Licensed reactor operator vs nuclear auxiliary operator

The differences between licensed reactor operators and nuclear auxiliary operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a licensed reactor operator and a nuclear auxiliary operator. Additionally, a nuclear auxiliary operator has an average salary of $53,638, which is higher than the $48,455 average annual salary of a licensed reactor operator.

The top three skills for a licensed reactor operator include control room operations, plant operations and NRC. The most important skills for a nuclear auxiliary operator are plant procedures, electrical equipment, and emergency response.

Licensed reactor operator vs nuclear auxiliary operator overview

	Licensed Reactor Operator	Nuclear Auxiliary Operator
Yearly salary	$48,455	$53,638
Hourly rate	$23.30	$25.79
Growth rate	-15%	-15%
Number of jobs	37,085	28,460
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	4	4

Licensed reactor operator vs nuclear auxiliary operator salary

Licensed reactor operators and nuclear auxiliary operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Licensed Reactor Operator	Nuclear Auxiliary Operator
Average salary	$48,455	$53,638
Salary range	Between $32,000 And $72,000	Between $33,000 And $87,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between licensed reactor operator and nuclear auxiliary operator education

There are a few differences between a licensed reactor operator and a nuclear auxiliary operator in terms of educational background:

	Licensed Reactor Operator	Nuclear Auxiliary Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common major	Business	Nuclear And Industrial Radiologic Technologies
Most common college	Texas A&M University	Stanford University

Licensed reactor operator vs nuclear auxiliary operator demographics

Here are the differences between licensed reactor operators' and nuclear auxiliary operators' demographics:

	Licensed Reactor Operator	Nuclear Auxiliary Operator
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 71.1% Female, 28.9%	Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 1.5% White, 76.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4%	Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.8% Asian, 1.3% White, 79.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between licensed reactor operator and nuclear auxiliary operator duties and responsibilities

Licensed reactor operator example responsibilities.

Complete the NRC PWR fundamentals exam and subsequently withdrawn for short term disability.
Assume role as lead intern during the licensing period to train and ensure other interns pass the NRC exam.
Implement tool control and OSHA safety regulations while working independently on various machinery.
Work with DeltaV software for reactor control and production.

Nuclear auxiliary operator example responsibilities.

Manage and direct the development of the sector AOP and of proper controls to ensure program/project spending meets sector expectations.
Ensure continuous control of chemistry vital to operational reactor safety and provide oversight for complex radiological control maintenance.
Complete training as a fire brigade team member at Delgado fire school.

Licensed reactor operator vs nuclear auxiliary operator skills

Common licensed reactor operator skills

Control Room Operations, 16%
Plant Operations, 15%
NRC, 11%
Plant Equipment, 10%
Collection Systems, 10%
CDL, 8%

Common nuclear auxiliary operator skills

Plant Procedures, 23%
Electrical Equipment, 19%
Emergency Response, 19%
APS, 16%
Plant Operations, 9%
Routine Tests, 6%

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Licensed Reactor Operator
Licensed Reactor Operator vs Nuclear Auxiliary Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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