The median pay for Nuclear Technicians is $110,240 a year ($53.00/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 1.1% through 2035, with about 900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
- SOC 19-4051
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Nuclear Technician in four numbers
- Median pay
- $110,240a year, or $53.00/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $73KTop 10% $134K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.1%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 9006,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20256.7K
- Projected 20356.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 6.7K Projected 2035 6.8K - Typical education
- Associate'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Auxiliary Operator, Equipment Operator, Licensed Nuclear Operator, Non-Licensed Nuclear Equipment Operator (NLO), Non-Licensed Nuclear Plant Operator (NLO), Nuclear Auxiliary Operator.
Pay
How much do Nuclear Technicians make?
Every nuclear technician in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$110,240
Middle half earn $99,110 to $123,990
- 10th
- $73,150
- 25th
- $99,110
- 75th
- $123,990
- 90th
- $133,600
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $73,150 |
| 25th | $99,110 |
| Median | $110,240 |
| 75th | $123,990 |
| 90th | $133,600 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $110,240
- Median hourly wage
- $53.00/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $108,940
- People employed
- 6,470
Versus all US occupations
At $110,240, Nuclear Technicians earn 116% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $59,260 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 34% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $133,600 or more while the bottom 10% earn $73,150, a gap of 1.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 81% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Florida pays the most at $135,550, and still leads at $131,075 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Nuclear Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Florida | $135,550 | $131,075 | 60 |
| 2New York | $129,780 | $120,255 | 260 |
| 3Pennsylvania | $124,070 | $127,157 | 310 |
| 4Texas | $124,060 | $127,822 | 110 |
| 5Massachusetts | $113,390 | $107,217 | 50 |
| 6North Carolina | $110,430 | $117,073 | 420 |
| 7Illinois | $110,390 | $110,436 | 780 |
| 8Alabama | $110,240 | $124,112 | 280 |
| 9South Carolina | $108,490 | $115,724 | 750 |
| 10Washington | $108,200 | $101,109 | 90 |
Job outlook
Is Nuclear Technician a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Nuclear Technicians | +1.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Nuclear Technicians to change 1.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 900 openings are projected each year, 13.4% of the 6,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Despite limited employment growth, about 900 openings for nuclear technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for nuclear technicians is expected to be limited 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.
Getting in
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.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Associate's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Nuclear Technician do?
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.
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.
Day-to-day tasks
- Test plant equipment to ensure it is operating properly.
- Follow nuclear equipment operational policies and procedures that ensure environmental safety.
- Follow policies and procedures for radiation workers to ensure personnel safety.
- Conduct surveillance testing to determine safety of nuclear equipment.
- Apply safety tags to equipment needing maintenance.
- Monitor nuclear reactor equipment performance to identify operational inefficiencies, hazards, or needs for maintenance or repair.
- Modify, devise, or maintain nuclear equipment used in operations.
- Determine or recommend radioactive decontamination procedures, according to the size and nature of equipment and the degree of contamination.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
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.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where nuclear technicians work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Electric power generation, transmission and distribution54%
- Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences10%
- Architectural, engineering, and related services8%
- Waste management and remediation services3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Electric power generation, transmission and distribution | 54% |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 10% |
| Architectural, engineering, and related services | 8% |
| Waste management and remediation services | 3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.6
- Active Listening3.6
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Active Learning3.4
- Writing3.3
- Speaking3.3
- Learning Strategies2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.6 |
| Active Listening | 3.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Active Learning | 3.4 |
| Writing | 3.3 |
| Speaking | 3.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.9
- Quality Control Analysis3.5
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Operation and Control3.3
- Troubleshooting3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Coordination3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.5 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 |
| Operation and Control | 3.3 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Application server software
- Clustering software
- Industrial control software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Nuclear Technician?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Nuclear Technician |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic5.8
- Conventional5.1
- Investigative4.6
- Enterprising2.3
- Social1.8
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Nuclear Technician
O*NET related occupations
- Production
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Production
- Production
- Production
- Production
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with nuclear technicians highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Nuclear Technician$110,240
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Nuclear Technician | $110,240 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Nuclear Technician appears on
Questions
Nuclear Technician: frequently asked questions
How much do Nuclear Technicians make?
Nuclear Technicians earn a median of $110,240 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 116% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $53.00/hr. The middle half earn between $99,110 and $123,990. The top 10% earn $133,600 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Nuclear Technician?
Usually a two-year degree rather than a four-year one. BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry-level education for Nuclear Technicians. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is Nuclear Technician a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.1% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Nuclear Technician do?
Nuclear technicians assist physicists, engineers, and other scientists in nuclear power generation and production activities. A core O*NET task: test plant equipment to ensure it is operating properly. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Office suite software, Operating system software.
Which states pay Nuclear Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Nuclear Technicians are Florida ($135,550), New York ($129,780), Pennsylvania ($124,070) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Nuclear Technician?
O*NET scores Nuclear Technicians highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.