Remote Sensing Technicians

The outlook is bright for remote sensing technicians. Private, commercial, government, and military groups will continue to need remote sensing technicians to gather and analyze information for a variety of purposes. Technicians will be in demand in industries such as agriculture, archaeology, environmental sciences, meteorology, engineering, urban planning, and water management. The data they collect contributes to climate change studies and closer examination of natural disaster sites. The Department of Labor predicts faster than average employment growth for life, physical, and social science occupations, with a 5 percent employment increase through 2029. Cartographers and photogrammetrists, whose tasks overlap those of remote sensing professionals, will experience average employment growth of 4 percent in that same time frame. An increase in the use of maps for government planning and the growth of mobile and Web-based map products is adding to this job growth. Remote sensing technicians with strong knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other remote sensing programs and equipment will have the advantage in the job market.