Production · Career brief

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$122,890

High national median pay

2025 national median. Top 10% for pay among careers on ChooseField.

2Demand

-5.9%

Projected employment decline

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Bottom quarter for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

400

Low national opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Bottom quarter for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

High school

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

BLS projects employment to shrink 5.9% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is pay; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a high-school entry path. Main tradeoff: BLS projects employment to shrink 5.9% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

Before choosing, compare:Power Plant Operators Gas Plant Operators Power Distributors and Dispatchers

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Nuclear Power Reactor Operators with another field Explore rankings in Production Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$122,890

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

-5.9%employment growth400openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

5,200

A small national occupation; local availability may be uneven.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Nuclear power reactor operators (51-8011).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

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.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

BLS projects employment to shrink 5.9% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.
Errors can seriously affect people, equipment, or operations. Checking and accountability are part of the job, not optional polish.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards4.7
Getting Information4.5
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings4.5
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.5
Documenting/Recording Information4.4

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic5.4
Conventional5.1
Investigative3.1
Enterprising2.6
Social2.1
Artistic1.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Physics Mechanical Public Safety and Security Mathematics

Software and tools named in job postings

Outage management system OMS

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Take a supervised shop, maker, or trade class and finish one project while following its measurement, cleanup, and safety rules.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Nuclear power reactor operators nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions. Examples of tools used in the occupation include Outage management system OMS; check which ones employers near you actually require.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options