AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 19-4099.03
Will AI replace Remote Sensing Technicians?
Remote Sensing Technicians: AI can already handle 7 of 21 tasks; the work mostly needs a frontier-tier model.
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Every task, scored
The 21 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Remote Sensing Technicians, from most to least exposed. 7 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.
| Task | AI exposure | Evidence | Model tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merge scanned images or build photo mosaics of large areas, using image processing software. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Verify integrity and accuracy of data contained in remote sensing image analysis systems. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Prepare documentation or presentations, including charts, photos, or graphs. | Observed | Efficient | |
| Manipulate raw data to enhance interpretation, either on the ground or during remote sensing flights. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Evaluate remote sensing project requirements to determine the types of equipment or computer software necessary to meet project requirements, such as specific image types or output resolutions. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Collect remote sensing data for forest or carbon tracking activities involved in assessing the impact of environmental change. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Consult with remote sensing scientists, surveyors, cartographers, or engineers to determine project needs. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Collect geospatial data, using technologies such as aerial photography, light and radio wave detection systems, digital satellites, or thermal energy systems. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Correct raw data for errors due to factors such as skew or atmospheric variation. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Integrate remotely sensed data with other geospatial data. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Adjust remotely sensed images for optimum presentation by using software to select image displays, define image set categories, or choose processing routines. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Calibrate data collection equipment. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Monitor raw data quality during collection, and make equipment corrections as necessary. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Collect verification data on the ground, using equipment such as global positioning receivers, digital cameras, or notebook computers. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Document methods used and write technical reports containing information collected. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Collaborate with agricultural workers to apply remote sensing information to efforts to reduce negative environmental impacts of farming practices. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Provide remote sensing data for use in addressing environmental issues, such as surface water modeling or dust cloud detection. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Develop or maintain geospatial information databases. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Participate in the planning or development of mapping projects. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Develop specialized computer software routines to customize and integrate image analysis. | Observed | Frontier | |
| Maintain records of survey data. | Estimated | Efficient |
Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 2 of 21 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 19 of 21. 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
- 73,910
- Median annual wage
- $62,280
- Middle half of earners
- $48,030 to $79,780
- Projected change, 2024 to 2034
- +3.5%
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 Scientists and Technologists 90% skill overlap, about 4 months to move Exposure62
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians 72% skill overlap, about 10 months to move Exposure70
- Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians 67% skill overlap, about 12 months to move Exposure63
- Precision Agriculture Technicians 66% skill overlap, about 12 months to move Exposure62
- Geodetic Surveyors 65% skill overlap, about 13 months to move Exposure56
Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.
Questions about Remote Sensing Technicians and AI
Will AI replace Remote Sensing Technicians?
AI already handles 7 of the 21 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 58 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 +3.5% from 2024 to 2034.
What is the AI exposure of Remote Sensing Technicians?
58 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. 2 of the 21 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 19 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.
Which Remote Sensing Technicians tasks can AI already do?
The tasks with the highest exposure are: Merge scanned images or build photo mosaics of large areas, using image processing software; Verify integrity and accuracy of data contained in remote sensing image analysis systems; Prepare documentation or presentations, including charts, photos, or graphs. They are three of the 7 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 Technicians, and what do they earn?
73,910 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $62,280 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of +3.5% 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 Technicians. 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-technicians
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