Career overview
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
O*NET-SOC 51-8011.00
Median pay / yr$122,610
OutlookBelow Average
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.
What it takes
The skills, knowledge, and credentials employers look for in Nuclear Power Reactor Operators.
Skills employers look for
- Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Operations MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Knowledge areas
- PhysicsKnowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
- MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Engineering and TechnologyKnowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Certifications that help you get hired
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