Nuclear Reactor Operator Career Guide

Nuclear Reactor Operator

E-10

E Other Energy, solar and power lines jobs · Skilled level · O*NET 51-8011.00

U.S. median whole occupation, 2025: $122,890
work over 40 h a week: 70%
load index from O*NET data: 2.1/5
preparation O*NET: Job Zone 3

Pay

This level's pay

No published pay record names this level: no public record found in sources S1-S7 that names this rung. The occupation-wide figure below is for all experience levels.

Whole occupation: all Nuclear Power Reactor Operators, the U.S.
BLS OEWS May 2025
Series OEUN000000000000051801113 (median), United States, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
Based on an estimated 5,150 jobs in United States (series OEUN000000000000051801101).

Half of all Nuclear Power Reactor Operators in the U.S. earn more than $122,890; the bottom 10% earned less than $98,640 and the top 10% more than $149,310 (May 2025, base pay, about 5,150 jobs).

Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Nuclear Power Reactor Operators, not level-specific
BLS
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03

Texas: No Texas projection is published for this occupation.
United States: -14.0% jobs · about 400 openings a year (5,700 jobs in 2024)

Openings include people retiring or changing jobs, not only growth.

Hours
ONET 31.0
Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), ONET Work Context, data 07/2014, n = 40 respondents, O*NET OnLine

About 7 in 10 work more than 40 hours a week (70%).

Schedule: regular 81% · irregular 19% · seasonal 0%

Physical load 2.1 of 5, our index from ONET
Method
Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (1.83, 6 measures) and an exposure index (2.28, 7 measures), built from ONET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
O*NET OnLine

Body

Standing2.46
Walking or running1.99
Bending or twisting1.79
Climbing ladders1.7
Kneeling or crawling1.64
Keeping balance1.43

Exposure

Hazardous conditions2.74
Hazardous equipment2.39
Very hot or cold2.35
Protective gear2.31
Outdoors, all weather2.16
High places2.06
Cramped space1.94

Body 1.83 · exposure 2.28. O*NET Work Context means, 1 = never, 5 = continually or every day.

Getting in

License: Federal: an NRC Reactor Operator license (Senior Reactor Operator to supervise) is required to operate reactor controls: written exam and operating test. 10 CFR 55 text not read.
Degree: 15% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years of related experience is the most common answer (34% of workers).
O*NET
O*NET Related Work Experience, Nuclear Power Reactor Operators, O*NET OnLine
Preparation: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Why this level: Skilled: O*NET Job Zone 3 (1-2 start, 3-4 skilled, 5 senior). Texas: NRC Reactor Operator or Senior Reactor Operator license (10 CFR Part 55) (Written examination and operating test).

Moves to the side 6

E Power Plant Operator O*NET lists Power Plant Operators as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.80. License: depends on the work.
R Stationary Engineer O*NET lists Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.79. License gate: not checked yet.
E Power System Dispatcher O*NET lists Power Distributors and Dispatchers as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.82. License: depends on the work.
E Hydroelectric Plant Operator O*NET lists Hydroelectric Plant Technicians as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.62. License: depends on the work.

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What the work is 6 core tasks

Operate or control nuclear reactors. Move control rods, start and stop equipment, monitor and adjust controls, and record data in logs. Implement emergency procedures when needed. May respond to abnormalities, determine cause, and recommend corrective action.

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.

Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.

Top skills

Operation and Control
Operations Monitoring
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Complex Problem Solving
Judgment and Decision Making

Sources (3)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, United States, series OEUN000000000000051801113, read 2026-10-03
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), 51-8011.00 Nuclear Power Reactor Operators, read 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license

Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.

Nuclear Reactor Operator