# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/remote-sensing-technicians
- SOC code: 19-4099.03
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $62,280 (10th percentile $39,000, 90th percentile $102,690)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.4%
- Openings a year: 11,200
- Typical entry education: Associate's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other".

## Interest profile (code CRI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 68 |
| Investigative (I) | 60 |
| Artistic (A) | 19 |
| Social (S) | 9 |
| Enterprising (E) | 12 |
| Conventional (C) | 71 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 91/100)
- Getting Information (importance 85/100)
- Processing Information (importance 80/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 78/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 77/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 76/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 73/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 71/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 69/100)
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information (importance 68/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Systems Analysis, Complex Problem Solving, Writing

## Knowledge

Geography, Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, Customer and Personal Service, Engineering and Technology, Production and Processing, English Language, Education and Training, Administration and Management, Design

## Also called

Commercial Drone Operator, Commercial Drone Pilot, Commercial Drone Technician, Digital Cartographic Technician, Document Image Technician, Drone Operator, Drone Pilot, Drone Technician, Geospatial Extractor, Geospatial Technician (Geospatial Tech)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Criminal Justice and Corrections](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4301) (CIP 4301, 1,742 colleges)
- [Security Science and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4304) (CIP 4304, 513 colleges)
- [Criminology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4504) (CIP 4504, 252 colleges)
- [Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4004) (CIP 4004, 114 colleges)
- [Physical Science Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4103) (CIP 4103, 97 colleges)
- [Science Technologies/Technicians, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4199) (CIP 4199, 90 colleges)
- [Materials Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4010) (CIP 4010, 69 colleges)
- Science Technologies/Technicians, General (CIP 4100, 28 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Materials Sciences | $82,424 | $119,715 | not reported |
| [Calumet College of Saint Joseph](https://www.collegesref.com/college/calumet-college-of-saint-joseph-380) | Criminal Justice and Corrections | $54,078 | $106,465 | $20,417 |
| [Champlain College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/champlain-college-508) | Security Science and Technology | $68,425 | $101,401 | $28,520 |
| [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott](https://www.collegesref.com/college/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-prescott-909) | Security Science and Technology | $58,252 | $98,996 | $20,500 |
| [Florida State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-state-university-main-campus-985) | Security Science and Technology | $60,178 | $93,841 | $15,125 |
| [Robert Morris University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/robert-morris-university-2246) | Security Science and Technology | $64,104 | $90,206 | $26,000 |
| [University of Alaska Anchorage](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-alaska-anchorage-2863) | Science Technologies/Technicians, Other | not reported | $90,046 | not reported |
| [National University-California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/national-university-california-1825) | Criminal Justice and Corrections | $66,056 | $81,299 | $25,000 |

## Related careers

- [Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/remote-sensing-scientists-and-technologists): $122,570 median pay
- [Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electro-mechanical-and-mechatronics-technologists-and-technicians): $73,900 median pay
- [Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/camera-operators-television-video-and-film): $74,990 median pay
- [Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geological-technicians-except-hydrologic-technicians): $53,350 median pay
- [Geodetic Surveyors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geodetic-surveyors): $75,440 median pay
- [Surveying and Mapping Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/surveying-and-mapping-technicians): $54,240 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.