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Nuclear technician: 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.

$110,240median pay per year, or $53.00 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $73,150lowest 10% earn less
  2. $99,11025th percentile
  3. $110,240median
  4. $123,99075th percentile
  5. $133,600top 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 technicians was $110,240 a year, more than twice the median for all occupations[1][2]. Employment is projected to grow 1.1% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.1%[3]
Openings per year
900[5]
Typical entry education
Associate's degree[6]

How much do nuclear technicians make?

The median wage for nuclear technicians was $110,240 a year, or $53.00 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[2].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $73,150 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $99,110[4]. The top 25% earned more than $123,990, and the top 10% earned more than $133,600[4]. Hourly, those marks were $35.17, $47.65, $59.61 and $64.23[7]. The average (mean) wage was $108,940 a year, or $52.37 an hour[8].

BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary, so these figures do not show what a new technician 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 6,470 people held these jobs in May 2025[11], and 2.7% of nuclear technicians were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state medians for 14 states[13]. Florida came first at $135,550, followed by New York at $129,780, Pennsylvania at $124,070, Texas at $124,060 and Massachusetts at $113,390[13]. Tennessee had the lowest published median at $91,980[13].

The states with the most jobs were Illinois with 780, South Carolina with 750, Virginia with 680, North Carolina with 420 and Pennsylvania with 310[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the highest medians were New York-Newark-Jersey City at $171,470, Augusta-Richmond County at $108,210 and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin at $99,990[15]. Chicago had the most jobs among metro areas at 470, followed by Augusta at 260[16].

Show median pay in 14 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Florida[13]$135,55060
New York$129,780260
Pennsylvania$124,070310
Texas$124,060110
Massachusetts$113,39050
North Carolina$110,430420
Illinois$110,390780
Alabama$110,240280
South Carolina$108,490750
Washington$108,20090
Missouri$104,580150
California$99,270n/a
Virginia$98,930680
Tennessee$91,980110

How to become a nuclear technician

The typical entry education is an associate's degree. No related work experience is listed, and the job comes with moderate-term on-the-job training[6].

Training time varies with a person's experience and education. Most training programs run from 6 months to 2 years, and technicians keep training throughout their careers[22]. O*NET places the job in Job Zone Three, which means medium preparation is needed[23].

Useful qualities include attention to detail, communication, critical thinking, math and mechanical skills[24][25][26][27][28]. Later, technicians who add training and experience may move up to become nuclear power reactor operators[29].

What nuclear technicians do

O*NET describes the job as assisting nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers or other scientists in laboratories and in power generation. Technicians may operate, maintain or check quality of testing and research equipment, and may monitor radiation[30]. Typical tasks include:

Sample job titles workers reported include nuclear equipment operator, auxiliary operator and licensed nuclear operator[32].

Where they work

The largest employer group in 2025 was electric power generation, transmission and distribution, at 54% of jobs[33]. Most nuclear technicians work in power plants, usually in offices and control rooms[34]. Some measure radiation levels onsite, in all types of weather, and work near reactors can mean high temperatures[34]. Others work in laboratories under scientists and engineers[34]. Protective gear and badges that show radiation exposure are often required[35].

Most nuclear technicians work full time[36]. In power plants that run around the clock, schedules may vary and include nights, holidays and weekends, with occasional overtime[36]. In laboratories, hours are typically normal business hours[36].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of nuclear technicians to grow 1.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 6,700 to 6,800 jobs[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[37]. So growth is slower than the all-occupations rate[3][37]. The projection counts include self-employed workers, so they differ from the wage and salary count in the pay data[3][11].

About 900 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings include jobs that come open when people leave, not only new positions[5]. Each year, 1.9% of workers leave the labor force and 11.6% move to a different occupation[38].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a job with a median wage well above the all-occupations median, and a typical entry path of an associate's degree[1][2][6]. Training is part of the job, and most training programs last from 6 months to 2 years[22]. Background checks and security clearance usually come with it[21]. Employment is projected to grow slowly, with about 900 openings a year[3][5]. Some sites run around the clock, which can mean nights, holidays and weekends[36].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[39].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a nuclear technician make a year?
The median for nuclear technicians was $110,240 a year, or $53.00 an hour, in May 2025[1].
What degree do you need to be a nuclear technician?
An associate's degree is the typical entry education, in nuclear science or a nuclear-related technology[6][17]. Some people enter with a high school diploma plus experience[19].
How long does it take to become a nuclear technician?
Training time varies, and most training programs run from 6 months to 2 years[22].
Is nuclear technician a growing job?
Slowly. Employment is projected to grow 1.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[3][37].
What is the highest paying state for nuclear technicians?
Florida had the highest median at $135,550, followed by New York at $129,780[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Nuclear Technicians in the US was $110,240 per year and $53.00 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 Technicians is projected to grow 1.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 6,700 to 6,800 jobs (a change of +100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Nuclear Technicians: 10th percentile $73,150, 25th percentile $99,110, 75th percentile $123,990, 90th percentile $133,600. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 900 openings for Nuclear Technicians 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 Technicians: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Nuclear Technicians: 10th percentile $35.17, 25th percentile $47.65, 75th percentile $59.61, 90th percentile $64.23. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Nuclear Technicians was $108,940 per year and $52.37 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 6,470 people were employed as Nuclear Technicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 2.7% of Nuclear Technicians were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Nuclear Technicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Nuclear Technicians jobs: Illinois 780; South Carolina 750; Virginia 680; North Carolina 420; Pennsylvania 310. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Nuclear Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $171,470; Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $108,210; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $99,990. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Nuclear Technicians jobs: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 470 (median $99,990); Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC 260 (median $108,210); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 100 (median $171,470); Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC 90 (median $114,910); Birmingham, AL 60 (median $126,930); Knoxville, TN 60 (median $78,850). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 19-4051.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. 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. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. O*NET description of Nuclear Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  31. O*NET task list for Nuclear Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  32. O*NET 19-4051.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Auxiliary Operator, Equipment Operator, Licensed Nuclear Operator, Non-Licensed Nuclear Equipment Operator (NLO), Non-Licensed Nuclear Plant Operator (NLO), Nuclear Auxiliary Operator, Nuclear Equipment Operator (NEO), Nuclear Plant Equipment Operator (NAPEO). O*NET OnLine
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of nuclear technicians in 2025: Electric power generation, transmission and distribution 54%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  38. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Nuclear Technicians: 1.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 11.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  39. 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.

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.