Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

ManufacturingO*NET 51-8011.00United States

Operate or control nuclear reactors. Move control rods, start and stop equipment, monitor and adjust controls, and record data in logs.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $122,886
Projected change: −6.9%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 5.77K jobs

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What nuclear power reactor operators do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

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.
Monitor or operate boilers, turbines, wells, or auxiliary power plant equipment.
Implement operational procedures, such as those controlling start-up or shut-down activities.
Note malfunctions of equipment, instruments, or controls and report these conditions to supervisors.
Record operating data, such as the results of surveillance tests.
Participate in nuclear fuel element handling activities, such as preparation, transfer, loading, or unloading.
Dispatch orders or instructions to personnel through radiotelephone or intercommunication systems to coordinate auxiliary equipment operation.
Review and edit standard operating procedures.
Conduct inspections or operations outside of control rooms as necessary.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $98,634
25th percentile: $109,429
50th percentile: $122,886
75th percentile: $130,478
90th percentile: $149,302

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $122,886 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−6.9%projected to decline

20255,769 jobs

2035 projected5,370 jobs

399 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less: 50.1%
Certificate: 15.7%
Bachelor's degree: 15.3%
Associate degree: 12.6%
Some college: 6.2%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Radiation Protection
Emergency Response
Chemistry
Physical Science
Outage Management Systems
Initial License Offering
Information And Learning Technology (ILT)
Nuclear Reactor
Plant Design
Construction
Nuclear Power
Operation Maintenance
Petrochemical
General Mathematics
Turbines
Oil and Gas
Electrical Equipment
Water Treatment
Circuit Breakers
Cooling Systems

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Reactor Operators675 postings
02Nuclear Reactor Operators143 postings
03Operator Supervisors39 postings
04Administrators-in-Training12 postings
05Store Manager Candidates3 postings
06CDL-A Truck Drivers2 postings
07Control Operators2 postings
08Contractors1 postings
09Control Room Supervisors1 postings
10Energy Center Operators1 postings
11Maintenance Operators1 postings
12Motor Grader Operators1 postings
13Nuclear Power Plant Operators1 postings
14Operations Training Instructors1 postings
15Operations Training Supervisors1 postings
16Reactor Engineers1 postings
17Year 4 Teachers1 postings

Top employers

01Constellation Energy803 postings
02Constellation Energy Generation17 postings
03NextEra Energy7 postings
04Ameren4 postings
05Dominion Energy4 postings
06Nuscale Power3 postings
07Public Service Enterprise Group3 postings
08Terrapower3 postings
09Vistra Energy3 postings
10Westinghouse Electric Company3 postings
11A B Boyd Co2 postings
12Johnson Service Group2 postings
13Morson Group2 postings
14Aya Healthcare1 postings
15E3 Services1 postings
16Energy Northwest1 postings
17GE Vernova1 postings
18Holtec International1 postings
19Impact Fire Limited1 postings
20Jacobs Solutions1 postings

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