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Remote sensing scientist salary
Average remote sensing scientist salary
$85,891
Understanding Remote Sensing Scientist Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Remote Sensing Scientist in the United States is approximately $85,891 per year. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment.
In states like California and Texas, salaries tend to be higher due to increased demand and cost of living. For instance, the highest-paying states for remote sensing scientists include:
- California
- Texas
- Florida
Entry-level positions may earn around $60,000, while senior roles can exceed $100,000, especially in research or specialized environmental projects. Additionally, remote sensing scientists often work in diverse fields, including environmental science, agriculture, and urban planning, reflecting the growing reliance on geospatial data analysis.
Understanding these factors can help you make informed career decisions in the remote sensing field, positioning yourself for opportunities that align with your professional goals.
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Where can a Remote Sensing Scientist earn more?
Remote sensing scientist salary estimates from across the web
Average remote sensing scientist salary by state
The average remote sensing scientist salary in California, Connecticut, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average remote sensing scientist salary states are Tennessee, Montana, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for remote sensing scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $90,778 | $43.64 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $91,701 | $44.09 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $89,460 | $43.01 |
| 4 | Virginia | $88,946 | $42.76 |
| 5 | Vermont | $86,955 | $41.81 |
| 6 | New York | $88,267 | $42.44 |
| 7 | Maine | $83,900 | $40.34 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $88,197 | $42.40 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $83,546 | $40.17 |
| 10 | California | $102,931 | $49.49 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $91,672 | $44.07 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $104,713 | $50.34 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $76,061 | $36.57 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $82,109 | $39.48 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $75,197 | $36.15 |
| 16 | Illinois | $79,706 | $38.32 |
| 17 | Georgia | $82,658 | $39.74 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $80,165 | $38.54 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | $82,809 | $39.81 |
| 20 | Maryland | $75,669 | $36.38 |
| 21 | Colorado | $78,558 | $37.77 |
| 22 | Alabama | $77,098 | $37.07 |
| 23 | Kansas | $74,644 | $35.89 |
| 24 | Idaho | $74,991 | $36.05 |
| 25 | Iowa | $75,667 | $36.38 |
| 26 | Arizona | $75,659 | $36.37 |
| 27 | Florida | $76,961 | $37.00 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $72,779 | $34.99 |
| 29 | Utah | $73,523 | $35.35 |
| 30 | Washington | $78,232 | $37.61 |
| 31 | Delaware | $69,980 | $33.64 |
| 32 | Alaska | $72,842 | $35.02 |
| 33 | Nevada | $72,378 | $34.80 |
| 34 | Ohio | $70,870 | $34.07 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $67,093 | $32.26 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $65,631 | $31.55 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $60,829 | $29.24 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $71,519 | $34.38 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $66,925 | $32.18 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $68,890 | $33.12 |
| 41 | Oregon | $64,207 | $30.87 |
| 42 | Texas | $64,350 | $30.94 |
| 43 | Montana | $59,564 | $28.64 |
| 44 | Missouri | $62,205 | $29.91 |
| 45 | Michigan | $64,618 | $31.07 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $49,312 | $23.71 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $59,630 | $28.67 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $61,574 | $29.60 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $51,477 | $24.75 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $59,262 | $28.49 |
| 51 | Indiana | $51,508 | $24.76 |
Highest paying cities for remote sensing scientists
The highest-paying cities for remote sensing scientists are Oakland, CA, Washington, DC, and Newton, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $107,981 | $51.91 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $104,846 | $50.41 |
| 3 | Newton, MA | $91,745 | $44.11 |
| 4 | Arlington, VA | $91,021 | $43.76 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $79,005 | $37.98 |
| 6 | Boulder, CO | $77,935 | $37.47 |
| 7 | Melbourne, FL | $77,390 | $37.21 |
| 8 | Beavercreek, OH | $69,193 | $33.27 |
| 9 | Las Cruces, NM | $67,379 | $32.39 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $66,728 | $32.08 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $63,845 | $30.69 |
| 12 | Saint Louis, MO | $62,897 | $30.24 |
Remote sensing scientist salary details
A remote sensing scientist's salary ranges from $53,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $137,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a remote sensing scientist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $137,000 | $11,417 | $66 |
| 75th Percentile | $110,000 | $9,167 | $53 |
| Average | $85,891 | $7,158 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
Highest paying remote sensing scientist jobs
The highest paying types of remote sensing scientists are scientist, staff scientist, and remote sensing engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientist | $97,344 | $8,112 | $46.80 | 62,467 |
| Staff Scientist | $93,941 | $7,828 | $45.16 | 121,054 |
| Remote Sensing Engineer | $93,371 | $7,781 | $44.89 | 74,159 |
Top companies hiring remote sensing scientists now:
Which companies pay remote sensing scientists the most?
