Occupation · SOC 19-4051.02
Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
Collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
27 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingMonitoringReading ComprehensionOperations MonitoringSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingInstructing
Knowledge areas
PhysicsMathematicsPublic Safety and SecurityChemistryEnglish Language
Technology & tools
Industrial control softwarePlatform interconnectivity softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareApplication server softwareDevelopment environment software
Representative tasks
Brief workers on radiation levels in work areas.Calculate safe radiation exposure times for personnel using plant contamination readings and prescriMonitor personnel to determine the amounts and intensities of radiation exposure.Calibrate, maintain, and repair chemical instrumentation sensing elements and sampling system equipment, using calibration instruments and hand tools.Document results from radiation and contamination surveys.Inspect, test, and maintain respiratory protection equipment.Write radiological work permits.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Radiation monitoring instruments — identify and operate under direct supervision at designated checkpoints within a nuclear facility.Radiation safety briefing content — receive and relay to work crews under technician guidance before entry into controlled areas.Air, water, and solid samples — collect using established protocols under close supervision to support contamination screening.Prescribed radiation exposure limits — locate and reference from facility safety documentation when calculating basic personnel dose budgets.Protective clothing and dosimetry equipment — don and verify fit following demonstrated procedures in a controlled training environment.Radiation detector readings — record and transcribe accurately into standardized logbooks and spreadsheet software under oversight.Abnormal alarm signals from monitoring equipment — recognize and escalate immediately to a supervising technician on the plant floor.Personnel dosimeter data — retrieve and compile from tracking systems to support routine exposure record-keeping tasks.Radiation safety terminology and units — apply correctly in written and oral communications during entry-level shift activities.Basic contamination survey routes — follow and complete as assigned using handheld detectors in low-hazard work zones.
developing
Radiation levels in active work areas — brief workers clearly and accurately before job tasks begin in moderate-hazard plant zones.Safe exposure time calculations — perform independently using current contamination readings and regulatory dose-rate limits for routine work permits.Personnel radiation exposure data — monitor continuously across a shift and flag trends approaching permissible limits to supervisors.Area radiation intensity and type — determine by selecting and applying appropriate detectors for alpha, beta, and gamma sources in plant environments.Initial response actions — execute according to emergency operating procedures when alarms trigger on radiation monitoring panels.Collected environmental samples — analyze preliminary results using analytical software and compare against established reference levels.Radiation safety procedures — instruct co-workers and new personnel in classroom and field settings using facility-approved training materials.Radiation survey data — document and report in formal shift logs and office suite software for regulatory record compliance.Dose calculations and exposure histories — maintain in plant information systems using industrial control and spreadsheet software with minimal supervision.Contamination boundaries — establish and post for work areas based on survey results and radiological work permit requirements.
proficient
Complex dose rate assessments — conduct autonomously across diverse plant work zones, integrating multiple detector readings with historical trend data.Non-routine radiation events — evaluate using inductive and deductive reasoning to determine source, type, and magnitude without supervisory guidance.Maximum permissible dose thresholds — track across the full workforce roster and communicate proactively to operations supervisors before limits are approached.Radiological work permits — develop and authorize for high-hazard tasks by applying comprehensive knowledge of physics, chemistry, and regulatory standards.Abnormal radiological conditions — lead initial response, coordinate protective actions, and liaise with health physics staff during emergent plant situations.Radiation protection training programs — design and deliver for facility personnel, adapting instructional strategies to varied learner backgrounds and regulatory requirements.Environmental monitoring data quality — perform rigorous quality control analysis across sample collection, laboratory results, and instrumentation calibration records.Contamination control strategies — recommend and implement for maintenance outages, balancing operational schedules with ALARA dose-reduction principles.Instrument calibration and operability — assess and troubleshoot detection equipment performance, escalating discrepancies and documenting corrective actions.Regulatory inspection readiness — prepare comprehensive radiation survey documentation and personnel exposure reports for submission to oversight agencies.
advanced
Facility-wide radiation protection programs — design, oversee, and continuously improve to align with evolving NRC regulations and industry best practices.Organizational radiation safety culture — shape through mentorship, policy development, and integration of lessons learned from operational events across the site.Senior leadership and regulatory bodies — advise on radiological risk posture, communicating complex exposure data and trend analyses with clarity and authority.Workforce radiation exposure performance — drive ALARA optimization initiatives at the department level, setting measurable reduction targets and tracking outcomes.Emergency response radiological plans — author and validate, coordinating cross-functional drills and ensuring technician teams can execute under high-stress conditions.Radiation monitoring technician career development — lead structured mentorship and competency assessment programs to accelerate proficiency across junior staff cohorts.Capital investments in monitoring technology — evaluate and recommend, integrating platform interconnectivity and analytical software capabilities with operational safety needs.Inter-departmental contamination control policies — establish and enforce, collaborating with engineering, operations, and security to protect personnel and the public.Radiation protection budget and resource allocation — manage at the organizational level, balancing staffing, equipment, and training expenditures against risk priorities.Complex problem-solving frameworks — apply to unprecedented or multi-source radiological scenarios, synthesizing physics knowledge, operational data, and regulatory guidance to set response direction.
Also known as
25 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Radiation Safety SpecialistSystems Protection TechnicianRadiation Protection MonitorNuclear Control TechnicianScannerRadiation Protection Technician (RPT)Radiation Control SpecialistLaboratory Control SpecialistRadiation Protection Specialist (RP Specialist)Nuclear Worker TechnicianInstrumentation Control SpecialistRadiation Safety Technician (Radiation Safety Tech)Radiation MonitorRadiation TechnicianMetallographic TechnicianRadiation Safety OfficerChemical-Radiation TechnicianNuclear TechnicianChemical Radiation TechnicianRadiochemical TechnicianHealth Physics Technician (HP Tech)Radiation Control Technician (Radcon Technician)DecontaminatorNuclear Chemistry TechnicianCathodic Protection Technician