Radiation Therapists
Median wage · national
$105,310
Range: $92K – $126K
Employed
17K
Openings/yr
700
Typically: associate's degree
STEM
Nuclear Technicians
Nuclear Technicians earn $110,240 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $99,110 and $123,990. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Nuclear Technicians
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a nuclear technicians: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Allied Health Diagnostic and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.
- Median Wage
- $110,240
- Employed Nationally
- 6K
- Openings / Year
- 900
- Entry Education
- Associate's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 3: Medium Preparation
Also known as:
Accelerator Operator
Accelerator Technician
Auxiliary Operator
Cell Support Operator
Electric Systems Operator
How Much Do Nuclear Technicians Make?
Most nuclear technicians take home around $110,240 a year, well above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $99,110 and $123,990, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. Worth weighing against how long the training takes. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$110,240
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$99K–$124K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$99,110
Entry-level
$110,240
Median
$123,990
Experienced
What Do Nuclear Technicians Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Follow nuclear equipment operational policies and procedures that ensure environmental safety.
- 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.
- Test plant equipment to ensure it is operating properly.
- Apply safety tags to equipment needing maintenance.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Operations Monitoring
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Monitoring
Who Thrives Here
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Nuclear Technicians Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Nuclear Technicians?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +1.1%, meaning it is growing slowly, a little behind the average job. Around 900 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +1.1%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
Slower than average.
900
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
6K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Nuclear Technicians professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $110,240 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | 780 | $110,390 | +0.1% |
| 2 | South Carolina | 750 | $108,490 | -1.6% |
| 3 | Virginia | 680 | $98,930 | -10.3% |
| 4 | North Carolina | 420 | $110,430 | +0.2% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 310 | $124,070 | +12.5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a associate's degree. The 3 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Associate's degree
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allied Health Diagnostic | 85,413 | $70,786 | 1,768 |
| 2 | Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians | 319 | — | 24 |
| 3 | Nuclear Engineering Tech | 261 | $120,399 | 15 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Nuclear Technicians
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 3 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | 92 | $13,807 | $124,080 |
| 4 | North Florida College Madison, FL | 91 | $804 | $33,929 |
| 5 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Nuclear Technicians, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Nuclear Technicians pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Nuclear Technicians Pros & Cons
The data on Nuclear Technicians shows 3 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $110,240 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $123,990 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
- Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a associate's degree, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.
CONS
- Slow job growth At +1.1% projected growth, this career lags the national average. Limited expansion means stiffer competition for openings that do appear.
Nuclear Technicians Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Nuclear Technicians professionals earn?
Around $110,240 a year for the typical worker, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $99,110 and $123,990. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Nuclear Technicians a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $110,240 median, though slow job growth means most openings come from workers leaving the field rather than new positions being created. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How do I become a Nuclear Technicians?
Most Nuclear Technicians positions require a associate's degree as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Allied Health Diagnostic are common starting points.
What is the job outlook for Nuclear Technicians?
Employment is projected to change by +1.1% through 2035, slower than average compared with other occupations. Around 900 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 6K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
Why do Nuclear Technicians professionals earn so much?
At $110,240 median with a Zone 3 preparation level, Nuclear Technicians compensates well because specialized expertise creates high economic value per hour, and the role typically carries meaningful liability, decision-making responsibility, or direct revenue impact. Industries that depend on this skill set pay competitively to attract and retain people who are genuinely good at it.
What skills do Nuclear Technicians professionals need?
Mainly Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, and Monitoring. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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- High paying careers
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- Median wage
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Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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