Occupation · SOC 51-8011
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
Operate or control nuclear reactors. Move control rods, start and stop equipment, monitor and adjust controls, and record data in logs. Implement emergency procedures when needed. May respond to abnormalities, determine cause, and recommend corrective action.
Median wage
$122,610
$99,300–$152,690
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
5,720
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
7 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlMonitoringCritical ThinkingActive ListeningComplex Problem SolvingWritingJudgment and Decision MakingTime ManagementSpeakingQuality Control AnalysisCoordinationSystems AnalysisActive LearningTroubleshootingSocial PerceptivenessManagement of Personnel ResourcesLearning StrategiesInstructingSystems EvaluationService OrientationPersuasionScienceNegotiationMathematicsProgrammingManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesTechnology DesignRepairingOperations AnalysisEquipment MaintenanceInstallationEquipment Selection
Knowledge areas
PhysicsMechanicalPublic Safety and SecurityMathematicsEngineering and TechnologyChemistryDesignEnglish LanguageComputers and ElectronicsEducation and TrainingLaw and GovernmentAdministration and ManagementProduction and ProcessingPsychologyBuilding and ConstructionCustomer and Personal ServiceTelecommunicationsCommunications and MediaBiologyAdministrativePersonnel and Human ResourcesTransportationMedicine and DentistrySociology and AnthropologyTherapy and CounselingEconomics and AccountingSales and MarketingGeographyHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologyForeign LanguageFine ArtsFood Production
Technology & tools
Data logging softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Azure softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft Power AutomateMicrosoft Power BIMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SharePointOutage management system OMSPlant information data entry softwareStructured query language SQL
Representative tasks
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsGetting InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsDocumenting/Recording InformationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProcessing InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsControlling Machines and ProcessesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsAnalyzing Data or InformationWorking with ComputersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersTraining and Teaching OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleCoaching and Developing OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesDeveloping and Building TeamsScheduling Work and ActivitiesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersThinking CreativelyCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming General Physical ActivitiesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentHandling and Moving ObjectsAssisting and Caring for OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicStaffing Organizational Units
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Reactor operating policies and safety procedures — recognize and describe under direct supervisor guidance within a licensed nuclear power facility.Control rod position indicators and flux level gauges — read and interpret with close oversight during initial plant familiarization exercises.Lockout and tagout protocols — identify the correct steps to safely isolate equipment under direct technician direction in a training plant environment.System abnormality indicators — recognize and report deviations from normal parameters to a senior operator on a licensed reactor control floor.Plant monitoring gauges and panel displays — check and document current readings as part of routine watch-standing duties under supervision.Boiler, turbine, and auxiliary power plant equipment — observe and assist with operational checks alongside a qualified plant operator.Operating data logs and surveillance test results — record accurately using approved forms and database software under trainer oversight.Reactor start-up and shutdown checklists — follow step-by-step procedural sequences under direct instruction of a senior licensed operator.Radiation protection principles and environmental safety requirements — demonstrate basic understanding when completing entry-level task qualifications.Industrial control software interfaces — navigate and retrieve basic plant data with guidance during introductory control-room orientation sessions.
developing
Reactor operating procedures and regulatory requirements — apply routinely with reduced oversight to maintain safe and compliant plant operations on assigned shift.Control rod adjustments and power flow rate settings — execute independently following standard procedures to achieve directed reactor period and coolant temperature targets.Lockout, tagout, and equipment clearance documentation — develop and implement with minimal supervision to enable safe maintenance activities in an operating plant.System and unit abnormalities — diagnose common causes using plant procedures and take initial corrective action within established operator authority limits.Multi-system plant monitoring — perform continuous surveillance of gauges, alarms, and control panels to assess generator loading effects across familiar operational scenarios.Boiler and turbine operations — monitor and adjust auxiliary equipment parameters to support stable plant output during routine and expected transient conditions.Surveillance test conduct and results logging — carry out scheduled tests and accurately enter data into plant database systems with periodic supervisor review.Normal start-up and controlled shutdown sequences — implement established operational procedures reliably within required time frames on a licensed reactor unit.Shift communication and operating logs — prepare clear written entries and relay accurate status information to relief operators and supervisors at shift turnover.Quality control data analysis — apply basic analytical skills to compare operating parameters against acceptance criteria using spreadsheet and business intelligence software.
