Production Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Peer-group outlier SOC 51-8011

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Median pay sits 80% above the mid peer in Production Occupations (neighbors include Power Distributors and Dispatchers, Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters, Gas Plant Operators, Model Makers, Metal and Plastic).

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Nuclear Power Reactor Operators: Power Distributors and Dispatchers ($107K) , Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters ($63K) , Gas Plant Operators ($88K) , Model Makers, Metal and Plastic ($63K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Nuclear Power Reactor Operators publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 51-8011 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental s…
  2. 2. Adjust controls to position rod and to regulate flux level, reactor period, coolant temperature, or rate of power flow, following standar…
  3. 3. Develop or implement actions such as lockouts, tagouts, or clearances to allow equipment to be safely repaired
  4. 4. Direct reactor operators in emergency situations, in accordance with emergency operating procedures
  5. 5. Respond to system or unit abnormalities, diagnosing the cause, and recommending or taking corrective action
  6. 6. Monitor all systems for normal running conditions, performing activities such as checking gauges to assess output or the effects of gener…
  7. 7. Monitor or operate boilers, turbines, wells, or auxiliary power plant equipment
  8. 8. Record operating data, such as the results of surveillance tests
  9. 9. Implement operational procedures, such as those controlling start-up or shut-down activities
  10. 10. Note malfunctions of equipment, instruments, or controls and report these conditions to supervisors
  11. 11. Participate in nuclear fuel element handling activities, such as preparation, transfer, loading, or unloading
  12. 12. Authorize maintenance activities on units or changes in equipment or system operational status

O*NET skills and knowledge for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 51-8011 - entity-keyed; sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Reading Comprehension 4.0
  2. 2. Operations Monitoring 4.0
  3. 3. Operation and Control 4.0
  4. 4. Active Listening 3.9
  5. 5. Critical Thinking 3.9
  6. 6. Monitoring 3.9
  7. 7. Complex Problem Solving 3.8
  8. 8. Writing 3.5

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Physics 4.1
  2. 2. Mechanical 3.9
  3. 3. Public Safety and Security 3.7
  4. 4. Mathematics 3.6
  5. 5. Engineering and Technology 3.5
  6. 6. Chemistry 3.4
Pay vs Production Occupations peers
+80%
vs mid peer median $68,120
This role $122,890/yr
$123K
National median
↓ -15%
Growth 2024-2034
400
Annual openings
5,150
Estimated US jobs
Power Distributors and Dispatchers
Highest-pay peer · $107K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Top Paying States for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

1. South Carolina $118,620
2. Nebraska $108,650
3. Alabama $119,000
4. New York $129,580
5. Illinois $123,980

Other Production Occupations titles

  1. 1. Power Distributors and Dispatchers $106,730
  2. 2. Gas Plant Operators $87,820
  3. 3. Model Makers, Metal and Plastic $63,340
  4. 4. Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators $78,620
  5. 5. Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters $62,620
  6. 6. Power Plant Operators $102,040

Among Production Occupations peers on this card, Nuclear Power Reactor Operators sits 80% above the mid peer median ($68,120). Its own median is $122,890.

Employment Projections expect -15% change between 2024 and 2034 (declining vs baseline 3.1%). About 400 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: South Carolina at $118,620. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Power Distributors and Dispatchers at $106,730. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

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Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034.

Dive into Nuclear Power Reactor Operators in more depth or explore nearby career data.

Full Salary Details

State, metro, and percentile breakdown

Jobs in South Carolina

Top-paying state for this role

Jobs in Nebraska

Second-highest state pay

Power Distributors and Dispatchers

Highest-pay peer · $107K

Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters

Lower-pay peer · $63K

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Peer-comparison next reads

Compare Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Against another occupation

Power Distributors and Dispatchers card

Top peer in this major group

Frequently Asked Questions

What do nuclear power reactor operators do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators. Leading ones include: Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental s…; Adjust controls to position rod and to regulate flux level, reactor period, coolant temperature, or rate of power flow, following standar…; Develop or implement actions such as lockouts, tagouts, or clearances to allow equipment to be safely repaired; Direct reactor operators in emergency situations, in accordance with emergency operating procedures. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for nuclear power reactor operators? ▼
For SOC 51-8011, O*NET importance scores lead with Reading Comprehension (4.0), Operations Monitoring (4.0), Operation and Control (4.0), Active Listening (3.9). Knowledge areas emphasize Physics, Mechanical, Public Safety and Security. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
How does Nuclear Power Reactor Operators sit next to other Production Occupations titles? ▼
On this card, neighboring same-major-group titles include Power Distributors and Dispatchers, Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters, Gas Plant Operators, Model Makers, Metal and Plastic. Among those peers, Power Distributors and Dispatchers holds the highest published national median ($106,730). Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters sits lower at $62,620. Peer titles are hash-ordered per card so adjacent SOC pages do not share an identical ladder.
What is the median salary for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators? ▼
The median salary for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators is $122,890 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 OEWS data). This means half of workers in this occupation earn more and half earn less. The full range is $98,640 (10th percentile) to $149,310 (90th percentile). For context beside Power Distributors and Dispatchers ($106,730), this role's median is the OEWS national figure above.
Is Nuclear Power Reactor Operators a growing occupation? ▼
The BLS projects -15% employment change for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators from 2024 to 2034. There are approximately 400 projected annual openings. This is declining relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%.
What education do you need to become a nuclear power reactor operators? ▼
BLS assigns Nuclear Power Reactor Operators to High school diploma or equivalent for typical education needed for entry. These occupation-level categories are not requirements for every employer or worker.
Which states pay nuclear power reactor operators the most? ▼
The highest published state medians in this ranking for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators are South Carolina ($118,620), Nebraska ($108,650), Alabama ($119,000). The table does not identify why state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

All federal data sources used on this page
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - wage estimates by area + occupation. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - occupation task statements (importance-ranked). onetcenter.org
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) - quarterly employment and wage totals by industry. bls.gov/cew
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for metro/state aggregates. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics (CES) - monthly nonfarm payroll baselines. bls.gov/ces
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context. irs.gov/statistics
  • BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) - unemployment context for labor-market comparisons. bls.gov/lau