Plant and System Operators

How to become a Nuclear Power Reactor Operator

Official title: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Also called: Licensed Reactor Operator, Nuclear Control Operator, Nuclear Control Room Operator, Nuclear Plant Operator (NPO), Nuclear Power Reactor Operator, Nuclear Reactor Operator, Nuclear Station Operator (NSO), Nuclear Supervising Operator (NSO), Nuclear Unit Operator, Reactor Operator (RO)

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.

Main tasks

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.
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.

How to become one

Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers typically need at least a high school diploma or the equivalent to enter the occupation. Once hired, they typically receive extensive on-the-job training. Nuclear power reactor operators also need a license.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $122,890 a year The middle half earn $109,440 to $130,490.
About 5,200 people work in this job now, and about 4,900 are projected by 2035. (-5.9%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Nuclear Power Reactor Operator?

How much does a Nuclear Power Reactor Operator earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $122,890 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $109,440 to $130,490.

Is a Nuclear Power Reactor Operator a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to fall 6% by 2035, from about 5,200 to about 4,900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Nuclear Power Reactor Operator?

Usually not. Only 22% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Nuclear Power Reactor Operator?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.