Occupations/51-8011.00
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
Operate or control nuclear reactors. Move control rods, start and stop equipment, monitor and adjust controls, and record data in logs. Implement emergency procedures when needed. May respond to abnormalities, determine cause, and recommend corrective action.
Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.
AI automation risk
69%
Higher automation risk
Human characteristics
51%
Balanced human and task mix
Task orientation
80%
Higher automation risk
A day in this job
- Mostly human
Respond to system or unit abnormalities, diagnosing the cause, and recommending or taking corrective action.
- Mostly routine
Monitor or operate boilers, turbines, wells, or auxiliary power plant equipment.
- Mostly routine
Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety.
Split from the wording of these tasks, shown next to the occupation’s AI risk. It is not a separate score for each task, and it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety.
- 02Adjust controls to position rod and to regulate flux level, reactor period, coolant temperature, or rate of power flow, following standard procedures.
- 03Develop or implement actions such as lockouts, tagouts, or clearances to allow equipment to be safely repaired.
- 04Respond to system or unit abnormalities, diagnosing the cause, and recommending or taking corrective action.
- 05Monitor all systems for normal running conditions, performing activities such as checking gauges to assess output or the effects of generator loading on other equipment.
- 06Monitor or operate boilers, turbines, wells, or auxiliary power plant equipment.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks4.09
- Degree of automation3.04
- Time sitting3.62
- Originality (ability)3.00
- Conflict situations3.48
- Hands-on objects/tools3.36
- Outdoors / weather2.16
- Disease exposure1.11
- Decision freedom3.03
Top abilities
- Problem Sensitivity4.12
- Written Comprehension4.00
- Oral Expression4.00
- Oral Comprehension4.00
- Information Ordering4.00
- Perceptual Speed3.88
- Near Vision3.88
- Inductive Reasoning3.88
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension4.00
- Active Listening3.88
- Writing3.50
- Speaking3.25
- Mathematics2.75
- Science2.75
- Critical Thinking3.88
- Active Learning3.12
- Learning Strategies3.00
- Monitoring3.88
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
2 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saint Paul College St. Paul, MN · Public | Nuclear/Nuclear Power Technology/Technician 41.0205 | $6,100 | 100% | 29% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Associate · CIP 41.02 |
Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX · Public | Nuclear/Nuclear Power Technology/Technician 41.0205 | $13,200 | 63% | 83% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Master's · CIP 41.02 |