# Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

> Operate or control nuclear reactors. Move control rods, start and stop equipment, monitor and adjust controls, and record data in logs. Implement emergency procedures when needed. May respond to abnormalities, determine cause, and recommend corrective action.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 51-8011.00
- **Summary:** Operate or control nuclear reactors. Move control rods, start and stop equipment, monitor and adjust controls, and record data in logs. Implement emergency procedures when needed. May respond to abnormalities, determine cause, and recommend corrective action.

## Aliases

- Nuclear Control Operator
- Nuclear Reactor Operator
- Nuclear Station Operator (NSO)
- Reactor Operator (RO)
- Licensed Reactor Operator
- Nuclear Control Room Operator
- Nuclear Plant Operator (NPO)
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operator
- Nuclear Supervising Operator (NSO)
- Nuclear Unit Operator
- Control Operator
- Control Room Agent

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.g |
| Adjust controls to position rod and to regulate flux level, reactor period, coolant temperature, or rate of power flow, following standard procedures. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.g |
| Develop or implement actions such as lockouts, tagouts, or clearances to allow equipment to be safely repaired. | Core | 4.A.2.b.6.b |
| Direct reactor operators in emergency situations, in accordance with emergency operating procedures. | Supplemental | 4.A.4.b.4.j |
| Respond to system or unit abnormalities, diagnosing the cause, and recommending or taking corrective action. | Core | 4.A.2.b.1.b |
| Monitor all systems for normal running conditions, performing activities such as checking gauges to assess output or the effects of generator loading on other equipment. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Monitor or operate boilers, turbines, wells, or auxiliary power plant equipment. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Implement operational procedures, such as those controlling start-up or shut-down activities. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.g |
| Record operating data, such as the results of surveillance tests. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Note malfunctions of equipment, instruments, or controls and report these conditions to supervisors. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Participate in nuclear fuel element handling activities, such as preparation, transfer, loading, or unloading. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.j |
| Authorize maintenance activities on units or changes in equipment or system operational status. | Supplemental | 4.A.4.b.4.j |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Direct operational or production activities. | 4.A.4.b.4.j |
| Operate energy production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.g |
| Plan production or operational procedures or sequences. | 4.A.2.b.6.b |
| Document organizational or operational procedures. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Operate energy distribution equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.g |
| Diagnose equipment malfunctions. | 4.A.2.b.1.b |
| Maintain sustainable energy production equipment. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Advise others on ways to improve processes or products. | 4.A.4.b.6.e |
| Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs. | 4.A.4.a.2.g |
| Exchange information with colleagues. | 4.A.4.a.2.c |
| Record operational or production data. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Move products, materials, or equipment between work areas. | 4.A.3.a.1.j |
| Inspect facilities. | 4.A.1.b.2.e |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 4.12 |
| Physics | knowledge | 4.08 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 4 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 4 |
| Operation and Control | transferable_skill | 4 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 4 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 4 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 4 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 4 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3.88 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.88 |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 3.88 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.88 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3.88 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3.88 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3.75 |
| Public Safety and Security | knowledge | 3.66 |
| Written Expression | ability | 3.62 |
| Mathematics | knowledge | 3.58 |
| Engineering and Technology | knowledge | 3.54 |
| Writing | essential_skill | 3.5 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3.5 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.5 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3.38 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3.38 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.38 |
| Chemistry | knowledge | 3.37 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3.25 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.25 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Systems Analysis | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3.12 |
| Far Vision | ability | 3.12 |
| Design | knowledge | 3.02 |
| Learning Strategies | essential_skill | 3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | transferable_skill | 3 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Microsoft SharePoint | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Access | Specialized Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Presentation Software | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Industrial Control Software | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Azure software | Development environment software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Power Automate | Enterprise application integration software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Power BI | Business intelligence and data analysis software | yes | no |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | yes | no |
| Microsoft SharePoint | Document management software | yes | no |
| Structured query language SQL | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Outage management system OMS | Industrial control software | no | yes |
| Data logging software | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Plant information data entry software | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 5 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.99 |
| Telephone Conversations | 4.97 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.91 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.89 |
