Nuclear technicians
Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.
Nuclear technicians assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation. The role reports a median annual salary of $104,240 in the US and is projected to decline by 8% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a Associate's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.43 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include contamination exposure regulations, radioactive contamination, technical drawings, nuclear energy, fire prevention procedures.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £36,102 a year for Science, engineering and production technicians n.e.c. (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £29,401 to £46,772 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3119). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Nuclear technicians, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Public Safety and Security
- Mechanical
- Physics
- Engineering and Technology
- Education and Training
- Chemistry
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
What you'd actually do
- Follow nuclear equipment operational policies and procedures that ensure environmental safety.
- Conduct surveillance testing to determine safety of nuclear equipment.
- Monitor nuclear reactor equipment performance to identify operational inefficiencies, hazards, or needs for maintenance or repair.
- Test plant equipment to ensure it is operating properly.
- Apply safety tags to equipment needing maintenance.
- Follow policies and procedures for radiation workers to ensure personnel safety.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Nuclear technicians do?
Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.
How much does Nuclear technicians earn?
The median annual salary for Nuclear technicians in the US is $104,240.
What is the job outlook for Nuclear technicians?
The role is projected to decline by 8% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 6,000 workers.
How do I become nuclear technicians?
The typical entry education is a Associate's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Nuclear technicians need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include contamination exposure regulations, radioactive contamination, technical drawings, nuclear energy, fire prevention procedures, metrology. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Nuclear technicians?
Our AI-durability model gives Nuclear technicians a score of 0.43 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Nuclear technicians has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.