How much does a nuclear technician make?
a year · about $53 an hour
A typical nuclear technician in the United States makes $110,240 a year, about $53 an hour, about 2.2× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
At a power plant or lab, you check equipment and radiation readings, test safety monitors, and may collect air, water, or soil samples. You record results, warn coworkers about hazards, and help keep equipment safe.
Did you know? They may collect air, water, and soil samples to check for radioactive contamination—not just monitor reactors.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $73,150 and $133,600How do you become one?
U.S. students usually earn an associate degree in nuclear science or technology; military experience or an apprenticeship can also lead to the job. New hires get extensive training, and some employers require certification and a background check.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience, specialized skills, certification, and responsibility can affect a nuclear technician’s pay; pay also varies with the employer and location. Power-plant work may include nights or weekends, and extra hours can change earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Florida ($135,550), lowest in Tennessee ($91,980).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $73,150 | $110,240 | $133,600 | about 6,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | $135,550 | about 60 |
| New York | $129,780 | about 260 |
| Pennsylvania | $124,070 | about 310 |
| Texas | $124,060 | about 110 |
| Massachusetts | $113,390 | about 50 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/nuclear-technicians.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-4051.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/May/oes194051.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY