Life As a Nuclear Engineer
Nuclear Engineer Definition Conduct research on nuclear engineering projects or apply principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.
Life As a Nuclear Engineer
- Prepare environmental impact statements, reports, or presentations for regulatory or other agencies.
- Conduct tests of nuclear fuel behavior and cycles or performance of nuclear machinery and equipment to optimize performance of existing plants.
- Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.
- Direct environmental compliance activities associated with nuclear plant operations or maintenance.
- Examine accidents to obtain data that can be used to design preventive measures.
- Conduct environmental studies related to topics such as nuclear power generation, nuclear waste disposal, or nuclear weapon deployment.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Nuclear Engineer?
These are the skills Nuclear Engineers say are the most useful in their careers:
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Related Job Titles
- Radiological Defense Officer
- Nuclear Fuels Research Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- Resident Inspector
- Nuclear Licensing Engineer
Job Demand for Nuclear Engineers
In the United States, there were 17,700 jobs for Nuclear Engineer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 700 new jobs for Nuclear Engineer by 2026. There will be an estimated 1,400 positions for Nuclear Engineer per year.
The states with the most job growth for Nuclear Engineer are Nevada, Florida, and Idaho. Watch out if you plan on working in Alabama, Mississippi, or Minnesota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Nuclear Engineer
The average yearly salary of a Nuclear Engineer ranges between $68,560 and $162,360.
Nuclear Engineers who work in New Mexico, California, or New Hampshire, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Nuclear Engineers in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $102,100 |
| California | $132,180 |
| Connecticut | $112,430 |
| Florida | $103,680 |
| Idaho | $128,270 |
| Illinois | $117,710 |
| Kansas | $113,690 |
| Louisiana | $98,900 |
| Maryland | $137,930 |
| Michigan | $100,890 |
| Mississippi | $99,900 |
| Missouri | $97,070 |
| Nebraska | $103,370 |
| New Hampshire | $125,330 |
| New Mexico | $136,310 |
| New York | $112,400 |
| North Carolina | $113,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $115,760 |
| South Carolina | $101,420 |
| Tennessee | $126,300 |
| Texas | $90,260 |
| Virginia | $87,340 |
| Washington | $100,260 |
| Wisconsin | $120,330 |
What Tools & Technology do Nuclear Engineers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Nuclear Engineers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Python
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- SAS
- Linux
- UNIX
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Salesforce software
- Graphics software
- SAP software
- Presentation software
- Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
- Software development tools
Becoming a Nuclear Engineer
Are there Nuclear Engineers education requirements?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Nuclear Engineer?
Who Employs Nuclear Engineers?
The table below shows the approximate number of Nuclear Engineers employed by various industries.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Nuclear Engineer might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Siemens Pressebild via CC BY-SA 3.0
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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