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Aerospace and satellite imaging
Planet Labs, Maxar, Airbus
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
These technicians turn raw satellite, aerial, and sensor data into maps, image sets, and reports that other specialists can actually use. The work is mostly computer-based, but it can also involve collecting data from aircraft, drones, or field equipment when a project needs fresh imagery. The tradeoff is that the job is highly technical and detail-heavy, yet much of it is repetitive image cleanup and quality checking, with a modest pay ceiling unless you move into analyst or lead roles.
Also known as Remote Sensing TechnicianGIS TechnicianGeospatial TechnicianGeospatial Data TechnicianMapping Technician
Median Salary
$60,130
Mean $64,640
U.S. Workforce
~71K
10.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.5%
83.2K to 86.2K
Entry Education
Associate's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other sits in the Science category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~71K workers, with a median annual pay of $60,130 and roughly 10.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 83.2 K in 2024 to 86.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Associate's degree in geospatial, surveying, or physical science, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Field Data Assistant and can progress toward Technical Lead. High-value skills usually include Reading Comprehension, Monitoring, and Critical Thinking, paired with soft skills such as Active listening, Clear speaking, and Team coordination.
Core Responsibilities
- Adjust satellite and aerial images so important features are easier to see and compare.
- Gather location data from drones, aircraft sensors, satellites, and other geospatial equipment.
- Work with scientists, surveyors, cartographers, and engineers to figure out what a project needs.
- Combine remote-sensing images with maps, GPS data, and other spatial information.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Adjust satellite and aerial images so important features are easier to see and compare.
02 Gather location data from drones, aircraft sensors, satellites, and other geospatial equipment.
03 Work with scientists, surveyors, cartographers, and engineers to figure out what a project needs.
04 Combine remote-sensing images with maps, GPS data, and other spatial information.
05 Clean up raw image and sensor data, then check it for mistakes or missing pieces.
06 Build map mosaics, charts, photos, and short presentations that explain the results.
Industries That Hire
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Environmental consulting
Tetra Tech, AECOM, WSP
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GIS and mapping software
Esri, Trimble, Leica Geosystems
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Government mapping agencies
NASA, NOAA, USGS
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Utilities and infrastructure
Duke Energy, PG&E, National Grid
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field without prior work experience or on-the-job training, and the usual entry point is an associate's degree.
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The work is genuinely technical: you turn raw imagery and sensor data into maps, mosaics, and reports that others rely on.
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Pay is decent for a technician role, with a median wage of $60,130 and a mean of $64,640.
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There are 10.6 thousand annual openings, so vacancies come up regularly even though the field is not fast-growing.
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The role can lead into GIS, remote sensing, or analyst jobs if you build stronger software and data skills.
Challenges
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Growth is only 3.5% from 2024 to 2034, so the field is expanding slowly.
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The occupation is a broad catch-all category, which means duties and pay can vary a lot from one employer to another.
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A lot of the day is spent checking images, cleaning data, and fixing small errors, which can get repetitive.
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Software keeps improving, and some routine image-processing tasks are easier to automate now than they used to be.
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The pay ceiling can be modest unless you move into GIS analyst, cartography, or project-lead work.
Career Progression
Field Data Assistant
0-2 years
$38K-$47K
You help gather, label, and organize image and location data while learning the software and data standards the team uses.
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technician
2-5 years
$48K-$66K
You work independently on image processing, data cleanup, map layers, and documentation for scientists or project teams.
Senior Technician THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$67K-$83K
You handle harder datasets, review other people's work, and help solve technical problems in remote sensing or mapping projects.
Technical Lead
9+ years
$84K-$102K
You set workflows, oversee quality standards, and coordinate with engineers, scientists, or managers on bigger geospatial projects.
Education Paths
Associate's degree in geospatial, surveying, or physical science
The BLS says this is the typical entry point, and 9.72% of workers in the occupation report an associate's degree.
Bachelor's degree in geography, environmental science, GIS, or a related field
This is the most common path in the data, held by 44.97% of workers in this occupation.
High school diploma plus specialized training
A substantial share of workers, 23.63%, report a high school diploma, but many employers want extra GIS, imaging, or survey training before hiring.
Post-secondary certificate in GIS or remote sensing
This alternative path is reported by 7.06% of workers and can help you qualify for entry-level technician jobs faster.
Key Skills
Technical
Reading Comprehension 72%
Monitoring 71%
Critical Thinking 70%
Quality Control Analysis 69%
ArcGIS Pro, QGIS & Remote Sensing Software 68%
ENVI, ERDAS Imagine & Image Processing Tools 67%
GPS/GNSS Receivers & Survey Equipment 66%
Mathematics 65%
Soft Skills
Active listeningClear speakingTeam coordinationAttention to detailTime managementProblem solving Job Outlook and Trends
+3.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
10.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 83.2K to 86.2 K over the next decade, representing 3.5% growth. Around 10.6 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.