How to hire a senior reactor operator

How to hire a senior reactor operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior reactor operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior reactor operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior reactor operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the senior reactor operator you need to hire. Certain senior reactor operator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A senior reactor operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior reactor operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of senior reactor operators.

   Type of Senior Reactor Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Reactor Operator	Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers control the systems that generate and distribute electric power.	$17-52
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25
   Lead Operator	Lead operators are responsible for the direction and supervision of the day-to-day activities in facilities. As machine operators, they control machines and take charge of industrial operations... Show more	$25-68

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • NRC
   • Outage
   • Plant Operations
   • Fluid Flow
   • License Class
   • Federal Regulations
   • Nuclear Regulatory
   • Emergency Response
   • Nuclear Power
   • Public Safety
   • Reactor Operators
   • R
   • Control Room
   • Technical Specifications

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Need method to proactively manage the business improving cross-functional collaboration & KPI visibility.
   • Lead compression shift of twenty-one operators and supporting staff in daily operations of manufacturing generic prescription medications in a GMP setting.
   • Authore multiple watch station examinations and PowerPoint presentations.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior reactor operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A senior reactor operator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, senior reactor operators' average salary in hawaii is 36% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior reactor operators 66% less than senior-level senior reactor operators.
   • Certifications. A senior reactor operator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a senior reactor operator's salary.

   Average senior reactor operator salary

   $64,712yearly

   $31.11 hourly rate

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   Entry-level senior reactor operator salary

   $37,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a senior reactor operator job description

   A senior reactor operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a senior reactor operator job description:

   Senior reactor operator job description example

   + Department: Nuclear Reactor Laboratory
   
   + School Area: VP Research
   
   + Employment Type: Full-Time
   
   + Employment Category: Non-Exempt
   
   + Visa Sponsorship Available: No
   
   + Schedule:
   
   Email a Friend Save Save Apply Now
   
   Information on MIT's COVID-19 vaccination requirement can be found at the bottom of this posting.
   
   SENIOR REACTOR OPERATOR, Nuclear Reactor Laboratory, to maintain a senior reactor operator license to operate the MITR-II research reactor and perform the duties of shift supervisor. Will perform reactor startups and shutdowns; provide control room coverage; perform diagnostic tests, calibrations, refueling operations, and decontamination procedures; prepare samples for irradiation; package and ship radioactive samples; and perform safety reviews and analyses of reactor system modifications and experiments. Will also oversee the duties listed above and other routine reactor operations; assist with various special reactor and experimental projects; follow industrial safety practices and embrace a safety culture; adhere to radiation protection measures and exercise sound radiological control judgment while working in areas containing radioactive materials; participate in the annual requalification program for licensed personnel; conduct visitor tours and make lab activities understandable to school-aged children and laypersons; report any concerns and abnormal system behavior to shift supervisor and superintendent immediately; log shift activities in the logbook clearly and concisely with detail; and perform other duties as needed.
   
   Job Requirements
   
   REQUIRED: high school diploma or GED; two years' technical college or Navy nuclear education; four years of experience with nuclear reactors; a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission license or ablity to obtain one within one year of hire; ability to lift up to 40 lbs., ascend ladders, and wear and maintain training in use of a SCBA unit; English fluency; discretion and good judgment; punctuality; ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Seek someone who is interested in advancing to a senior-level position if necessary. Must be eighteen years or older. Job #21845-8 Salary range: $70,720-77,000Employment is contingent upon passing a basic NRC form physical and appropriate background checks. Must have U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status. 9/13/22

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right senior reactor operator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with senior reactor operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit senior reactor operators who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior reactor operator job on Zippia to find and recruit senior reactor operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit senior reactor operators, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior reactor operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the senior reactor operator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new senior reactor operator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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