Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Job description

Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists 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.

• 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).
• Process aerial or satellite imagery to create products such as land cover maps.
• Design or implement strategies for collection, analysis, or display of geographic data.

Salary

Remote Sensing Scientists with little to no experience tend to make between $51730 and $75830 while the more experienced ones can earn over $136930 per year.

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist is to move to a higher paying state like DC. Right now, the highest paying states for Remote Sensing Scientists are DC, MD, NM, AL and VA.

However, a higher pay at DC doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at DC might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.

Requirements

We asked other Remote Sensing Scientists what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a Master’s Degree followed by a PhD.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist.

What is the job like

69% of Remote Sensing Scientists said they were satisfied with their job and 65% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.

Is this right for me

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

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