Nuclear Technicians

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Life, Physical & Social Science
• O*NET-SOC code: 19-4051
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.
• Modify, devise, or maintain nuclear equipment used in operations.
• Monitor instruments, gauges, or recording devices under direction of nuclear experimenters.
• Perform testing, maintenance, repair, or upgrading of accelerator systems.
• Warn maintenance workers of radiation hazards and direct workers to vacate hazardous areas.
• Calculate equipment operating factors, such as radiation times, dosages, temperatures, gamma intensities, or pressures, using standard formulas and conversion tables.
• Measure the intensity and identify the types of radiation in work areas, equipment, or materials, using radiation detectors or other instruments.

Tools and technology

Linux, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, Structured query language SQL, Air compressors, Air purifying respirators, Airline respirators, Area gamma monitors

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
• Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
• Power Plant Operators
• Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
• Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
• Biomass Plant Technicians
• Geothermal Technicians
• Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Nuclear Technicians — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.