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Nuclear reactor operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$122,890median pay per year, or $59.08 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $98,640lowest 10% earn less
  2. $109,44025th percentile
  3. $122,890median
  4. $130,49075th percentile
  5. $149,310top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

The median pay for nuclear power reactor operators was $122,890 a year, well above the median for all occupations[1][2]. Employment is projected to decline 5.9% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-5.9%[3]
Openings per year
400[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do nuclear reactor operators make?

The median wage for nuclear power reactor operators was $122,890 a year, or $59.08 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The median annual wage for all occupations was $50,980[2].

The range is fairly tight for a pay scale. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $98,640 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $109,440[4]. The top 25% earned more than $130,490, and the top 10% earned more than $149,310[4]. Hourly, those marks were $47.42, $52.61, $62.73 and $71.78[7]. The average (mean) wage was $121,380 a year, or $58.36 an hour[8].

BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary, so these figures do not show what a new operator earns[9]. The data covers full-time and part-time wage and salary workers. It leaves out the self-employed, and it does not count bonuses outside production pay or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10]. About 5,150 people worked in this job in May 2025[11].

Pay by state

BLS published state figures for only five states. By median annual wage they ranked New York at $129,580, Illinois at $123,980, Alabama at $119,000, South Carolina at $118,620 and Nebraska at $108,650[12].

By job count, Illinois had 410, Alabama 360, South Carolina 320, New York 230 and Nebraska 50[13].

Show median pay in 5 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[12]$129,580230
Illinois$123,980410
Alabama$119,000360
South Carolina$118,620320
Nebraska$108,65050

How to become a nuclear reactor operator

The typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent. No related work experience is listed, and the job comes with long-term on-the-job training[6]. In an O*NET survey of 33 workers, 50% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required, 16% said a post-secondary certificate, 15% a bachelor's degree and 13% an associate's degree[14].

The training details below come from a Handbook profile that covers a wider group of power plant jobs, not only reactor operators[15].

The NRC license is required. Candidates need the required training and experience and a passing medical exam. They must also pass the NRC licensing exam[19]. Keeping the license means passing annual and periodic exams, and a license does not transfer between plants[19]. Operators keep up with frequent onsite training after they are licensed[21].

Becoming fully competent usually takes several years of training and experience on site[22]. With more training and experience, operators may become shift supervisors, trainers or consultants[23].

What nuclear reactor operators do

O*NET describes the job as operating or controlling nuclear reactors and carrying out emergency procedures when needed[24]. Typical tasks include:

Sample job titles workers reported include nuclear control room operator, licensed reactor operator and nuclear station operator[26].

Where they work

The Handbook profile covers a wider group, and it lists utilities as the largest employer at 69% of jobs in 2025[27][15]. People in control rooms generally work at a control station, either sitting or standing, and the job needs constant attention. They may also do rounds to check equipment outside the control room[28]. Nuclear plants usually operate under heightened security[29].

Full-time work is the usual pattern, and some people work more than 40 hours a week[30]. Rotating 8- or 12-hour shifts are typical[30]. Rotating day and night shifts can be stressful because sleeping and living patterns keep changing[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of nuclear power reactor operators to decline 5.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 5,200 to 4,900 jobs[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[32]. The projection counts include self-employed workers, so they differ from the wage and salary count in the pay data[3][11].

About 400 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings include jobs that come open when people leave, not only new positions[5]. Each year, 2.2% of workers leave the labor force and 6.1% move to a different occupation[33].

For comparison, nuclear technicians are projected to grow 1.1%, while power plant operators are projected to decline 5.1%[34].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a job with a high median wage and entry that starts with a high school diploma[1][6]. The road is long, though. It includes long-term on-the-job training, an NRC license and continuing exams[6][19]. It is also a small field with a projected decline, with about 400 openings a year[3][5]. Rotating shifts are typical, and they can be stressful[30][31].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[34].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a nuclear reactor operator make a year?
The median for nuclear power reactor operators was $122,890 a year, or $59.08 an hour, in May 2025[1].
What education do you need to be a nuclear reactor operator?
A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry education, with long-term on-the-job training[6].
Do nuclear reactor operators need a license?
Yes. Reactor operators must be licensed through the NRC[19].
Is nuclear reactor operator a growing job?
No. Employment is projected to decline 5.9% from 2025 to 2035, though about 400 openings a year are projected[3][5].
What is the highest paying state for nuclear reactor operators?
Among the five states with published data, New York had the highest median at $129,580[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators in the US was $122,890 per year and $59.08 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Nuclear Power Reactor Operators is projected to decline 5.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 5,200 to 4,900 jobs (a change of -300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators: 10th percentile $98,640, 25th percentile $109,440, 75th percentile $130,490, 90th percentile $149,310. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 400 openings for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Nuclear Power Reactor Operators: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators: 10th percentile $47.42, 25th percentile $52.61, 75th percentile $62.73, 90th percentile $71.78. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators was $121,380 per year and $58.36 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 5,150 people were employed as Nuclear Power Reactor Operators in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Nuclear Power Reactor Operators jobs: Illinois 410; Alabama 360; South Carolina 320; New York 230; Nebraska 50. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. O*NET 51-8011.00 survey of workers (33 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 50%, Post-Secondary Certificate 16%, Bachelor's Degree 15%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 13%, Some College Courses 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers" covers Nuclear Power Reactor Operators together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET description of Nuclear Power Reactor Operators. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET 51-8011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Licensed Reactor Operator, Nuclear Control Operator, Nuclear Control Room Operator, Nuclear Plant Operator (NPO), Nuclear Power Reactor Operator, Nuclear Reactor Operator, Nuclear Station Operator (NSO), Nuclear Supervising Operator (NSO). O*NET OnLine
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers in 2025: Utilities 69%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators: 2.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.