Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators (SOC 51-8011) earn a median $122,890 a year ($59.08 an hour) in the United States, with 5,150 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New York.
What nuclear power reactor operators do
Nuclear power reactor operators operate and control nuclear power reactors. They position control rods, adjust the controls to regulate neutron flux, reactor period, coolant temperature, and power output, and start and stop equipment under procedures meant to protect workers from radiation and ensure environmental safety. Monitoring is constant: gauges, indicators, and computers are checked for normal conditions, and the operator keeps logs of data. When something abnormal happens, they diagnose the cause and take or recommend corrective action, following emergency procedures if necessary. They also arrange lockouts, tagouts, and clearances that let maintenance crews repair equipment safely, and monitor or run boilers, turbines, and auxiliary plant equipment. They also record the results of surveillance tests and carry out operating procedures for start-up and shut-down.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Control Operator, Control Room Agent, Control Room Officer, Control Room Operator, Licensed Nuclear Control Room Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $47.42 | $52.61 | $59.08 | $62.73 | $71.78 | $58.36 | 5,150 |
| Annual | $98,640 | $109,440 | $122,890 | $130,490 | $149,310 | $121,380 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where nuclear power reactor operators earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $49.07 | $58.32 | $62.30 | $68.54 | $76.00 | $61.72 | 230 | 0.02 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $102,070 | $121,310 | $129,580 | $142,560 | $158,080 | $128,370 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $50.36 | $57.26 | $59.60 | $62.74 | $64.40 | $60.03 | 410 | 0.07 | 2.04 |
| Annual | $104,760 | $119,100 | $123,980 | $130,500 | $133,950 | $124,850 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $50.50 | $55.54 | $57.21 | $70.26 | $77.29 | $60.93 | 360 | 0.17 | 5.13 |
| Annual | $105,050 | $115,520 | $119,000 | $146,140 | $160,760 | $126,740 | ||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | $41.26 | $51.53 | $57.03 | $57.47 | $60.96 | $55.10 | 320 | 0.14 | 4.15 |
| Annual | $85,820 | $107,190 | $118,620 | $119,540 | $126,790 | $114,610 | ||||
| Nebraska | Hourly | $43.33 | $52.24 | $52.24 | $59.67 | $63.03 | $55.45 | 50 | 0.05 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $90,120 | $108,650 | $108,650 | $124,120 | $131,100 | $115,340 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $50.36 | $57.26 | $59.60 | $62.74 | $64.40 | $60.03 | 410 | 0.07 | 2.04 |
| Annual | $104,760 | $119,100 | $123,980 | $130,500 | $133,950 | $124,850 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $50.50 | $55.54 | $57.21 | $70.26 | $77.29 | $60.93 | 360 | 0.17 | 5.13 |
| Annual | $105,050 | $115,520 | $119,000 | $146,140 | $160,760 | $126,740 | ||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | $41.26 | $51.53 | $57.03 | $57.47 | $60.96 | $55.10 | 320 | 0.14 | 4.15 |
| Annual | $85,820 | $107,190 | $118,620 | $119,540 | $126,790 | $114,610 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $49.07 | $58.32 | $62.30 | $68.54 | $76.00 | $61.72 | 230 | 0.02 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $102,070 | $121,310 | $129,580 | $142,560 | $158,080 | $128,370 | ||||
| Nebraska | Hourly | $43.33 | $52.24 | $52.24 | $59.67 | $63.03 | $55.45 | 50 | 0.05 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $90,120 | $108,650 | $108,650 | $124,120 | $131,100 | $115,340 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Hourly | $40.47 | $53.19 | $54.26 | $60.96 | $60.96 | $55.54 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $84,190 | $110,640 | $112,860 | $126,790 | $126,790 | $115,510 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
Top industries employing nuclear power reactor operators
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution employ 78.3% of nuclear power reactor operators nationally (4,030 jobs) at a median $122,890 a year ($59.08 an hour), followed by Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) (9.3%) and Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (2.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution NAICS 221100 | 4,030 | 78.3% | $122,890 | $59.08 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 480 | 9.3% | $127,090 | $61.10 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 110 | 2.1% | $131,100 | $63.03 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 50 | 1.0% | $122,250 | $58.77 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (5,150). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $104,260 for nuclear power reactor operators in May 2021 and $122,890 in May 2025, with employment of 4,820 and 5,150.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $104,260 | $50.13 | 4,820 |
| May 2022 | $115,870 | $55.71 | 5,450 |
| May 2023 | $120,350 | $57.86 | 5,760 |
| May 2024 | $122,610 | $58.95 | 5,720 |
| May 2025 | $122,890 | $59.08 | 5,150 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
5 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York profile | $62.30 | $129,580 | $102,070 | $158,080 | 230 | 0.02 | 0.73 |
| 2 | Illinois profile | $59.60 | $123,980 | $104,760 | $133,950 | 410 | 0.07 | 2.04 |
| 3 | Alabama profile | $57.21 | $119,000 | $105,050 | $160,760 | 360 | 0.17 | 5.13 |
| 4 | South Carolina profile | $57.03 | $118,620 | $85,820 | $126,790 | 320 | 0.14 | 4.15 |
| 5 | Nebraska profile | $52.24 | $108,650 | $90,120 | $131,100 | 50 | 0.05 | 1.46 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-8010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-8011 Nuclear Power Reactor Operators.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-8011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-8011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.