# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nuclear-technicians
- SOC code: 19-4051.00
- 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

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 79 |
| Investigative (I) | 60 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 14 |
| Enterprising (E) | 21 |
| Conventional (C) | 68 |

## What you'd do

- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 92/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 90/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 88/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 86/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 83/100)
- Getting Information (importance 82/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 81/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 80/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 77/100)
- Processing Information (importance 72/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Quality Control Analysis, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Operation and Control

## Knowledge

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

## Also called

Accelerator Operator, Accelerator Technician, Auxiliary Operator, Cell Support Operator, Electric Systems Operator, Energy Systems Operator, Equipment Operation Instructor, Equipment Operator, Facilities Operator, Gamma Facilities Operator

## 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 Power Reactor Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nuclear-power-reactor-operators): $122,890 median pay
- [Nuclear Monitoring Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nuclear-monitoring-technicians): $110,240 median pay
- [Power Plant Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/power-plant-operators): $102,040 median pay
- [Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/stationary-engineers-and-boiler-operators): $78,620 median pay
- [Hydroelectric Plant Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hydroelectric-plant-technicians): $102,040 median pay
- [Biomass Plant Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biomass-plant-technicians): $102,040 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.