Nuclear Power Reactor Operators Career, Salary and Skills
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $122,890 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 5,150. Wage data is published for 6 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
51-8011.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$122,890
Hourly median
$59.08
Employment
5,150
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 3.88 |
| Operations Monitoring | 4.00 | 3.88 |
| Operation and Control | 4.00 | 3.75 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.75 | 3.25 |
| Writing | 3.50 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.50 | 3.38 |
| Time Management | 3.38 | 3.38 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Record operating data, such as the results of surveillance tests.
- Implement operational procedures, such as those controlling start-up or shut-down activities.
- Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety.
Technology
- Data logging software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Azure software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Power Automate
- Microsoft Power BI
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Outage management system OMS
- Plant information data entry software
- Structured query language SQL
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators Salary in ILMedian $123,980 · Employment 410
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators Salary in ALMedian $119,000 · Employment 360
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators Salary in SCMedian $118,620 · Employment 320
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators Salary in NYMedian $129,580 · Employment 230
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators Salary in NEMedian $108,650 · Employment 50
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators Salary in Charlotte, NCMedian $112,860 · Employment —
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.