# Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nuclear-power-reactor-operators
- SOC code: 51-8011.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $122,890 (10th percentile $98,640, 90th percentile $149,310)
- Projected growth: Decline, -5.9%
- Openings a year: 400
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 73 |
| Investigative (I) | 35 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 18 |
| Enterprising (E) | 27 |
| Conventional (C) | 69 |

## What you'd do

- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 93/100)
- Getting Information (importance 88/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 88/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 88/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 85/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 83/100)
- Processing Information (importance 82/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 82/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 80/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 79/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Writing, Time Management

## Knowledge

Physics, Mechanical, Public Safety and Security, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology, Chemistry, Design, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Education and Training

## Also called

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

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

- Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians (CIP 4102, 25 colleges)

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

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [State Technical College of Missouri](https://www.collegesref.com/college/state-technical-college-of-missouri-2594) | Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $129,194 | not reported |
| [Wharton County Junior College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wharton-county-junior-college-3251) | Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $88,510 | not reported |
| [Cowley County Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cowley-county-community-college-718) | Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $73,002 | $9,800 |

## Related careers

- [Nuclear Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nuclear-technicians): $110,240 median pay
- [Power Plant Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/power-plant-operators): $102,040 median pay
- [Hydroelectric Plant Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hydroelectric-plant-technicians): $102,040 median pay
- [Nuclear Monitoring Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nuclear-monitoring-technicians): $110,240 median pay
- [Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/stationary-engineers-and-boiler-operators): $78,620 median pay
- [Chemical Plant and System Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemical-plant-and-system-operators): $78,120 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.