1. Texas A&M University
College Station, TX • Private
In-State Tuition
$11,870
Enrollment
53,194
What is a Reactor Operator?
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a reactor operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $19.49 an hour? That's $40,533 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -6% and produce -3,100 job opportunities across the U.S.
What Does a Reactor Operator Do
There are certain skills that many reactor operators have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed concentration skills, detail oriented and dexterity.
How To Become a Reactor Operator
If you're interested in becoming a reactor operator, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 44.0% of reactor operators have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 2.6% of reactor operators have master's degrees. Even though some reactor operators have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Reactor Operator Career Paths
As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, a reactor operator can determine their career goals through the career progression. For example, they could start out with a role such as instructor, progress to a title such as consultant and then eventually end up with the title service manager.
Reactor Operator
Service Manager
6 Years
Plant Manager
11 Years
Manufacturing Supervisor
7 Years
Facilities Manager
7 Years
Plant Superintendent
9 Years
Engineering Supervisor
6 Years
Show More
Average Salary for a Reactor Operator
Reactor Operators in America make an average salary of $40,533 per year or $19 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $59,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $27,000 per year.
Average Reactor Operator Salary
$40,533 Yearly$19.49 hourly
What Am I Worth?
Roles and Types of Reactor Operator
There are several types of reactor operator, including:
Operator
Role:
As an operator, it's your job to know how specific equipment or machines work. You should know how to install and repair certain machinery as well as knowing how to use tools to help with the manufacturing process.
Operators often spend their time checking in on equipment and making sure it's properly working. Every problem that is detected, you'll often call upon an operators to come and save the day. They're essentially the superhero in an office setting.
In most cases, operators work full-time, normal hours. But when a client needs help, you'll need to be available. which means that sometimes duty calls at night or on the weekends.
- Average Salary: $37,928
- Degree: High School Diploma
Chemical Operator
Role:
A chemical operator is an expert who is responsible for the production of materials and products in a chemical plant. As a chemical operator, you will need to store, mix, and monitor chemicals used for production. You are also to record necessary information such as temperature and ingredients and input them into the database. Occasionally, you will have to work together with other experts to complete the production of materials. You are also expected to perform field operations like gathering samples, taking readings, and packaging finished products. Also, you need to regularly inspect machinery for any defects and perform repairs immediately.
You need just a high school diploma or experience in a related field to get a job as a chemical operator. Also, you need to have adequate writing and communication skills and a strong desire to work with team members. The average yearly salary of a chemical operator is $35,655 or $17.14 an hour.
- Average Salary: $40,526
- Degree: High School Diploma
Nuclear Operator
Role:
A nuclear operator, known as an RO, controls the flow of electricity generated by a nuclear power plant. These professionals maintain the equipment, regulate the start-up or shut-down of the facility, and respond to issues and implement solutions. Nuclear operators also direct, adjust, test, and operate pumps, valves, controls, and other components of systems that are responsible for transferring power to a power grid. They also perform routine tests and maintenance of electrical switches and others to ensure the continuity of energy generation.
To land a job as a nuclear operator, a high school diploma is the only basic educational requirement, but if you have a bachelor's or a vocational school degree in nuclear engineering, that can make you a more attractive candidate. Some nuclear operators have also received training in the military, especially the Navy. If you are considering a career as a nuclear operator, be aware that the job field is expected to decline by 16% by 2028. However, if you do get hired on, you can make up to $86,000 per year.