proficient
Nuclear reactor operations across the full power range — execute autonomously in accordance with technical specifications and regulatory requirements, including off-normal conditions.Complex control adjustments for flux, coolant temperature, and reactor period — perform with precision during non-routine transients or unplanned power maneuvers on a licensed unit.Clearance and isolation strategy development — design and verify multi-equipment lockout and tagout sequences for complex maintenance outages in an operating nuclear facility.Abnormal operating events and system malfunctions — independently diagnose root causes, evaluate safety significance, and direct corrective actions within approved emergency operating procedures.Integrated plant monitoring — simultaneously assess output from reactor, turbine, boiler, and auxiliary systems to detect subtle performance degradation and prevent escalating events.Auxiliary power plant equipment response — operate and troubleshoot wells, turbines, and boilers through non-standard conditions requiring judgment beyond routine checklist application.Comprehensive operating records and surveillance data — compile, review, and submit accurate reports that satisfy regulatory documentation requirements for the licensed facility.Emergency and abnormal procedure implementation — lead execution of shutdown, emergency boration, or other safety-critical procedural sequences under high-stress control-room conditions.Systems analysis and inductive reasoning — evaluate interrelated plant systems holistically to anticipate cascading effects and recommend process or procedure improvements to plant management.Critical problem solving under time pressure — apply complex problem-solving skills and time management discipline to resolve competing operational priorities during high-consequence plant events.
advanced
Plant-wide operational safety strategy — establish and enforce standards for reactor operations, radiation protection, and environmental compliance across multiple units or an entire site.Reactor control philosophy and procedure governance — lead the review, revision, and validation of operating and emergency procedures to reflect regulatory changes and lessons learned.Equipment isolation and clearance program oversight — direct the organizational implementation of lockout and tagout programs, ensuring systemic reliability across all maintenance and outage activities.Abnormal and emergency response leadership — command the control-room response to complex multivariate events, coordinating operators, engineers, and emergency teams to stabilize the facility.Operational monitoring program development — design and institutionalize surveillance, trending, and early-warning monitoring frameworks that span all major plant systems for the organization.Cross-functional outage and auxiliary equipment planning — lead integrated outage teams coordinating boiler, turbine, and balance-of-plant operations to achieve safe and efficient refueling or maintenance cycles.Regulatory reporting and knowledge management — oversee the integrity of plant operating records and develop organizational processes for regulatory submittal and document management compliance.Operator qualification and training program leadership — develop competency frameworks, mentoring pathways, and simulator curricula to advance a workforce of licensed nuclear operators.Organizational learning and active learning culture — drive the integration of industry operating experience, root-cause findings, and corrective-action insights into daily operational practice across the site.Executive decision-making under uncertainty — exercise senior judgment in authorizing non-standard plant configurations, operational risk acceptance, or emergency declarations with enterprise-level safety and business consequences.
Also known as
20 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Control OperatorControl Room AgentControl Room OfficerControl Room OperatorLicensed Nuclear Control Room OperatorLicensed Reactor OperatorNuclear Control OperatorNuclear Control Room Non-Licensed OperatorNuclear Control Room OperatorNuclear OperatorNuclear Plant Operator (NPO)Nuclear Power Plant Process Control WorkerNuclear Power Reactor OperatorNuclear Reactor OperatorNuclear Station Operator (NSO)Nuclear Supervising Operator (NSO)Nuclear Unit OperatorPower Reactor OperatorReactor Operator (RO)Unit Reactor Operator