⚛️
Nuclear Power Generation
Constellation Energy, Duke Energy, Southern Company
Nuclear Technicians
Nuclear technicians watch radiation levels, test equipment, and help clean up contaminated tools or work areas so plants and labs stay within safety limits. The work is highly procedural and can involve quick decisions during alarms or abnormal events, but the tradeoff is a small field with limited openings and a shrinking job count.
Also known as Radiological Control TechnicianRadiation Protection TechnicianRadiation Safety TechnicianHealth Physics TechnicianRadiation Control Technician
Median Salary
$104,240
Mean $100,730
U.S. Workforce
~6K
0.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-7.7%
6K to 5.5K
Entry Education
Associate's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Nuclear Technicians sits in the Science category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~6K workers, with a median annual pay of $104,240 and roughly 0.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 6 K in 2024 to 5.5K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Associate's degree in nuclear technology, radiation protection, or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Radiation Safety Assistant and can progress toward Radiation Protection Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Radiation Monitoring Systems & Alarm Panels, Operations Monitoring & Control Screens, and Radiation Detection Meters & Dosimeters, paired with soft skills such as Active listening, Critical thinking, and Reading comprehension.
Core Responsibilities
- Check radiation readings in work areas, equipment, and materials to make sure they stay within safe limits.
- Set up and test sensors and monitors that alert staff to unexpected radiation changes.
- Figure out how to clean or isolate contaminated tools and surfaces based on how badly they were exposed.
- Collect air or water samples and review them for contamination or other unwanted substances.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Check radiation readings in work areas, equipment, and materials to make sure they stay within safe limits.
02 Set up and test sensors and monitors that alert staff to unexpected radiation changes.
03 Figure out how to clean or isolate contaminated tools and surfaces based on how badly they were exposed.
04 Collect air or water samples and review them for contamination or other unwanted substances.
05 Respond when an alarm goes off or conditions look abnormal, then help decide what needs to happen right away.
06 Explain safety steps to coworkers, brief them on current radiation levels, and write up what was found and what was done.
Industries That Hire
🧪
Government Labs and Research
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory
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Defense and Naval Nuclear Programs
U.S. Navy, General Dynamics Electric Boat, HII
🏗️
Nuclear Services and Engineering Contractors
Westinghouse Electric Company, Framatome, Amentum
🌍
Environmental Testing and Radiation Services
Bureau Veritas, SGS, Intertek
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is strong for a specialized technical role, with a median annual wage of $104,240 and a mean of $100,730.
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Typical entry is an associate's degree, and no prior work experience is required, so people can get in without years of schooling.
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The job is concrete and measurable: readings, samples, and cleanup steps either pass safety checks or they do not.
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Skills can transfer across nuclear plants, labs, contractors, and government facilities, not just one employer.
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Even in a shrinking field, there are about 0.7 thousand annual openings, which mainly come from replacement needs.
Challenges
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The field is shrinking, with employment projected to fall 7.7% from 6.0 thousand jobs in 2024 to 5.5 thousand by 2034.
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There are only about 5,990 jobs total, so openings can be scarce and concentrated in a small number of locations.
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The work is tied to a narrow set of employers and facilities, so a plant shutdown or contract loss can affect a lot of workers at once.
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Alarms, contamination, and compliance failures can create real pressure because mistakes have safety consequences.
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The career ladder can be limited unless you move into supervision, health physics, or another related specialty, so advancement may require extra training.
Career Progression
Radiation Safety Assistant
0-2 years
$48K-$68K
Supports surveys, sample collection, and basic paperwork while learning the site's radiation rules and equipment.
Nuclear Technician
2-5 years
$90K-$115K
Handles routine radiation checks, decontamination steps, alarm response, and detailed reporting in a tightly controlled environment.
Senior Nuclear Technician THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$116K-$135K
Takes on harder troubleshooting, trains newer staff, and helps decide how to handle unusual readings or contamination cases.
Radiation Protection Supervisor
9+ years
$136K-$160K
Oversees teams, reviews compliance with safety standards, and coordinates response plans for higher-risk work.
Education Paths
Associate's degree in nuclear technology, radiation protection, or a related field
This is the most common path, held by 29.35% of workers in the role.
High school diploma plus employer training
A sizable share of workers, 27.15%, enter with only a high school diploma and learn the job through site training.
Post-secondary certificate in radiation safety or health physics
This shorter route accounts for 16.59% of workers and can help candidates get into monitoring or support roles faster.
Bachelor's degree in physics, engineering technology, or a related science
This less common route is used by 15.86% of workers and can help with broader advancement, even though it is not required for most openings.
Key Skills
Technical
Radiation Monitoring Systems & Alarm Panels 70%
Operations Monitoring & Control Screens 70%
Radiation Detection Meters & Dosimeters 68%
Environmental Sampling & Lab Testing Equipment 67%
Decontamination Procedures & Protective Containment 66%
Quality Control Checks & Calibration 58%
Soft Skills
Active listeningCritical thinkingReading comprehensionClear speakingJudgment under pressureAttention to detail Job Outlook and Trends
+-7.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 6K to 5.5 K over the next decade, representing -7.7% growth. Around 0.7 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.