Jobs / Science and research / 19-4099.03
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.
- US jobs
- 73,910 (SOC 19-4099 group, "Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other")
- Median wage
- $62,280 a year
- Job family
- Science and research
Can agents do the work of remote sensing technicians?
We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Science and research:
- Task levelPartialThin evidence. CORE-Bench asks agents to reproduce the results of published papers in computer science, social science, and medicine from the authors' code and data. Princeton's HAL team declared it solved in December 2025: Claude Code with Claude Opus 4.5 scored 95.5% after manual regrading. No benchmark in our collection tests new experiments or lab work.
- Project levelNot yetThin evidence. On PaperBench, where agents replicate machine learning papers from scratch, the best official result is 26.0% (o1, April 2025). On a small subset, ML PhDs scored 41.4% against o1's 26.6%. No newer official results exist, and no benchmark tests research projects in other sciences.
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in science and research, not always this occupation's tasks.
- 95.5%Claude Code + Claude Opus 4.5 (after manual regrading) · 3 Dec 2025Solved
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Collect geospatial data, using technologies such as aerial photography, light and radio wave detection systems, digital satellites, or thermal energy systems.
- Verify integrity and accuracy of data contained in remote sensing image analysis systems.
- Integrate remotely sensed data with other geospatial data.
- Consult with remote sensing scientists, surveyors, cartographers, or engineers to determine project needs.
- Adjust remotely sensed images for optimum presentation by using software to select image displays, define image set categories, or choose processing routines.
- Manipulate raw data to enhance interpretation, either on the ground or during remote sensing flights.
- Merge scanned images or build photo mosaics of large areas, using image processing software.
- Participate in the planning or development of mapping projects.
- Prepare documentation or presentations, including charts, photos, or graphs.
- Correct raw data for errors due to factors such as skew or atmospheric variation.
- Calibrate data collection equipment.
- Develop or maintain geospatial information databases.
Other job titles for this occupation (43)
Digital Cartographic Technician · Geospatial Extractor · Meteorologist Liaison · Research Associate · Commercial Drone Operator · Commercial Drone Pilot · Commercial Drone Technician · Document Image Technician · Drone Operator · Drone Pilot · Drone Technician · Geospatial Technician (Geospatial Tech) · Image Scientist · Imagery Analyst · LIDAR Analyst (Light Detection and Ranging Analyst) · LIDAR Technician (Light Detection and Ranging Technician) · Locate Technician (Locate Tech) · Remote Monitor · Remote Pilot · Remote Sensing Field Technician · Remote Sensing Monitoring Technician · Remote Sensing Technician · Remote Sensing Technologist · Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Controller (RPAS Controller) · Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Operator (RPAS Operator) · Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Pilot (RPAS Pilot) · Remotely Piloted Aircraft Technician (RPA Technician) · Scanner · Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Technician (sUAS Technician) · Unmanned Aerial Systems Operator (UAS Operator) · Unmanned Aerial Systems Pilot (UAS Pilot) · Unmanned Aerial Systems Technician (UAS Technician) · Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Operator (UAV Operator) · Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Pilot (UAV Pilot) · Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Technician (UAV Technician) · Unmanned Aircraft Operator (UA Operator) · Unmanned Aircraft Pilot (UA Pilot) · Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator (UAS Operator) · Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot (UAS Pilot) · Unmanned Aircraft Systems Technician (UAS Technician) · Unmanned Aircraft Technician (UA Technician) · Unmanned Systems Technician · Verification Technician