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.
$122,570 a year (for the broader BLS group this job sits in).
of the working time. Estimate.
- 82%
- 9%
- 9%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 4%. Today's estimate: 6%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 24 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integrate other geospatial data sources into projects.Done daily by most who do it. | 6% | 4.2 h1.3 h to 1.7 work days | 19%Half by Apr 2027 | |
| Manage or analyze data obtained from remote sensing systems to obtain meaningful results.Done daily by most who do it. | 6% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Analyze data acquired from aircraft, satellites, or ground-based platforms, using statistical analysis software, image analysis software, or Geographic Information Systems (GIS).Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 6% | 7.5 h2.5 h to 2.5 work days | 7%Half by Aug 2027 | |
| Direct all activity associated with implementation, operation, or enhancement of remote sensing hardware or software.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 6% | 1 work day2.5 h to 2.5 work days | Stays with people | |
| Process aerial or satellite imagery to create products such as land cover maps.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 6% | 1.3 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | 4%Half by Dec 2027 | |
| Design or implement strategies for collection, analysis, or display of geographic data.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 6% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | 2%Half by Feb 2028 | |
| Develop or build databases for remote sensing or related geospatial project information.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 6% | 2.1 work days3.3 h to 1.3 work weeks | 1%Half by Jul 2028 | |
| Use remote sensing data for forest or carbon tracking activities to assess the impact of environmental change.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 6% | 2.1 work days3.3 h to 1.3 work weeks | 1%Half by Jul 2028 | |
| Apply remote sensing data or techniques, such as surface water modeling or dust cloud detection, to address environmental issues.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 6% | 2.1 work days3.3 h to 1.3 work weeks | 1%Half by Jul 2028 | |
| Conduct research into the application or enhancement of remote sensing technology.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 6% | 4.2 work days1 work day to 3.5 work weeks | 0%Half by Feb 2029 | |
| Develop new analytical techniques or sensor systems.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 6% | 1.7 work weeks2.1 work days to 1.2 work months | 0%Half by Jun 2029 | |
| Organize and maintain geospatial data and associated documentation.Done daily by most who do it. | 6% | 3.3 h50 min to 1 work day | 28%Half by Feb 2027 |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Remote Sensing Technicians19% now, 66% by 2028
- Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians10% now, 25% by 2028
- Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians26% now, 95% by 2028
- Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians13% now, 41% by 2028
- Geodetic Surveyors34% now, 70% by 2028
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians39% now, 69% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.