$113,000Average
$125,50075th percentile
$135,000
Total cash compensation
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Nuclear Power Reactor Operator is a professional role within the function in the Production job family.
Typical entry preparation: High School Diploma and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
Typical education: High School Diploma
- 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.
- Respond to system or unit abnormalities, diagnosing the cause, and recommending or taking corrective action.
- 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.
Top skills: Reading Comprehension Operations Monitoring Operation and Control Monitoring Critical Thinking Active Listening
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2020 to 2025: $104,040 to $122,890.
+18.1% over this periodMedians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
Related careers
Key skills for this role
The abilities employers and analysts most associate with this occupation.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Core duties
- 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.
- Respond to system or unit abnormalities, diagnosing the cause, and recommending or taking corrective action.
- 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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Nuclear Power Reactor Operator make?
The median market pay for a Nuclear Power Reactor Operator in the United States is about $125,500 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Nuclear Power Reactor Operator?
Most Nuclear Power Reactor Operator pay falls between about $113,500 (25th percentile) and $135,000 (75th percentile), with top earners above $154,500.
What does a Nuclear Power Reactor Operator do?
Core responsibilities include: operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety; and adjust controls to position rod and to regulate flux level, reactor period, coolant temperature, or rate of power flow, following standard procedures.
Is pay for Nuclear Power Reactor Operator roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $104,040 in 2020 to $122,890 in 2025, a change of +18.1% in nominal dollars.
Nuclear Power Reactor Operator pays 124% above the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
How much does a Nuclear Power Reactor Operator make?
The average base salary for a Nuclear Power Reactor Operator in the United States is $125,500 per year, or about $60.34 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $113,000 and $135,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Production roles?
The Production job family averages $56,000 across 112 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
