Nuclear Technicians
Medium50.70%
Salary Range
Low (10th %)$62,700
Median$101,740
High (90th %)$128,700
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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.
The occupation of "Nuclear Technicians" has an automation risk of 50.7%, which is notably close to its base risk of 51.4%. This moderate risk level is largely due to the structured and protocol-driven nature of several core tasks in the nuclear industry. Many responsibilities rely on adherence to established operational policies and standardized procedures, making them especially amenable to automation. For example, following nuclear equipment operational policies and procedures, conducting surveillance testing, and monitoring reactor performance for inefficiencies or hazards are all heavily procedural. These tasks involve routine monitoring, data gathering, and decision-making based on clear criteria—activities that artificial intelligence and automation technologies are increasingly capable of handling with precision and consistency. However, not all functions performed by nuclear technicians can be easily automated, which prevents the overall automation risk from reaching higher levels. Among the most automation-resistant tasks are setting up and verifying the accuracy of radiation detection equipment and determining or recommending specific decontamination procedures based on complex, context-dependent variables. Additionally, collecting samples to assess radioactivity and contamination involves judgment and adaptability, especially in dynamic, unpredictable environments. These responsibilities often demand a level of problem-solving, flexibility, and situational awareness that current AI systems struggle to replicate, acting as a counterbalance to the tasks that are more prone to automation. The primary bottleneck skill shielding this occupation from further automation is originality, albeit at relatively low levels (2.8% and 2.6%). Tasks that call for creative thinking, improvisation, or the development of novel approaches to unfamiliar problems still require human oversight. While AI can follow established procedures effectively, it remains limited in its capacity to devise new solutions or adapt to entirely unforeseen circumstances—a crucial requirement in situations involving nuclear safety and contamination control. Thus, as long as tasks demanding originality and professional judgment remain critical to the nuclear technician role, complete automation will remain constrained, resulting in a moderate rather than high overall risk.
Filter by Automatable Status
Follow nuclear equipment operational policies and procedures that ensure environmental safety.
Partially Automatable
Conduct surveillance testing to determine safety of nuclear equipment.
Partially Automatable
Monitor nuclear reactor equipment performance to identify operational inefficiencies, hazards, or needs for maintenance or repair.
Partially Automatable
Test plant equipment to ensure it is operating properly.
Partially Automatable
Apply safety tags to equipment needing maintenance.
Partially Automatable
Modify, devise, or maintain nuclear equipment used in operations.
Partially Automatable
Monitor instruments, gauges, or recording devices under direction of nuclear experimenters.
Automatable
Perform testing, maintenance, repair, or upgrading of accelerator systems.
Partially Automatable
Warn maintenance workers of radiation hazards and direct workers to vacate hazardous areas.
Automatable
Measure the intensity and identify the types of radiation in work areas, equipment, or materials, using radiation detectors or other instruments.
Partially Automatable
Communicate with accelerator maintenance personnel to ensure readiness of support systems, such as vacuum, water cooling, or radio frequency power sources.
Partially Automatable
Identify and implement appropriate decontamination procedures, based on equipment and the size, nature, and type of contamination.
Partially Automatable
Decontaminate objects by cleaning them using soap or solvents or by abrading using brushes, buffing machines, or sandblasting machines.
Partially Automatable
Collect air, water, gas or solid samples for testing to determine radioactivity levels or to ensure appropriate radioactive containment.
Partially Automatable
Determine or recommend radioactive decontamination procedures, according to the size and nature of equipment and the degree of contamination.
Partially Automatable
Set up equipment that automatically detects area radiation deviations and test detection equipment to ensure its accuracy.
Partially Automatable
Follow policies and procedures for radiation workers to ensure personnel safety.
Non-Automatable
Calculate equipment operating factors, such as radiation times, dosages, temperatures, gamma intensities, or pressures, using standard formulas and conversion tables.
