AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 19-2099.01
Will AI replace Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists?
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists: AI can already handle 15 of 24 tasks; the work mostly needs a frontier-tier model.
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Every task, scored
The 24 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists, from most to least exposed. 15 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.
| Task | AI exposure | Evidence | Model tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compile and format image data to increase its usefulness. | Observed | Frontier | |
| Manage or analyze data obtained from remote sensing systems to obtain meaningful results. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Analyze data acquired from aircraft, satellites, or ground-based platforms, using statistical analysis software, image analysis software, or Geographic Information Systems (GIS). | Estimated | Standard | |
| Integrate other geospatial data sources into projects. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Prepare or deliver reports or presentations of geospatial project information. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Discuss project goals, equipment requirements, or methodologies with colleagues or team members. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Process aerial or satellite imagery to create products such as land cover maps. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Collect supporting data, such as climatic or field survey data, to corroborate remote sensing data analyses. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Monitor quality of remote sensing data collection operations to determine if procedural or equipment changes are necessary. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Direct all activity associated with implementation, operation, or enhancement of remote sensing hardware or software. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Conduct research into the application or enhancement of remote sensing technology. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Participate in fieldwork. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Apply remote sensing data or techniques, such as surface water modeling or dust cloud detection, to address environmental issues. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Use remote sensing data for forest or carbon tracking activities to assess the impact of environmental change. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Recommend new remote sensing hardware or software acquisitions. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Design or implement strategies for collection, analysis, or display of geographic data. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Develop or build databases for remote sensing or related geospatial project information. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Attend meetings or seminars or read current literature to maintain knowledge of developments in the field of remote sensing. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Develop automated routines to correct for the presence of image distorting artifacts, such as ground vegetation. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Develop new analytical techniques or sensor systems. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Train technicians in the use of remote sensing technology. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Organize and maintain geospatial data and associated documentation. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Set up or maintain remote sensing data collection systems. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Direct installation or testing of new remote sensing hardware or software. | Estimated | Standard |
Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 1 of 24 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 23 of 24. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.
The model tier this role needs
A frontier-tier model or lower covers 100% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 100% of the work is something AI can address at some tier.
Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.
Wages, employment and outlook
- US employment
- 22,300
- Median annual wage
- $122,570
- Middle half of earners
- $86,620 to $161,890
- Projected change, 2024 to 2034
- +0.6%
Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034. BLS publishes these figures by SOC code, so O*NET occupations that share a SOC code show the same figures.
Adjacent roles
The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.
- Remote Sensing Technicians 90% skill overlap, about 4 months to move Exposure58
- Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians 63% skill overlap, about 13 months to move Exposure63
- Geodetic Surveyors 62% skill overlap, about 14 months to move Exposure56
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists 61% skill overlap, about 14 months to move Exposure66
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians 61% skill overlap, about 14 months to move Exposure70
Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.
Questions about Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists and AI
Will AI replace Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists?
AI already handles 15 of the 24 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 62 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears. BLS projects employment to change by +0.6% from 2024 to 2034.
What is the AI exposure of Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists?
62 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 1 of the 24 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 23 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.
Which Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists tasks can AI already do?
The tasks with the highest exposure are: Compile and format image data to increase its usefulness; 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). They are three of the 15 tasks that reach 60 or more.
What AI model tier does this role need?
A frontier-tier model or lower covers 100% of the role's importance-weighted task work. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.
How many people work as Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists, and what do they earn?
22,300 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $122,570 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of +0.6% from 2024 to 2034.
How to cite
Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.
JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/remote-sensing-scientists-and-technologists
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