Nuclear Technicians: Job Description
Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.
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The Daily Work of Nuclear Technicians Perform?
Typical responsibilities of nuclear technicians span:
- Follow nuclear equipment operational policies and procedures that ensure environmental safety.
- Conduct surveillance testing to determine safety of nuclear equipment.
- Monitor nuclear reactor equipment performance to identify operational inefficiencies, hazards, or needs for maintenance or repair.
- Test plant equipment to ensure it is operating properly.
- Apply safety tags to equipment needing maintenance.
- Follow policies and procedures for radiation workers to ensure personnel safety.
- Modify, devise, or maintain nuclear equipment used in operations.
What Nuclear Technicians Need to Know
Successful nuclear technicians draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Nuclear Technicians Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Accelerator Operator
- Accelerator Technician
- Auxiliary Operator
- Cell Support Operator
- Electric Systems Operator
- Energy Systems Operator
- Equipment Operation Instructor
- Equipment Operator
Job Outlook
There are about 74,812 nuclear technicians working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +11.8% over the projection horizon.
Nuclear Technicians Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $92,140 |
| Hourly median | $44.30 |
| 10th percentile | $54,753 |
| 25th percentile | $73,446 |
| 75th percentile | $110,833 |
| 90th percentile | $129,527 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Nuclear Technicians Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $121,460 |
| Florida | $118,340 |
| Alabama | $107,680 |
| Virginia | $106,270 |
| New Mexico | $105,350 |
| South Carolina | $105,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $104,650 |
| Michigan | $104,450 |
| North Carolina | $104,240 |
| Illinois | $102,810 |
| Washington | $100,080 |
| Texas | $97,160 |
| Missouri | $96,930 |
| Tennessee | $94,620 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for nuclear technicians shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $110,993 | 13.9% | 1.07 |
| Southeast | $105,462 | 47.5% | 4.72 |
| Great Lakes | $103,064 | 27.0% | 3.28 |
| Far Western US | $100,080 | 2.4% | 0.66 |
| Southwest | $97,160 | 4.5% | 0.32 |
| Plains States | $96,930 | 4.7% | 1.60 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $117,630 | 120 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | VA | $108,690 | 90 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $108,670 | 30 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | GA | $103,120 | 240 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $78,780 | 480 |
Top Industries Employing Nuclear Technicians
Most nuclear technicians work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 3,740 | $105,300 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,010 | $83,330 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 520 | $92,120 |
| Manufacturing | 330 | $86,800 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 130 | $83,190 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 50 | $108,740 |
| Educational Services | 40 | $62,980 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Nuclear Technicians Use
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Structured query language SQL (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for nuclear technicians reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Telephone Conversations
Education and Training
The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Geothermal Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Biomass Power Plant Managers (Supplemental)
- Chemical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Nuclear Engineers (Supplemental)
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Students preparing for nuclear technicians often complete programs in:
Science Technologies/Technicians
3 programs across 1 majors
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
1 programs across 1 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-4051.00 (Nuclear Technicians).
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