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Summary

nuclear technicians image
Nuclear technicians working for nuclear power plants use computers and other equipment to monitor and help operate nuclear reactors.
Quick Facts: Nuclear Technicians
2023 Median Pay $101,740 per year
$48.92 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education Associate's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training Moderate-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2023 5,400
Job Outlook, 2023-33 -6% (Decline)
Employment Change, 2023-33 -300

What Nuclear Technicians Do

Nuclear technicians assist physicists, engineers, and other scientists in nuclear power generation and production activities, such as operating or maintaining nuclear testing equipment.

Work Environment

Nuclear technicians typically work in nuclear power plants or in laboratories. Most work full-time. In power plants, their work schedules may vary to include nights, holidays, and weekends. Nuclear technicians must take precautions to avoid exposure to radiation.

How to Become a Nuclear Technician

Nuclear technicians typically need an associate’s degree in either nuclear science or a nuclear-related technology. Some enter the occupation with a high school diploma or postsecondary nondegree award plus experience, such as from the military or an apprenticeship. Once hired, nuclear technicians typically receive extensive on-the-job training.

Pay

The median annual wage for nuclear technicians was $101,740 in May 2023.

Job Outlook

Employment of nuclear technicians is projected to decline 6 percent from 2023 to 2033.

Despite declining employment, about 500 openings for nuclear technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for nuclear technicians.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of nuclear technicians with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about nuclear technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Nuclear Technicians Do About this section

Nuclear technicians
Nuclear technicians use instruments, such as geiger counters, to monitor radiation levels.

Nuclear technicians assist physicists, engineers, and other scientists in nuclear power generation and production activities. They may operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment and monitor radiation levels.

Duties

Nuclear technicians typically do the following:

  • Monitor, test, and maintain equipment and systems used in nuclear power generation or laboratories
  • Operate and maintain radiation monitoring equipment
  • Measure the levels and types of radiation produced by nuclear systems
  • Collect samples of air, water, and soil and test for radioactive contamination
  • Respond to incidents of radiological contamination and issue corrective action
  • Instruct personnel on radiation safety procedures and warn them of hazardous conditions

Nuclear technicians monitor the performance of systems and the levels of radiation in nuclear power plants, water systems, and the surrounding environment. They make calculations to measure levels of radiation and radioactive contamination. They monitor efficiency and ensure safety by setting up, calibrating, maintaining, and operating radiation detection instruments. They also may recommend radioactive decontamination plans and safety procedures for facility personnel.

Nuclear technicians’ duties may vary, depending on where they work. For example, technicians who work in nuclear power plants ensure that reactors and other equipment operate safely and efficiently. Technicians who work in laboratories help nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, and other scientists conduct research to develop new technologies.

Those who work in waste management and treatment facilities monitor the disposal, recycling, and storage of nuclear waste.

Work Environment About this section

Nuclear technicians
Nuclear technicians may monitor radiation levels at nuclear power plants.

Nuclear technicians held about 5,400 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of nuclear technicians were as follows:

Electric power generation, transmission and distribution 61%
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences 8
Manufacturing 8
Architectural, engineering, and related services 3
Waste management and remediation services 2

Most nuclear technicians work in nuclear power plants, where they typically work in offices and control rooms. Nuclear technicians may need to measure radiation levels onsite, requiring them to visit plants and the areas around them, in all types of weather. Working around nuclear reactors may involve exposure to high temperatures. Some nuclear technicians work under the direction of scientists and engineers in laboratories.

Nuclear technicians must take precautions when working with or around nuclear materials. They often have to wear protective gear and special badges that indicate whether they have been exposed to radiation. Protective gear may include hardhats, hearing and eye protection, and respirators.

Work Schedules

Most nuclear technicians work full time. In power plants, which operate 24 hours a day, technicians may work variable schedules that include nights, holidays, and weekends. Occasionally, they also may need to work overtime. In laboratories, technicians typically work during normal business hours.

How to Become a Nuclear Technician About this section

Nuclear technicians
Nuclear technicians typically need an associate’s degree in nuclear science or a nuclear-related technology.

Nuclear technicians typically need an associate’s degree in either nuclear science or a nuclear-related technology. Some enter the occupation with a high school diploma or postsecondary nondegree award plus experience, such as from the military or an apprenticeship. Once hired, nuclear technicians typically receive extensive on-the-job training.

Education

Nuclear technicians typically need an associate’s degree to enter the occupation. Some community colleges and technical institutes offer programs in nuclear science, nuclear technology, or related fields. Students study nuclear energy, radiation, and the equipment and components used in nuclear power plants and laboratories. Other coursework includes mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

Nuclear technicians sometimes enter the occupation with a high school diploma or postsecondary nondegree award coupled with experience, such as from the military or from an apprenticeship.

Training

Nuclear technicians usually begin as trainees who are supervised by experienced technicians. During training, technicians learn how to use operating and monitoring equipment. They also learn safety procedures, regulations, and plant policies. Technicians who do not have a relevant associate’s degree or its equivalent typically receive extensive training onsite.

The length of training varies with the technician’s experience and education. Most training programs last between 6 months and 2 years. Nuclear technicians train throughout their careers to keep up with advances in nuclear science and technology.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Employers may prefer or require certification for nuclear technicians. In addition, nuclear technicians usually must undergo a background check and receive some type of security clearance after they are hired.