Automatable
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingInstallationOperations MonitoringEquipment MaintenanceQuality Control AnalysisJudgment and Decision MakingSystems EvaluationManagement of Financial ResourcesPersuasionNegotiationInstructingService OrientationOperations AnalysisTechnology DesignEquipment SelectionProgrammingOperation and ControlTroubleshootingRepairingSystems AnalysisTime ManagementWritingSpeakingMathematicsScienceActive LearningLearning StrategiesMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Personnel Resources
Arm-Hand SteadinessAuditory AttentionCategory FlexibilityControl PrecisionDeductive ReasoningDepth PerceptionDynamic FlexibilityDynamic StrengthExplosive StrengthExtent FlexibilityFar VisionFinger DexterityFlexibility of ClosureFluency of IdeasGlare SensitivityGross Body CoordinationGross Body EquilibriumHearing SensitivityInductive ReasoningInformation OrderingManual DexterityMathematical ReasoningMemorizationMultilimb CoordinationNear VisionNight VisionNumber FacilityOral ComprehensionOral ExpressionOriginalityPerceptual SpeedPeripheral VisionProblem SensitivityRate ControlReaction TimeResponse OrientationSelective AttentionSound LocalizationSpatial OrientationSpeech ClaritySpeech RecognitionSpeed of ClosureSpeed of Limb MovementStaminaStatic StrengthTime SharingTrunk StrengthVisual Color DiscriminationVisualizationWrist-Finger SpeedWritten ComprehensionWritten Expression
Administration and ManagementAdministrativeEconomics and AccountingSales and MarketingCustomer and Personal ServicePersonnel and Human ResourcesProduction and ProcessingFood ProductionComputers and ElectronicsEngineering and TechnologyDesignBuilding and ConstructionMechanicalMathematicsHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologyPublic Safety and SecurityPhysicsChemistryBiologyPsychologySociology and AnthropologyGeographyMedicine and DentistryForeign LanguageEnglish LanguageFine ArtsEducation and TrainingLaw and GovernmentTelecommunicationsCommunications and MediaTransportationTherapy and Counseling
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsGetting InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleProcessing InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsAnalyzing Data or InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsControlling Machines and ProcessesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentWorking with ComputersRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentDocumenting/Recording InformationDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsAssisting and Caring for OthersSelling or Influencing OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsTraining and Teaching OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesStaffing Organizational UnitsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsThinking Creatively
Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareLinuxVMwareData logging softwareMicrosoft operating systemMicrosoft WordVMWare ESX ServerMicrosoft WindowsData logging softwareMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordStructured query language SQLVMwareWord processing softwareMicrosoft operating systemSpreadsheet softwareVMWare ESX ServerSupervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareLinuxWord processing softwareDatabase softwareSpreadsheet softwareDatabase softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft AccessStructured query language SQL
Geothermal Production Managers
Medium50.68%
Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.
Biomass Power Plant Managers
Medium54.43%
Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.
Chemical Engineers
Medium50.90%
Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering.
Nuclear Engineers
Medium41.73%
Conduct research on nuclear engineering projects or apply principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
Medium35.83%
Operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Medium44.30%
Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.
Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
Medium46.60%
Operate, test, maintain, or adjust unmanned, automated, servomechanical, or electromechanical equipment. May operate unmanned submarines, aircraft, or other equipment to observe or record visual information at sites such as oil rigs, crop fields, buildings, or for similar infrastructure, deep ocean exploration, or hazardous waste removal. May assist engineers in testing and designing robotics equipment.
Calibration Technologists and Technicians
Medium50.00%
Execute or adapt procedures and techniques for calibrating measurement devices, by applying knowledge of measurement science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and electronics, sometimes under the direction of engineering staff. Determine measurement standard suitability for calibrating measurement devices. May perform preventive maintenance on equipment. May perform corrective actions to address identified calibration problems.
Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
Medium55.41%
Collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment.
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
Medium43.09%
Repair, test, adjust, or install electronic equipment, such as industrial controls, transmitters, and antennas.
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
Medium47.64%
Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.
Geothermal Technicians
Medium39.03%
Perform technical activities at power plants or individual installations necessary for the generation of power from geothermal energy sources. Monitor and control operating activities at geothermal power generation facilities and perform maintenance and repairs as necessary. Install, test, and maintain residential and commercial geothermal heat pumps.
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
Medium53.14%
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.
Power Distributors and Dispatchers
Medium63.42%
Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.
Power Plant Operators
Medium52.63%
Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
Biomass Plant Technicians
Medium53.51%
Control and monitor biomass plant activities and perform maintenance as needed.
Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
Medium39.93%
Monitor and control activities associated with hydropower generation. Operate plant equipment, such as turbines, pumps, valves, gates, fans, electric control boards, and battery banks. Monitor equipment operation and performance and make necessary adjustments to ensure optimal performance. Perform equipment maintenance and repair as necessary.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
Medium43.49%
Operate or maintain stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or industrial processes. Operate equipment such as steam engines, generators, motors, turbines, and steam boilers.
Chemical Plant and System Operators
Medium58.58%
Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
Gas Plant Operators
Medium63.67%
Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.
Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
Medium44.70%
Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.