians employed by various industries.
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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