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Nuclear Technicians
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.
Other titles employers use
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)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, organizing and analytical work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Operations Monitoring
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Quality Control Analysis
Subjects to know
- Public Safety and Security
- Mechanical
- Physics
- Engineering and Technology
- Education and Training
Useful strengths
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Information Ordering
- Oral Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.9 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 3.1 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.5 | Some of the day |
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Data base user interface and query software
- Operating system software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Industrial control software
- Clustering software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 640
- Job openings each year
- 70
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 1.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 640 | 70 | 1.6% |
| Idaho | 490 | 50 | 22.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 440 | 40 | — |
| North Carolina | 410 | 40 | 5.1% |
| Virginia | 360 | 40 | — |
| Georgia | 290 | 30 | — |
| Ohio | 240 | 20 | — |
| Michigan | 210 | 20 | −4.5% |
| Washington | 190 | 30 | 46.2% |
| Alabama | 170 | 20 | — |
| Tennessee | 170 | 20 | 21.4% |
| Missouri | 160 | 20 | — |
| Arizona | 130 | 10 | — |
| Maryland | 90 | 10 | — |
| Mississippi | 60 | 10 | — |
| Nebraska | 20 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Boise State University
- Degrees each year
- 272
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000
Midwestern State University
- Degrees each year
- 218
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Excelsior University
- Degrees each year
- 188
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- —
Oregon Institute of Technology
- Degrees each year
- 168
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
University of Missouri-Columbia
- Degrees each year
- 93
- Admit rate
- 77%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Ohio State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 87
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Sacred Heart University
- Degrees each year
- 86
- Admit rate
- 68%
- Annual cost after aid
- $42,000
Georgia Southern University
- Degrees each year
- 84
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Compare every college offering nuclear and industrial radiologic technologies/technicians