How to become a Nuclear Technician
Official title: Nuclear Technicians
Also called: Auxiliary Operator, Equipment Operator, Licensed Nuclear Operator, Non-Licensed Nuclear Equipment Operator (NLO), Non-Licensed Nuclear Plant Operator (NLO), Nuclear Auxiliary Operator, Nuclear Equipment Operator (NEO), Nuclear Plant Equipment Operator (NAPEO), Operations Technician, Systems Operator
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.
Main tasks
- Follow nuclear equipment operational policies and procedures that ensure environmental safety.
- 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.
How to become one
Nuclear technicians typically need an associate's degree in either nuclear science or a nuclear-related technology. Some enter the occupation with a high school diploma or postsecondary nondegree award plus experience, such as from the military or an apprenticeship. Once hired, nuclear technicians typically receive extensive on-the-job training.
Typical education to start: Associate's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Certificate or associate's degree: Associate's degree. Programs such as Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician; Industrial Radiologic Technology/Technician; Nuclear/Nuclear Power Technology/Technician
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $110,240 a year The middle half earn $99,110 to $123,990.
- About 6,700 people work in this job now, and about 6,800 are projected by 2035. (+1.1%)
- People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Related jobs
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
- Hydrologic Technicians
- Agricultural Technicians
- Precision Agriculture Technicians
- Food Science Technicians
- Biological Technicians
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Nuclear Technician?
Nuclear technicians typically need an associate's degree in either nuclear science or a nuclear-related technology. Some enter the occupation with a high school diploma or postsecondary nondegree award plus experience, such as from the military or an apprenticeship. Once hired, nuclear technicians typically receive extensive on-the-job training.
How much does a Nuclear Technician earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $110,240 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $99,110 to $123,990.
Is a Nuclear Technician a growing career in the US?
Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 6,700 people now and 6,800 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Nuclear Technician?
Not always. 41% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Associate's degree.
Will AI change the work of a Nuclear Technician?
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
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.