Nuclear Power Reactor Operators Salary
Production Occupations · 5.2K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$122,890
Median hourly
$59
Average annual
$121,380
Typical range
$98,640–$149,310
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators is $122,890 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $59 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Operate or control nuclear reactors. Move control rods, start and stop equipment, monitor and adjust controls, and record data in logs.
Most earn between $98,640 and $149,310 a year. There are roughly 5.2K people employed as nuclear power reactor operators in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators.
- Hourly
- $59.08
- Daily
- $473
- Weekly
- $2,363
- Bi-weekly
- $4,727
- Monthly
- $10,241
- Annual
- $122,890
$122,890 a year is around the 50th percentile for Nuclear Power Reactor Operatorss. The median is $122,890.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1New York$129,580
- 2Illinois$123,980
- 3Alabama$119,000
- 4South Carolina$118,620
- 5Nebraska$108,650
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$112,860
Related job titles
Employers advertise Nuclear Power Reactor Operators roles under these titles.
- Control Room Agent
- Control Room Officer
- Licensed Nuclear Control Room Operator
- Licensed Reactor Operator
- Nuclear Control Operator
- Nuclear Control Room Non-Licensed Operator
- Nuclear Control Room Operator
- Nuclear Operator
- Nuclear Plant Operator (NPO)
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operator
- Nuclear Reactor Operator
- Nuclear Supervising Operator (NSO)
- Nuclear Unit Operator
- Power Reactor Operator
- Unit Reactor Operator
Related occupations
- Nuclear Technicians$110,240
- Power Plant Operators$102,040
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$78,620
- Chemical Plant and System Operators$78,120
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers$106,730
- Gas Plant Operators$87,820
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,020
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$96,710
What a Nuclear Power Reactor Operators does
- Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety.
- Adjust controls to position rod and to regulate flux level, reactor period, coolant temperature, or rate of power flow, following standard procedures.
- Develop or implement actions such as lockouts, tagouts, or clearances to allow equipment to be safely repaired.
- Respond to system or unit abnormalities, diagnosing the cause, and recommending or taking corrective action.
- Monitor all systems for normal running conditions, performing activities such as checking gauges to assess output or the effects of generator loading on other equipment.
- Monitor or operate boilers, turbines, wells, or auxiliary power plant equipment.
- Record operating data, such as the results of surveillance tests.
- Note malfunctions of equipment, instruments, or controls and report these conditions to supervisors.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Nuclear Power Reactor Operators make?
- The median annual wage for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators is $122,890 ($59 per hour). Pay ranges from about $98,640 at the 10th percentile to $149,310 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Nuclear Power Reactor Operators?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $121,380, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Nuclear Power Reactor Operatorss the most?
- New York has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $129,580.
- Is Nuclear Power Reactor Operators a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 5.2K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Nuclear Power Reactor Operators do?
- Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety.; Adjust controls to position rod and to regulate flux level, reactor period, coolant temperature, or rate of power flow, following standard procedures.; Develop or implement actions such as lockouts, tagouts, or clearances to allow equipment to be safely repaired..