Remote sensing scientist salaries at Apple and Baker Hughes are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average remote sensing scientist salary at companies like Booz Allen Hamilton and Amazon are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | $143,992 | $69.23 |
| 2 | Baker Hughes | $115,360 | $55.46 |
| 3 | Booz Allen Hamilton | $114,644 | $55.12 |
| 4 | Amazon | $113,773 | $54.70 |
| 5 | Mapbox | $111,953 | $53.82 |
| 6 | Sandia National Labs | $104,894 | $50.43 |
| 7 | Global Science & Technology, Inc. | $104,254 | $50.12 |
| 8 | Battelle | $99,821 | $47.99 |
| 9 | P&G | $98,766 | $47.48 |
| 10 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | $98,611 | $47.41 |
| 11 | BAE Systems | $97,023 | $46.65 |
| 12 | Radiometer | $96,488 | $46.39 |
| 13 | Systems & Technology Research | $95,601 | $45.96 |
| 14 | Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings | $95,389 | $45.86 |
| 15 | The Aerospace Corporation | $93,724 | $45.06 |
| 16 | California Institute of Technology | $91,667 | $44.07 |
| 17 | INFICON | $91,000 | $43.75 |
| 18 | RadianceTechnologies | $89,763 | $43.16 |
| 19 | Starbucks | $89,400 | $42.98 |
| 20 | The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory | $88,295 | $42.45 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Remote sensing scientist salary trends
The average remote sensing scientist salary has risen by $9,790 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average remote sensing scientist earned $76,101 annually, but today, they earn $85,891 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for remote sensing scientists over the last decade.
Compare remote sensing scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average remote sensing scientist salary over time
Compare remote sensing scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Remote sensing scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $85,900 | $41.29 | -2.5% |
| 2024 | $88,100 | $42.33 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $85,900 | $41.30 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $83,300 | $40.05 | +7.6% |
| 2021 | $77,000 | $37.00 | -1.1% |
Recently added remote sensing scientist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Aerospace Corporation | Ai/Ml Remote Sensing Scientist | Chantilly, VA | 05/10/2025 | $110,400 |
| The Aerospace Corporation | Ai/Ml Remote Sensing Scientist | Colorado Springs, CO | 05/08/2025 | $110,400 |
| Ambry Genetics | Variant Assessment Scientist II: Oncology-Remote, USA | Aliso Viejo, CA | 04/12/2025 | $110,000 |
| Colorado State University | Research Scientist I-Remote Sensing Scientist (ET) | Fort Collins, CO | 04/03/2025 | $75,000 |
| The Aerospace | Ai/Ml Remote Sensing Scientist | Chantilly, VA | 03/28/2025 | $110,400 |
| The Aerospace | Ai/Ml Remote Sensing Scientist | Chantilly, VA | 02/28/2025 | $110,400 |
| Ambry Genetics | Variant Assessment Scientist II-Remote, USA | Aliso Viejo, CA | 02/26/2025 | $110,000 |
| The Aerospace Corporation | Remote Sensing Scientist | El Segundo, CA | 02/17/2025 | $129,000 |
| Society of Exploration Geophysicists | Remote Sensing Scientist | Sacramento, CA | 02/17/2025 | $85,000 |
| University of Colorado | Research Associate, Remote Sensing Scientists | Boulder, CO | 02/13/2025 | $130,500 |
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