All About Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians
Job Description & Duties Operate equipment used for the release, control, or utilization of nuclear energy to assist scientists in laboratory or production activities.
List of Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician Job Duties
- Measure the intensity and identify the types of radiation in work areas, equipment, or materials, using radiation detectors or other instruments.
- Follow nuclear equipment operational policies and procedures that ensure environmental safety.
- Communicate with accelerator maintenance personnel to ensure readiness of support systems, such as vacuum, water cooling, or radio frequency power sources.
- Apply safety tags to equipment needing maintenance.
- Conduct surveillance testing to determine safety of nuclear equipment.
- Monitor nuclear reactor equipment performance to identify operational inefficiencies, hazards, or needs for maintenance or repair.
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What a Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician Should Know
Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Other Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician Job Titles
- Nuclear Auxiliary Operator
- Operations Technician
- Equipment Operation Instructor
- Nuclear Plant Equipment Operator (NAPEO)
- Nuclear Station Operator
Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician Employment Estimates
There were about 6,900 jobs for Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 800 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician are Connecticut, Washington, and Missouri. Watch out if you plan on working in Idaho, Virginia, or Pennsylvania. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician Average Salary
The typical yearly salary for Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians is somewhere between $49,820 and $114,670.

Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians who work in California, New York, or Pennsylvania, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
California | $95,420 |
Connecticut | $78,300 |
Florida | $88,550 |
Idaho | $73,160 |
Illinois | $84,810 |
Louisiana | $61,080 |
Mississippi | $79,890 |
New York | $95,940 |
North Carolina | $86,300 |
Ohio | $73,210 |
Pennsylvania | $93,380 |
South Carolina | $69,130 |
Tennessee | $86,030 |
Texas | $85,990 |
Virginia | $61,010 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Spreadsheet software
- Database software
- Structured query language SQL
- Linux
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- VMware
- Microsoft operating system
- Data logging software
- VMWare ESX Server
How to Become a Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician
Individuals working as a Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician?

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