Overview
Responsibilities
T-A-S-K
Education
Income & Employability
Video Resources
Related Careers

Description

Conduct research on nuclear engineering projects or apply principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.

Interests

  • Investigative
  • Realistic
  • Conventional

Learn More about Interests

Work Values

  • Recognition
  • Achievement
  • Support

Learn More about Work Values

Work Styles

  • Integrity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Dependability
  • Self-Control

Learn More about Work Styles

Tasks

  • Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.
  • Monitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations.
  • Initiate corrective actions or order plant shutdowns in emergency situations.
  • Examine accidents to obtain data for use in design of preventive measures.
  • Direct operating or maintenance activities of nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.

Work Activities

  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Working with Computers
  • Analyzing Data or Information
  • Getting Information
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Detailed Work Activities

  • Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Technology Skills

  • Analytical or scientific software
  • Presentation software
  • Development environment software
  • Object or component oriented development software
  • Data base user interface and query software

Abilities

  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Written Expression
  • Category Flexibility
  • Deductive Reasoning
  • Inductive Reasoning

Skills

  • Critical Thinking
  • Science
  • Active Listening
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Judgment and Decision Making

Knowledge

  • Engineering and Technology
  • Physics
  • Mathematics
  • English Language
  • Public Safety and Security

Most Common Education Level

The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.

Certificates

Certifying Organization

American Society for Nondestructive Testing

Type

Specialty

Certifying Organization

American Society for Quality

Type

Advanced

Certifying Organization

Association of Energy Engineers

Type

Advanced

Certifying Organization

American Society of Mechanical Engineers International

Type

Advanced

Certifying Organization

National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying

Type

Advanced

Income Percentile

The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.

Income PercentileAnnual Income
Low (10%)$94,226
Median (50%)$128,304
High (90%)$159,692

Income by Experience

This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).

ExperienceIncome
Entry Level $100,153
Mid Level $115,565
Senior Level $128,930
Expert Level $153,044

Employability

There are currently 13,400 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to decrease to 13,300 positions, reflecting a projected decline of -1%.

The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.

Projected Job Growth of -1%

Related Careers

The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.

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