Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians
Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians graduates pursue 2 occupations, with top roles paying $122,890/yr or more. The career cards below break down wages, daily tasks, and 10-year job growth projections for each.
About Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians
Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians is a focused area of study within Science Tech. The program is available at 24 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 319 students complete this program each year, most earning a associate's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.
Colleges Offering
24
Graduates / Year
319
Avg Net Price / yr
$11,203
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 319 students who complete Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians programs each year, the majority (53%) earn a associate's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
44%53%
Associate's53%
Certificate44%
Bachelor's3%
What Can You Do With a Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians Degree?
Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians connects to 2 occupations in the job market. Nuclear Power Reactor Operators leads at $122,890/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
High school diploma or equivalent400 openings/yr5K employed nationally
Reading ComprehensionOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlActive ListeningCritical Thinking
Day-to-day responsibilities
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.
Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety.
Adjust controls to position rod and to regulate flux level, reactor period, coolant temperature, or rate of power flow, following standard procedures.
Develop or implement actions such as lockouts, tagouts, or clearances to allow equipment to be safely repaired.
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.
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.
Top Colleges for Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians
The 14 colleges below are ranked by how many Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Science Tech Programs
Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians is one of 5 specializations within Science Tech. The comparison below shows where this program ranks by 4-year median earnings.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians Degree: Pros & Cons
The data on Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians shows 0 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
CONS
Declining roles in some areas2 related careers show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
Limited program availabilityOnly 24 colleges offer this program nationally, which may limit geographic flexibility when choosing a school.
Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
What jobs can you get with a Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians degree?
Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians degree holders pursue careers including Nuclear Power Reactor Operators, which pays a median of $122,890/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians program take?
A Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians associate degree typically takes two years full-time at a community college. Many students transfer to a four-year university afterward to complete a bachelor's.
How many colleges offer Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians?
24 colleges and universities in the United States offer Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
What is the difference between Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians and Science Tech?
Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians is a focused concentration within the broader Science Tech field. The Science Tech major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians graduates?
Employers hiring Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians graduates consistently prioritize analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework.
Is graduate school worth it for Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians graduates?
In STEM fields, a master's degree can accelerate advancement into research, leadership, or senior engineering roles and often adds $15,000 to $40,000 in long-term earning potential, depending on specialization. The right answer depends on your career goals, program cost, and whether your target role explicitly rewards an advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians graduates?
The job outlook for Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians graduates is slow overall. Related occupations project an average of -11.5% job growth over the next 10 years. Nuclear Technicians is among the strongest-growth roles at -7.7%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.
Related Science Tech Programs
Other programs in Science Tech. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Choose a Major Pillar
A decision framework for picking a college major using your interests, aptitudes, and federal earnings data to reach a defensible choice before applying.
The real cost of a second major, when it pays back and when it doesn't, and why a focused single major with a relevant minor often beats a double major.
Why the 10-year job-growth outlook often matters more than today's salary, what the BLS projections measure, and how to use them to weigh the future of a field, not just its present.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
Major earnings
Highest paying majors
Job growth
STEM
Field of study
Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Engineering tech
Engineering
Program earnings
Applied degree
Technician careers
STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
STEM earnings
Engineering pay
Computer science
Program earnings
Major choice
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
