Nuclear Technician Salary


How Much Does a Nuclear Technician Make?

On average, a Nuclear Technician make $97,520 a year. The lowest-paid 10 percent made $62,700, while the top-paid 10 percent made $128,700.

Annually National Average Salary: $97,520

$62K
$76K
$97K
$111K
$128K
10%
25%
50%
75%
90%

* Based on information from the May 2023 salary report from the BLS.




Salary by State

  • Annually
  • Monthly
  • Hourly

Annual Salary by State

State 10% Annual 25% Annual Avg. Annual 75% Annual 90% Annual
Alabama- NA -- NA -- NA -- NA -- NA -
California$49,380$49,920$84,400$92,010$149,290
Florida$71,730$81,030$96,730$114,670$114,670
Illinois$67,850$73,110$95,500$110,770$123,250
Michigan$70,100$75,780$106,600$121,050$121,050
Missouri$51,070$76,340$89,090$101,950$132,570
Nevada$57,910$61,800$97,360$122,460$122,790
New Mexico$82,350$97,210$98,520$104,480$104,480
New York$61,050$75,880$104,400$119,700$133,960
North Carolina$65,470$75,910$100,750$108,550$125,880
Pennsylvania$70,140$77,410$105,070$121,820$135,110
South Carolina$62,790$91,110$94,090$108,760$108,760
Tennessee$81,490$83,070$90,220$93,580$110,410
Utah$50,370$50,370$66,520$87,170$92,040
Virginia$69,610$72,220$94,970$112,210$131,710
Washington$67,920$79,120$93,470$97,870$105,180

Annual Average Salary: Top 5 States

The top earning state in the field is Michigan, where the average salary is $106,600.

These are the top 5 earning states in the field:

Michigan - $106,600
Pennsylvania - $105,070
New York - $104,400
North Carolina - $100,750
New Mexico - $98,520

Nuclear Technicians: Salary Overview

Nuclear technicians typically work in nuclear energy production or as assistants in nuclear research.

They may use special equipment to monitor the level of radiation.

A nuclear technician’s job description typically includes monitoring the performance of the equipment used in power generation or nuclear research.

He/she may also measure the level of radiation produced by activities that involve power generation and nuclear experiments and test water, soil, and air for radioactive contamination.

Nuclear technicians may also be responsible for instructing other personnel of radiation safety and warn them of radiation hazards.

Depending on the job they do, nuclear technicians may have different job names.

Operating technicians are responsible for monitoring the performance of systems in nuclear power plants and for monitoring the level of radioactive contamination in water systems.

Radiation protection technicians protect workers in nuclear power facilities and the environment by monitoring the level of contamination.

Regardless of the place of employment, this profession also involves job hazards.

Nuclear technicians have to follow very strict safety procedures to make sure that they are not contaminated with radioactive materials.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for nuclear technicians was $82,080 in May 2019 which tells us that half of the workers in this occupation earned less than this and half earned more.

Experience, education, and the industry of employment are only some of the factors that can determine a nuclear technician’s salary.

The report shows that the top 10 percent made more than $117,480 while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $52,860 a year.

Nuclear Technician Salary by Industry

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nuclear technicians held approximately 7,600 jobs in the United States in 2018, most of them being employed in the field of electric power generation, transmission, and distribution.

The average annual salary reported by nuclear technicians employed in this field was $89,800.

The second-biggest employer for this profession was the industry of scientific research and development services, a field that paid nuclear technicians, on average, with $75,720 per year.

Nuclear technicians who worked in the field of management, scientific, and technical consulting services earned, on average, $76,020 per year.

The average annual wage reported by the nuclear technicians who worked in the industry of architectural, engineering, and related services was $82,560.

Those employed by colleges, universities, and professional schools reported an average annual wage of $61,640.

In conclusion, the biggest employer for nuclear technicians, the field of electric power generation, transmission, and distribution, is also the field that offers the highest average annual salary.

However, your earnings as a nuclear technician also depend on your education and experience.

Holding an associate’s degree in nuclear energy or a related field or having equivalent experience in the military can help you start a career as a nuclear technician but your entry-level wage will typically be closer to the minimum for this profession.

Another thing that can increase your earning prospects is earning a certificate offered by the Nuclear Energy Institute.

The American Society for Nondestructive Testing also offers certification in Industrial Radiography and for Radiation Safety Personnel.

Another institute that offers certification in this field is the National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists; here you can apply for certification as a Registered Radiation Protection Technologist.

After earning a few years of experience your salary will increase and as a senior-level nuclear technician, you can make more than $100,000 a year.

Also, with additional experience and special training, you can become a nuclear power reactor operator at a nuclear power plant- a profession with a median wage of over $85,000.

By earning a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering you can also become a nuclear engineer- a profession that is paid on average with more than $110,000 per year.

* Based on information from the May 2023 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Nuclear Technicians. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.

* Employment conditions in your area may vary.


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