Career
Nuclear power reactor operators
Run nuclear power reactors.
Here's what you actually need to know.
The work
What people in this job do
- Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety.
- Adjust controls to position rod and to regulate flux level, reactor period, coolant temperature, or rate of power flow, following standard procedures.
- Develop or implement actions such as lockouts, tagouts, or clearances to allow equipment to be safely repaired.
- Respond to system or unit abnormalities, diagnosing the cause, and recommending or taking corrective action.
- Monitor all systems for normal running conditions, performing activities such as checking gauges to assess output or the effects of generator loading on other equipment.
The outlook
How the forecast changed this year
The deeper question
What kind of person does this path ask you to become?
What this work centers on
O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.
The work
Do you want most of your days spent on objects & tools, then information & systems?
Responsibility
Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?
“Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety.”
Development
What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?
Reading Comprehension, Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Critical Thinking.
Trade-offs
What does it ask of you in exchange?
No degree beyond high school, though long-term on-the-job training is typical, for a median of $122,890 a year and 400 openings nationally each year.
Paths in
Degrees that lead here
- Nuclear/Nuclear Power Technology/TechnicianCIP 41.0205
Paths across
Careers that use similar skills
- Nuclear Technicians$110,240 · +1.1%
- Power Plant Operators$102,040 · -5.1%
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$78,620 · +3.1%
Ask anything about this career.
“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.
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Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.