| E-Mail | 4.88 |
| Contact With Others | 4.69 |
| Consequence of Error | 4.61 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.53 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 4.5 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 4.49 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 4.4 |
| Time Pressure | 4.28 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 4.26 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 4.09 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 4.04 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.9 |
| Exposed to Radiation | 3.64 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 3.62 |
| Conflict Situations | 3.48 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 3.42 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 3.36 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 3.23 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.05 |
| Degree of Automation | 3.04 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.03 |
| Public Speaking | 2.99 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.89 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 2.74 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 2.54 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 2.51 |
| Level of Competition | 2.5 |
| Spend Time Standing | 2.46 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 2.44 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 2.39 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 2.39 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 2.35 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 2.31 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 2.16 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 2.14 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 3
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- **Experience:** Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- **Svp Range:** (6.0 to < 7.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 50.09 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 15.73 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 15.32 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 12.63 |
| Some College Courses | 6.22 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dependability | work_style | 8 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 7 |
| Integrity | work_style | 6 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 5.73 |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 5.4 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 5.14 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 5.09 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 5 |
| Physical Science | specific_interest_area | 4.05 |
| Achievement Orientation | work_style | 4 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 3.12 |
| Self-Control | work_style | 3 |
| Stress Tolerance | work_style | 2.67 |
| Enterprising | career_interest_type | 2.6 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 2.48 |
| Perseverance | work_style | 2.19 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 19-4051.00 | role-19-4051-00 | Nuclear Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 51-8013.00 | role-51-8013-00 | Power Plant Operators | Primary-Short |
| 51-8013.04 | role-51-8013-04 | Hydroelectric Plant Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 19-4051.02 | role-19-4051-02 | Nuclear Monitoring Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 51-8021.00 | role-51-8021-00 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | Primary-Short |
| 51-8091.00 | role-51-8091-00 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | Primary-Long |
| 51-8092.00 | role-51-8092-00 | Gas Plant Operators | Primary-Long |
| 51-8012.00 | role-51-8012-00 | Power Distributors and Dispatchers | Primary-Long |
| 51-8093.00 | role-51-8093-00 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | Primary-Long |
| 51-8031.00 | role-51-8031-00 | Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | Primary-Long |
| 17-2161.00 | role-17-2161-00 | Nuclear Engineers | Supplemental |
| 17-2041.00 | role-17-2041-00 | Chemical Engineers | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Energy & Natural Resources | energy-natural-resources |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Science Technologies/Technicians | science-technologies-technicians |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 122610
- **Mean Wage:** 122830
- **Pct10Wage:** 99300
- **Pct25Wage:** 107170
- **Pct75Wage:** 131520
- **Pct90Wage:** 152690
- **Employment:** 5720
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 22 | 22 | Utilities | Sector | 4460 | 122810 | 207.48 |
| 221113 | 221113 | Nuclear Electric Power Generation | National industry | 4310 | 122810 | 3128.13 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 460 | 113130 | 1.15 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 50 | 122470 |  |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 30 | 71570 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 221113 | 221113 | Nuclear Electric Power Generation | National industry | 4310 | 3128.13 |
| 22 | 22 | Utilities | Sector | 4460 | 207.48 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 460 | 1.15 |
- **Count:** 5

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.95 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | 0.7705302 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | 1.211374 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | 0.408817 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 43
- **Percentile:** 41
- **Band:** Moderate
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 66 | felten_aioe |
| 41 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 21 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | 0.7705302 | 66 | Moderate | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.4545454545454546 | 41 | Moderate | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.07639461008782768 | 21 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.95
- **Percentile:** 89
- **Band:** High
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.18181818181818182
- **Beta:** 0.3181818181818182
- **Gamma:** 0.4545454545454546

### Usage Tasks


### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** -15.3
- **Growth Percentile:** 2
- **Direction:** Declining
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 0.4
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 6
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 5.7
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 4.9

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 19
- **Skills:** 37
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 12
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** 143b570beff23c1c