How to become a remote sensing scientist
Official title: Remote sensing scientist
Also called: Environmental data scientist, Remote sensing and spatial scientist, Geospatial analyst, Remote sensing and data scientist
Remote sensing scientists analyse and manage data collected from systems like satellites. They use findings to solve problems in areas like environmental management and national security.
Main tasks
- Analyse geological or geographical remote system data
- Collect environmental data and samples
- Record research or operational data
- Develop scientific databases
- Develop research methods
- Test and assess new technology and methods
- Prepare scientific reports and presentations
- Train people in scientific methods
How to become one
You need a qualification to become a remote sensing scientist and experience may be useful. You need University Entrance to do the study or training for this job. Required: a bachelor's degree in geology, geophysics and geochemistry, earth sciences, computer science or similar area. Other requirements: a master's degree in earth sciences, geology, geophysics and geochemistry or similar area; experience in similar work.
Ways in
- University: Science degrees, Offered by 6 universities in New Zealand
- University: Computing & IT degrees, Offered by 6 universities in New Zealand
Pay
- Most common pay: $69,000 to $100,664 a year (median $79,500), a TEC estimate before tax.
- Lower: $58,500 a year · Upper: $121,685 a year
- TEC's pay figures are estimates only. TEC says they must not be used to set pay, in pay negotiations or in visa applications.
Who does this work
- About 120 people did this job at the 2023 Census (TEC).
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Questions people ask
How do I become a remote sensing scientist?
You need a qualification to become a remote sensing scientist and experience may be useful. You need University Entrance to do the study or training for this job. Required: a bachelor's degree in geology, geophysics and geochemistry, earth sciences, computer science or similar area. Other requirements: a master's degree in earth sciences, geology, geophysics and geochemistry or similar area; experience in similar work.
How much does a remote sensing scientist earn in New Zealand?
The Tertiary Education Commission estimates median pay at $79,500 a year, before tax. Most common pay is $69,000 to $100,664 a year.
Sources
- Tertiary Education Commission (Tahatu Career Navigator): Tahatu career ideas: descriptions, tasks, pay estimates, people employed, employment change 2018 to 2023, entry requirements, registration, interest scores (Site scrape 2026-10 (816 career ideas, sitemap lastmod 2026-10-01)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
This content is sourced from the Tertiary Education Commission through the Tahatū Career Navigator website (www.tahatu.govt.nz) and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. All or some of the information has been modified by Peernovo. TEC has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. TEC will not be held accountable for any errors within this content.
Qualification information from NZQA, used under CC BY 3.0 NZ.
This work is based on/includes Stats NZ's data which are licensed by Stats NZ for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. Census data via Figure.NZ.
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Sources: Tertiary Education Commission, Tahatū Career Navigator (career ideas, pay estimates, entry requirements and study options, CC BY 4.0, modified by Peernovo); Stats NZ, 2023 Census (via Figure.NZ) and the National Occupation List (CC BY 4.0); NZQA qualification information (CC BY 3.0 NZ); O*NET interest scores (CC BY 4.0); ILO global generative AI exposure index (CC BY 4.0). Links between career ideas and ANZSCO groups, degree fields and broad job groups are Peernovo's.
These results are not official statistics. They have been created for research purposes from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), which is carefully managed by Stats NZ.
Graduate outcomes: these results are not official statistics. They have been created for research purposes from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), which is carefully managed by Stats NZ.
Updated 4 October 2026