Nuclear Reactor Operator
Control nuclear reactors that generate carbon-free electricity.
- $122,890
- 2–4+ years
Energy & Utilities career
Nuclear Engineer
Also called: Reactor Engineer · Nuclear Plant Engineer · Radiation Engineer · Nuclear Safety Engineer
What nuclear engineers do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a nuclear engineer do?
Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes, instruments and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation. The median pay is $133,970 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 4-year engineering degree, and employment is projected to grow +0.4% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$133,970$64.41/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+0.4%2025–35, little or no change
- Openings per year800Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationBachelor's degreeBLS classification
- Time to train4-year engineering degreeTypical program length
- U.S. jobs16,600Employment, 2025
What nuclear engineers do
Nuclear engineers work with atoms for power and medicine. They design and monitor reactors, analyze safety, manage fuel, design radiation shielding and work on medical isotopes, naval reactors and new small modular reactors.
A bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering is required. Pay is very high, and many jobs need security clearances.
Typical duties
- Monitor reactor performance
- Analyze safety
- Manage fuel
- Design shielding
- Write procedures
- Support outages
- Ensure NRC compliance
Work environment and schedule
Nuclear engineers work at power plants, labs, naval shipyards and offices.
Schedule: Full time, with long hours during outages.
A day in the life
- Review overnight plant data.
- Meet operations.
- Run a reactor physics calculation.
- Review a design change.
See a full day in the life of a nuclear engineer →
Nuclear Engineer salary
Half of nuclear engineers earned more than $133,970 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $92,960 for the lowest 10% to $196,290 for the top 10%.
Full nuclear engineer pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a nuclear engineer
- Earn a nuclear engineering degree
- Do plant or lab internships
- Join as an engineer
- Earn SRO or PE
- Lead
A bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering or a related field is required.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a nuclear engineer →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Reactor physics
- Thermal hydraulics
- Radiation protection
- Safety analysis
- Nuclear codes
People skills
- Attention to detail
- Integrity
- Problem-solving
- Communication
All nuclear engineer skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very high pay
- Clean energy role
- Advanced technology
- New reactor designs
Cons
- Slow growth
- Strict regulation
- Security clearances
- Outage hours
Certifications and licenses
- PE license: Optional.
- SRO certification: Senior reactor operator.
- Security clearance: Defense and labs.
- Master’s: Common.
Career path
- Engineer I: Entry.
- Nuclear Engineer: Own systems.
- Senior Engineer: Lead.
- Engineering Manager: Lead teams.
Learn the job before day one
Our Nuclear Engineer training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as apply ALARA to a radiation job and review a plant design change, safety and how to land your first job.
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Compare: Nuclear Engineer vs. Nuclear Reactor Operator · Nuclear Engineer vs. Physicist · Nuclear Engineer vs. Electrical Engineer · Nuclear Engineer vs. Nuclear Medicine Tech
Nuclear Engineer FAQ
Is pay high?
Yes, BLS reports very high median pay.
Is the field growing?
BLS projects slow growth, though new reactor designs add interest.
Where do nuclear engineers work?
Power plants, labs, the Navy and medicine.
How much does a nuclear engineer make?
The median annual wage for nuclear engineers was $133,970 ($64.41 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $92,960 and the highest 10% earned more than $196,290.
How long does it take to become a nuclear engineer?
Most people need about 4-year engineering degree of training. A bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering or a related field is required.
Do you need a degree to be a nuclear engineer?
Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.
More nuclear engineer questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 17-2161 (Nuclear engineers).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Nuclear engineers (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.