# Nuclear Monitoring Technicians

> Collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nuclear-monitoring-technicians
- SOC code: 19-4051.02
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $110,240 (10th percentile $73,150, 90th percentile $133,600)
- Projected growth: Slower than average, +1.1%
- Openings a year: 900
- Typical entry education: Associate's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Nuclear technicians".

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 85 |
| Investigative (I) | 57 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 15 |
| Enterprising (E) | 9 |
| Conventional (C) | 75 |

## What you'd do

- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 86/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 85/100)
- Getting Information (importance 84/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 84/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 82/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 81/100)
- Processing Information (importance 76/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 74/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 73/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 72/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Instructing, Complex Problem Solving, Learning Strategies

## Knowledge

Mathematics, Physics, Public Safety and Security, Chemistry, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Education and Training, Mechanical, Customer and Personal Service, Law and Government

## Also called

Cathodic Protection Technician, Chemical Radiation Technician, Decontaminator, Health Physics Technician (HP Tech), Instrumentation Control Specialist, Laboratory Control Specialist, Metallographic Technician, Nuclear Chemistry Technician, Nuclear Control Technician, Nuclear Technician

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5109) (CIP 5109, 1,504 colleges)
- Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians (CIP 4102, 25 colleges)
- Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician (CIP 1514, 14 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Wagner College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wagner-college-3148) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | not reported | $156,982 | $27,000 |
| [St. John's University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/st-john-s-university-new-york-2579) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $102,500 | $142,774 | $23,325 |
| [John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/college/john-patrick-university-of-health-and-applied-sciences-1341) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $112,673 | $122,061 | $23,437 |
| [Saint Francis University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-francis-university-2301) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | not reported | $115,813 | $28,000 |
| [D'Youville University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/d-youville-university-755) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $113,290 | $114,737 | $30,703 |
| [Molloy College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/molloy-college-1749) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $90,567 | $111,267 | not reported |
| [Salisbury University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/salisbury-university-2329) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $75,312 | $109,739 | $23,250 |
| [Long Island University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/long-island-university-1520) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $90,526 | $107,539 | $22,000 |

## Related careers

- [Nuclear Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nuclear-technicians): $110,240 median pay
- [Nuclear Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nuclear-engineers): $133,970 median pay
- [Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-science-and-protection-technicians-including-health): $55,090 median pay
- [Nuclear Medicine Technologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nuclear-medicine-technologists): $101,370 median pay
- [Nuclear Power Reactor Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nuclear-power-reactor-operators): $122,890 median pay
- [Calibration Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/calibration-technologists-and-technicians): $67,820 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.