The Average Nuclear Contractor Salaries by Job Title

Nuclear contractors are workers in the field of nuclear energy or research.

Nuclear contractors are workers in the field of nuclear energy or research. Nuclear power reactor operators work in power plants that produce electricity by creating heat through fission and converting it into energy, or electricity. Nuclear technicians may work in a plant or in applied laboratory settings. Nuclear physicists usually work on specialized nuclear research teams with specialized equipment, and nuclear engineers may work in research or applied settings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics monitors U.S. salary information for many nuclear contractor jobs.

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Nuclear power reactor operators control nuclear reactors. According to the BLS, they may start or stop equipment operations, adjust equipment controls, monitor and log data, move control rods and troubleshoot emergencies and other plant issues. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses reactor operators who usually begin their careers as equipment or auxiliary operators and work their way up to reactor operators. The BLS reports that senior reactor operators direct all actions in the control room of the nuclear plant. Nuclear power reactor operators in the U.S. made an average salary of $75,650 as of May 2010. Top paying industries for this position include electric power generation, transmission and distribution companies, with an annual mean salary of $77,940; the federal executive branch, $74,580; and local government, $72,430.

Nuclear Physicists

Nuclear physicists study the basic principles governing the physical laws and theory of atomic particles, usually applied to nuclear power generation or weapons. Some physicists do pure theoretical research and some work on applications. Because research in nuclear physics may require pricey, specialized equipment such as particle accelerators and nuclear reactors, physicists often work in large teams, sharing the resources, according to BLS. Researchers in this field who work for the U.S. government may need to pass a special security clearance and provide proof of U.S. citizenship. As of May 2010, the average wage of a nuclear physicist, according to the BLS, was $106,370. Industries that show the highest level of employment for physicists include scientific research and development services, with an annual mean wage of $112,180; the federal executive branch, $113, 470; and management, scientific and technical consulting, $133, 120.

Nuclear Engineers

Nuclear engineers typically conduct research to develop equipment and processes for nuclear engineering projects. They apply nuclear science to concerns related to the production and control of nuclear energy as well as nuclear waste disposal, according to the BLS. The average U.S. salary of a nuclear engineer, as of May 2010, is $99,920. Top payers in the industry for this occupation in include employment services, with an annual mean salary of $127,710; management, scientific and technical consulting, $113,980; and architectural, engineering and related services, $106,130.

Nuclear Technicians

Nuclear technicians, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, often assist

nuclear physicists and nuclear engineers in laboratory settings or with production activities. Typical technician duties may involve radiation monitoring, operating research equipment or facilitating nuclear testing. The average salary of nuclear technicians in the U.S. is $68,090, as of May 2010. Top paying industries for this occupation include management, scientific and technical consulting, with a mean salary of $81,800; the federal executive branch, $72,810; and scientific research and development services, $69,050.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics; Nuclear Power Reactor Operators; May 2011
• Bureau of Labor Statistics; Physicists and Astronomers; December 2009
• Bureau of Labor Statistics; Physicists; May 2011
• Bureau of Labor Statistics; Nuclear Engineers; May 2011
• Bureau of Labor Statistics; Engineers; December 2009
• Bureau of Labor Statistics; Nuclear Technicians; May 2011