- Average Salary: $51,893
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
States With The Most Reactor Operator Jobs
Number Of Reactor Operator Jobs By State
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 1,202 | $32,531 |
| 2 | New Jersey | 864 | $33,139 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 150 | $32,905 |
| 4 | Hawaii | 104 | $33,497 |
| 5 | Alaska | 95 | $37,499 |
| 6 | California | 83 | $33,904 |
| 7 | New York | 45 | $33,111 |
| 8 | Illinois | 41 | $31,854 |
| 9 | South Carolina | 39 | $29,707 |
| 10 | Georgia | 33 | $29,631 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 31 | $32,564 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 30 | $32,947 |
| 13 | Maryland | 29 | $32,521 |
| 14 | Texas | 29 | $30,689 |
| 15 | Delaware | 28 | $32,919 |
| 16 | North Carolina | 28 | $30,256 |
| 17 | Ohio | 27 | $31,844 |
| 18 | Tennessee | 27 | $29,742 |
| 19 | Michigan | 25 | $32,680 |
| 20 | Connecticut | 24 | $33,062 |
| 21 | Minnesota | 24 | $33,020 |
| 22 | Missouri | 24 | $30,279 |
| 23 | Alabama | 23 | $29,658 |
| 24 | Florida | 23 | $29,841 |
| 25 | Virginia | 22 | $31,530 |
| 26 | Colorado | 22 | $30,525 |
| 27 | Washington | 21 | $34,717 |
| 28 | Kansas | 21 | $30,152 |
| 29 | Utah | 20 | $31,420 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | 19 | $32,151 |
| 31 | Nebraska | 19 | $31,076 |
| 32 | New Mexico | 19 | $30,958 |
| 33 | Arizona | 18 | $32,025 |
| 34 | Idaho | 17 | $32,674 |
| 35 | Oregon | 17 | $34,277 |
| 36 | Indiana | 17 | $31,221 |
| 37 | Nevada | 16 | $33,053 |
| 38 | West Virginia | 16 | $31,395 |
| 39 | Kentucky | 16 | $30,471 |
| 40 | Arkansas | 16 | $29,659 |
| 41 | North Dakota | 15 | $33,466 |
| 42 | South Dakota | 15 | $32,439 |
| 43 | Montana | 15 | $33,350 |
| 44 | Wyoming | 15 | $31,450 |
| 45 | Iowa | 15 | $31,596 |
| 46 | Vermont | 15 | $31,726 |
| 47 | Louisiana | 15 | $30,353 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | 15 | $29,775 |
| 49 | Maine | 14 | $31,233 |
| 50 | Mississippi | 14 | $29,778 |
Top Colleges for Reactor Operators
2. University of North Texas
Denton, TX • Private
In-State Tuition
$10,852
Enrollment
31,375
3. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
4. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
6. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
7. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
8. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
9. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
10. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,353
Enrollment
24,841
Top Skills For a Reactor Operator
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 11.3% of reactor operators listed personnel safety on their resume, but soft skills such as concentration skills and detail oriented are important as well.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Reactor Operator Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Reactor Operator templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Reactor Operator resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Reactor Operator diversity
Reactor Operator Gender Distribution
Male
92%
Female
8%
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among reactor operators, 7.7% of them are women, while 92.3% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among reactor operators is White, which makes up 76.6% of all reactor operators.
- The most common foreign language among reactor operators is Spanish at 50.0%.
Online Courses For Reactor Operator That You May Like
Advertising Disclosure
1. Reactive Programming in Modern Java using Project Reactor
Learn to write fast performing Asynchronous and NonBlocking code using the Reactive Programming principles and Reactor...
2. Advanced Process Control & Safety Instrumented Systems SIS
Learn how the main process equipment such as chemical reactors, pumps, compressors & heat exchangers are controlled...
3. Electrical Control & Protection Systems
This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...
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How Do Reactor Operators Rate Their Jobs?
Top Reactor Operator Employers
Most Common Employers For Reactor Operator
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke Energy | $48,390 | $23.26 | 6 |
| 2 | Missouri S&T | $46,327 | $22.27 | 4 |
| 3 | Valspar | $44,806 | $21.54 | 10 |
| 4 | H.B. Fuller | $44,024 | $21.17 | 11 |
| 5 | Cree | $43,328 | $20.83 | 8 |
| 6 | BASF | $43,021 | $20.68 | 5 |
| 7 | Us Magnesium | $42,900 | $20.63 | 5 |
| 8 | Engineered Services | $42,448 | $20.41 | 4 |
| 9 | MFG Chemical | $42,218 | $20.30 | 8 |
| 10 | Specialty Polymers | $41,718 | $20.06 | 5 |