Nuclear Technicians Career, Salary and Skills
Nuclear Technicians have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $110,240 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 6,470. Wage data is published for 22 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
19-4051.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
Not recorded
National salary and employment
Median annual
$110,240
Hourly median
$53.00
Employment
6,470
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.75 | 3.50 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Active Listening | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.62 | 3.38 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.50 | 3.62 |
| Active Learning | 3.38 | 2.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Speaking | 3.25 | 3.50 |
| Writing | 3.25 | 3.38 |
Typical tasks
- Conduct surveillance testing to determine safety of nuclear equipment.
- Monitor nuclear reactor equipment performance to identify operational inefficiencies, hazards, or needs for maintenance or repair.
- Test plant equipment to ensure it is operating properly.
- Apply safety tags to equipment needing maintenance.
- Follow policies and procedures for radiation workers to ensure personnel safety.
- Modify, devise, or maintain nuclear equipment used in operations.
- Monitor instruments, gauges, or recording devices under direction of nuclear experimenters.
- Follow nuclear equipment operational policies and procedures that ensure environmental safety.
Technology
- Data logging software
- Database software
- Linux
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Structured query language SQL
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- VMware
- VMWare ESX Server
Nuclear Technicians salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Nuclear Technicians Salary in ILMedian $110,390 · Employment 780
- Nuclear Technicians Salary in SCMedian $108,490 · Employment 750
- Nuclear Technicians Salary in VAMedian $98,930 · Employment 680
- Nuclear Technicians Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $99,990 · Employment 470
- Nuclear Technicians Salary in NCMedian $110,430 · Employment 420
- Nuclear Technicians Salary in PAMedian $124,070 · Employment 310
- Nuclear Technicians Salary in ALMedian $110,240 · Employment 280
- Nuclear Technicians Salary in Augusta, GAMedian $108,210 · Employment 260
- Nuclear Technicians Salary in NYMedian $129,780 · Employment 260
- Nuclear Technicians Salary in MOMedian $104,580 · Employment 150
- Nuclear Technicians Salary in TXMedian $124,060 · Employment 110
- Nuclear Technicians Salary in TNMedian $91,980 · Employment 110
Related careers
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersNational median $96,710
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansNational median $78,190
- Biomass Power Plant ManagersNational median $126,060
- Geothermal Production ManagersNational median $126,060
- Chemical EngineersNational median $125,040
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and RelayNational median $103,020
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentNational median $74,090
- Gas Plant OperatorsNational median $87,820
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.