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Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $122,890 Median per year · $59.08/hr Most earn $98,640–$149,310

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • 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.
  • Respond to system or unit abnormalities, diagnosing the cause, and recommending or taking corrective action.
  • Monitor or operate boilers, turbines, wells, or auxiliary power plant equipment.
  • Note malfunctions of equipment, instruments, or controls and report these conditions to supervisors.
  • Supervise technicians' work activities to ensure that equipment is operated in accordance with policies and procedures that protect workers from radiation and ensure environmental safety.

Job outlook

United States
6% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Nuclear electric power generation76.7%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service9.8%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals2.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Nuclear power reactor operator is not usually an entry-level job. Most people first earn a high school diploma, then work 2 to 4 years in a related plant job before moving into the control room, and they usually need a license and plant-specific training.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    A diploma is the typical starting education, and strong math and science grades make the next steps easier.

  2. Power Plant Operator

    2-4 years

    Working at a power plant teaches you how plant systems run, how to follow procedures, and how to respond to alarms, which is the experience employers look for.

  3. Nuclear Power Reactor Operator

    Varies by plant

    You train on the reactor controls and procedures, pass the required licensing exams, and then take shifts controlling the reactor.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Reactor Operator

    3-5 years as a reactor operator of experience first

    You earn a higher license level, which lets you direct the crew, make operating decisions, and oversee other operators during a shift.

  2. Shift Supervisor

    several years as a senior reactor operator of experience first

    You lead an entire operating shift, coordinating operators, managing safety, and handling emergencies, which requires strong leadership and communication skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and physicsAlgebra, trigonometry, and physics build the thinking skills used to read reactor data and understand how systems work.
  • Take chemistry and an electronics or shop classChemistry helps you understand plant water and materials, and hands-on electrical or mechanical work prepares you for plant equipment.
  • Join a robotics, science, or engineering clubTeamwork and building projects show you can work in a team and follow technical procedures, which plants value.
  • Get a starter job that requires following rulesJobs at a grocery store, farm, or restaurant teach punctuality, safety habits, and working under a supervisor.
  • Volunteer or shadow someone in a technical fieldAsk an adult who works in utilities or manufacturing if you can observe their workday to learn what the job is really like.

In college

  • Major in engineering, physics, or a technical fieldDegrees in nuclear, mechanical, electrical, or chemical engineering, or in physics, give you a strong base for plant work, though many operators enter with a diploma and training.
  • Take nuclear or energy-related courses if offeredAny course on power generation, radiation safety, or thermodynamics gives you vocabulary and concepts you will use on the job.
  • Get a campus job in a lab or facilityWorking in a university lab or maintenance team teaches equipment handling, logging data, and following safety procedures.
  • Pursue a safety or industrial certificationCertifications such as basic radiation safety or industrial safety courses, if offered by your school or local community college, show employers you take safety seriously.
  • Apply for summer internships at utilities or power plantsEven a short plant internship lets you see control rooms, meet operators, and learn what employers expect.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a school counselor or teacher about plant tours, career days, or local utilities that hire for power plant jobs.
  • Build the habits this job needs: follow checklists carefully, write clear notes, and stay calm under pressure.
  • Look at job postings for power plant operator roles near you to see what training and experience employers ask for.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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