Home › Life, Physical, and Social Science › Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists › California
Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, California
$148,500 / year
≈ $12,400 per month · $71.39 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for California · median $135,000
25th percentile
$110,000Average
$148,50075th percentile
$177,500
$110,000Average
$148,50075th percentile
$177,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (occupation group), with detailed role definition from O*NET, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists salary by state
Alabama$148,000
Alaska$126,000
Arizona$130,500
California$148,500
Colorado$152,500
Connecticut$134,000
District of Columbia$158,000
Florida$156,500
Georgia$137,000
Hawaii$117,500
Illinois$118,000
Indiana$78,000
Iowa$105,000
Kentucky$83,500
Louisiana$109,500
Maryland$146,500
Massachusetts$141,500
Michigan$125,000
Minnesota$157,000
Mississippi$112,500
Montana$93,500
Nebraska$110,500
New Hampshire$134,500
New Jersey$121,500
New Mexico$134,000
New York$126,500
North Carolina$118,500
North Dakota$132,500
Ohio$119,500
Oklahoma$121,500
Oregon$114,500
Pennsylvania$147,500
South Carolina$143,000
Tennessee$141,000
Texas$118,000
Utah$120,000
Washington$146,000
Wisconsin$114,500
Wyoming$80,000
About this role
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists is a professional role within the function in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologistss do
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree
- 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).
- Integrate other geospatial data sources into projects.
- Organize and maintain geospatial data and associated documentation.
- Compile and format image data to increase its usefulness.
Top skills: Reading Comprehension Critical Thinking Writing Speaking Science Active Listening
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists pay by experience level
Entry level$69,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$89,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$127,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$167,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$202,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+0.6%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,000
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
11,600 workers
$133,500Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
9,650 workers
$140,500Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
4,400 workers
$143,000Educational Services
4,050 workers
$96,000Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
4,020 workers
$96,000Educational Services, State Government Owned
3,190 workers
$95,500Scientific Research and Development Services
2,050 workers
$129,000State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
1,790 workers
$97,000Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
970 workers
$215,000Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
960 workers
$215,000National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists pays 33% above the average across 66 roles in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family (family average $100,500).
Similar-paying roles in Life, Physical, and Social Science
Physical Scientists, All Other$133,500
Biochemists and Biophysicists$134,500
Materials Scientist$130,500
Astronomer$137,500
Economist$147,000
Political Scientist$147,500
Sociologist$119,000
Careers related to Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists make?
The average base salary for a Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists in the United States is $133,500 per year, or about $64.18 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $89,500 and $167,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Life, Physical, and Social Science roles?
The Life, Physical, and Social Science job family averages $100,500 across 66 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
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