Nuclear operator vs power reactor operator

The differences between nuclear operators and power reactor 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 nuclear operator and a power reactor operator. Additionally, a power reactor operator has an average salary of $52,542, which is higher than the $51,893 average annual salary of a nuclear operator.

The top three skills for a nuclear operator include electrical equipment, prototype and electrical systems. The most important skills for a power reactor operator are nuclear reactor, nuclear power, and plant equipment.

Nuclear operator vs power reactor operator overview

	Nuclear Operator	Power Reactor Operator
Yearly salary	$51,893	$52,542
Hourly rate	$24.95	$25.26
Growth rate	-15%	-15%
Number of jobs	32,513	28,448
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 83%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	4	4

Nuclear operator vs power reactor operator salary

Nuclear operators and power reactor operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Nuclear Operator	Power Reactor Operator
Average salary	$51,893	$52,542
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $81,000	Between $34,000 And $80,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between nuclear operator and power reactor operator education

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

	Nuclear Operator	Power Reactor Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 83%
Most common major	Business	Mechanical Engineering
Most common college	Northwestern University	Purdue University

Nuclear operator vs power reactor operator demographics

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

	Nuclear Operator	Power Reactor Operator
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 93.1% Female, 6.9%	Male, 94.4% Female, 5.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 1.5% White, 77.1% 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 nuclear operator and power reactor operator duties and responsibilities

Nuclear operator example responsibilities.

Manage and direct the development of the sector AOP and of proper controls to ensure program/project spending meets sector expectations.
Used schematics, wiring diagrams, and specialize test equipment to troubleshoot and locate faults down to the component level.
Serve as ship's HVAC technician for (4) 150 ton marine A/C units for 3 years.
Serve in engineering department on fast attack submarine USS Omaha
Train in QA methods and procedures to perform maintenance.
Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot the reactor and all associate reactor protection circuitry.

Power reactor operator example responsibilities.

Ensure continuous control of chemistry vital to operational reactor safety and provide oversight for complex radiological control maintenance.
Authore multiple watch station examinations and PowerPoint presentations.

Nuclear operator vs power reactor operator skills

Common nuclear operator skills

Electrical Equipment, 18%
Prototype, 15%
Electrical Systems, 14%
Radiological, 13%
Test Equipment, 13%
Naval Nuclear, 7%

Common power reactor operator skills

Nuclear Reactor, 42%
Nuclear Power, 36%
Plant Equipment, 21%

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Nuclear Operator
Nuclear Operator vs Power Reactor Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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