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Nuclear Technicians

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipHigh pressure

What they 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.

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.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

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 $110,240 Median per year · $53.00/hr Most earn $73,150–$133,600

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Measure the intensity and identify the types of radiation in work areas, equipment, or materials, using radiation detectors or other instruments.
  • Follow policies and procedures for radiation workers to ensure personnel safety.
  • Calculate equipment operating factors, such as radiation times, dosages, temperatures, gamma intensities, or pressures, using standard formulas and conversion tables.
  • Perform testing, maintenance, repair, or upgrading of accelerator systems.
  • Apply safety tags to equipment needing maintenance.
  • Decontaminate objects by cleaning them using soap or solvents or by abrading using brushes, buffing machines, or sandblasting machines.

Job outlook

United States
1% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 900 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 generation52.2%
  • Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences10.4%
  • Engineering services6.3%
  • Waste treatment and disposal3.2%
  • Self-employed (their own business)2.7%

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

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: Certificate or apprenticeship

Nuclear technician is usually an entry-level job you can start after a certificate or apprenticeship, not a four-year degree. Most people finish high school, complete a focused technical program, and then start working, so the path is fairly short.

  1. High school diploma with strong math and science

    4 years

    Courses in algebra, chemistry, physics, and shop or electronics build the base you need for radiation safety and equipment work.

  2. Nuclear technology certificate or apprenticeship

    1-2 years

    A certificate program or apprenticeship teaches radiation safety, instrumentation, quality control, and how to follow strict procedures, and it often includes hands-on lab or plant time.

  3. Nuclear Technician

    Entry-level job after training

    You assist scientists and engineers, run and maintain testing equipment, and monitor radiation levels in labs, power plants, or research facilities.

Where it can lead

  1. Nuclear Power Reactor Operator

    2-4 years of experience first

    You move into controlling reactors in a power plant, which requires more hands-on experience, extensive training, and a license.

  2. Power Plant Operator

    2-4 years of experience first

    You take on responsibility for running and monitoring plant equipment and systems, which builds on the technical and safety skills from technician work.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take physics, chemistry, and advanced mathThese classes build the science and problem-solving skills that nuclear technicians use every day.
  • Join a robotics, science, or engineering clubHands-on building and testing teaches you how equipment works and how to troubleshoot it.
  • Take a shop, electronics, or industrial technology classWorking with tools, circuits, and instruments gives you practical skills that transfer directly to technician work.
  • Find a part-time or summer job in a lab, manufacturing plant, or maintenance crewAny job that follows safety procedures and careful checklists builds the habits this career needs.
  • Ask a local technician or engineer for an informational interviewHearing how they got started helps you see the real day-to-day work and choose the right training.

In college

  • Enroll in a nuclear technology or radiation protection certificate programA focused certificate teaches radiation safety and instrumentation, which is exactly what employers look for in technicians.
  • Take chemistry, physics, and math coursesThese core science classes make it easier to understand radiation, instruments, and lab procedures on the job.
  • Apply for a lab assistant or research aide job on campusCampus lab work gives you real experience with equipment, data recording, and safety protocols.
  • Look for an internship at a power plant, research lab, or environmental testing companyAn internship shows employers you can work in a regulated setting and helps you make useful contacts.
  • Join a science or engineering student organizationClubs offer networking, workshops, and sometimes tours of facilities that use nuclear technology.

Tips for getting started

  • Take every math and science class you can, and get comfortable with basic electronics and hand tools, since both are used daily in this work.
  • Look into apprenticeships and certificate programs early, and ask schools or local power plants whether they offer tours, job shadowing, or information sessions.
  • Pay close attention to safety rules and procedures in any class or job, because careful, consistent work is central to this career.

Related jobs a step up

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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