SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 51-8011.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $98,640 | $8,220 | $1,897 | $47.42 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $109,440 | $9,120 | $2,105 | $52.61 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $122,890 | $10,241 | $2,363 | $59.08 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $130,490 | $10,874 | $2,509 | $62.73 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $149,310 | $12,442 | $2,871 | $71.78 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators is $122,890, which is 141% higher. Among the 105 occupations of the field Production, it ranks number 1 by median pay. With 5,150 jobs, it makes up about 0.3 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators pay by state
The highest median pay was in New York ($129,580), Illinois ($123,980) and Alabama ($119,000). The lowest was in Nebraska ($108,650), South Carolina ($118,620) and Alabama ($119,000). The most jobs were in Illinois (410), Alabama (360) and South Carolina (320). The occupation is most concentrated in Alabama, where its share of all jobs is 5.1 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 230 | $129,580 | $128,370 | $62.30 |
| Illinois | 410 | $123,980 | $124,850 | $59.60 |
| Alabama | 360 | $119,000 | $126,740 | $57.21 |
| South Carolina | 320 | $118,620 | $114,610 | $57.03 |
| Nebraska | 50 | $108,650 | $115,340 | $52.24 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers$106,730 a year
- Power Plant Operators$102,040 a year
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$96,710 a year
Common questions
How much do Nuclear Power Reactor Operators earn in the United States?
The median pay was $122,890 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $98,640 and the highest-paid 10% more than $149,310.
How many people work as Nuclear Power Reactor Operators?
About 5,150 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.