Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Nuclear Control Operator
- Nuclear Reactor Operator
- Nuclear Station Operator (NSO)
- Reactor Operator (RO)
Alternate Job Titles
- Control Operator
- Control Room Agent
- Control Room Officer
- Control Room Operator
- Licensed Nuclear Control Room Operator
- Licensed Reactor Operator
- Nuclear Control Operator
- Nuclear Control Room Non-Licensed Operator
- Nuclear Control Room Operator
- Nuclear Operator
- Nuclear Plant Operator (NPO)
- Nuclear Power Plant Process Control Worker
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operator
- Nuclear Reactor Operator
- Nuclear Station Operator (NSO)
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Physics
- Mechanical
- Public Safety and Security
- Mathematics
- Engineering and Technology
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Information Ordering
- Perceptual Speed
- Near Vision
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Written Expression
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Integrity
- Dependability
- Stress Tolerance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Azure software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Power Automate
- Microsoft Power BI
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Structured query language SQL
Tools & Equipment
- Air compressors
- Air monitoring equipment
- Air purifying respirators
- Air sample collection equipment
- Area gamma monitors
- Automatic control systems
- Control rod drives
- Cooling towers
- Desktop computers
- Fuel handling systems
- Generator control panels
- Leak detection equipment
- Level transmitters
- Master-slave manipulators
- Nuclear plant hazard alarm systems
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Telephone Conversations
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $99,300 |
| Median | $122,610 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $152,690 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 5,720
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Nuclear Technicians
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $104,240
Power Plant Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $99,670
Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $99,670
Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $104,240
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $75,190
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.