Advancement

With additional training and experience, technicians may become nuclear power reactor operators at nuclear power plants.

Important Qualities

Attention to detail. Nuclear technicians must observe data from equipment sensors and gauges to ensure that systems are functioning properly and that radiation levels are controlled.

Communication skills. Nuclear technicians must follow directions and clarify anything they do not understand.

Critical-thinking skills. Nuclear technicians must evaluate information and decide on a course of action. For example, they may need to analyze data from radiation detectors and develop decontamination plans if areas are not safe.

Math skills. Nuclear technicians use mathematics to analyze experimental and production data, such as reaction rates and radiation exposures.

Mechanical skills. Nuclear technicians need mechanical aptitude to monitor and maintain complex equipment.

Pay About this section

Nuclear Technicians

Median annual wages, May 2023

Nuclear technicians

$101,740

Life, physical, and social science technicians

$53,700

Total, all occupations

$48,060

 

The median annual wage for nuclear technicians was $101,740 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $62,700, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $128,700.

In May 2023, the median annual wages for nuclear technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Electric power generation, transmission and distribution $107,710
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences 104,480
Architectural, engineering, and related services 80,210
Manufacturing 78,380
Waste management and remediation services 72,440

Most nuclear technicians work full time. In power plants, which operate 24 hours a day, technicians may work variable schedules that include nights, holidays, and weekends. Occasionally, they also may need to work overtime. In laboratories, technicians typically work during normal business hours.

Job Outlook About this section

Nuclear Technicians

Percent change in employment, projected 2023-33

Life, physical, and social science technicians

6%

Total, all occupations

4%

Nuclear technicians

-6%

 

Employment of nuclear technicians is projected to decline 6 percent from 2023 to 2033.

Despite declining employment, about 500 openings for nuclear technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Demand for nuclear technicians is expected to decline as fewer nuclear power plants are constructed and as the production of renewable energy increases. However, there will still be a need for some technicians to help maintain existing nuclear power plants.

Employment projections data for nuclear technicians, 2023-33
Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2023 Projected Employment, 2033 Change, 2023-33 Employment by Industry
Percent Numeric

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program

Nuclear technicians

19-4051 5,400 5,100 -6 -300 Get data

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of nuclear technicians.

Occupation Job Duties ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION Help on Entry-Level Education 2023 MEDIAN PAY Help on Median Pay
Chemical technicians Chemical Technicians

Chemical technicians conduct laboratory tests to help scientists analyze the properties of materials.

Associate's degree $56,750
Hazardous materials removal workers Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

Hazardous materials removal workers identify and dispose of harmful substances such as asbestos, lead, and radioactive waste.

High school diploma or equivalent $47,280
Mechanical engineering technicians Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture machines and other devices.

Associate's degree $64,020
Nuclear engineers Nuclear Engineers

Nuclear engineers research and develop projects or address problems concerning the release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.

Bachelor's degree $125,460
Nuclear medicine technologists Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer radioactive drugs for imaging or treatment.

Associate's degree $92,500
Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers

Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers control the systems that generate and distribute electric power.

High school diploma or equivalent $100,890
Occupational health and safety specialists Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians

Occupational health and safety specialists and technicians collect data on, analyze, and design improvements to work environments and procedures.

See How to Become One $77,580
Environmental science and protection technicians Environmental Science and Protection Technicians

Environmental science and protection technicians monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution and contamination, including those affecting public health.

Associate's degree $50,660
Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nuclear Technicians,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/nuclear-technicians.htm (visited November 15, 2024).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024

What They Do

The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. This tab also covers different types of occupational specialties.

Work Environment

The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked. It may also discuss the major industries that employed the occupation. This tab may also describe opportunities for part-time work, the amount and type of travel required, any safety equipment that is used, and the risk of injury that workers may face.

How to Become One

The How to Become One tab describes how to prepare for a job in the occupation. This tab can include information on education, training, work experience, licensing and certification, and important qualities that are required or helpful for entering or working in the occupation.

Pay

The Pay tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensated—annual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH.

State & Area Data

The State and Area Data tab provides links to state and area occupational data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, state projections data from Projections Central, and occupational information from the Department of Labor's CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The Job Outlook tab describes the factors that affect employment growth or decline in the occupation, and in some instances, describes the relationship between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings.

Similar Occupations

The Similar Occupations tab describes occupations that share similar duties, skills, interests, education, or training with the occupation covered in the profile.

Contacts for More Information

The More Information tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. This tab also includes links to relevant occupational information from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET).

2023 Median Pay

The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2023, the median annual wage for all workers was $48,060.

On-the-job Training

Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Entry-level Education

Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

Work experience in a related occupation

Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education.

Number of Jobs, 2023

The employment, or size, of this occupation in 2023, which is the base year of the 2023-33 employment projections.

Job Outlook, 2023-33

The projected percent change in employment from 2023 to 2033. The average growth rate for all occupations is 4 percent.

Employment Change, 2023-33

The projected numeric change in employment from 2023 to 2033.

Entry-level Education

Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

On-the-job Training

Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Employment Change, projected 2023-33

The projected numeric change in employment from 2023 to 2033.

Growth Rate (Projected)

The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2023 to 2033.

Projected Number of New Jobs

The projected numeric change in employment from 2023 to 2033.

Projected Growth Rate

The projected percent change in employment from 2023 to 2033.

2023 Median Pay

The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2023, the median annual wage for all workers was $48,060.