Nuclear Operator Salary in the United States

How much does a Nuclear Operator make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Nuclear Operator in the United States is $112,440 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $54.

However, a Nuclear Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $125,786
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $104,198 to $119,426
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $96,694
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View as table View as graph 25% $104,198 10% $96,694 90% $125,786 75% $119,426 $112,440 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Nuclear Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $119,426 $9,952 $2,297 $57
Average $112,440 $9,370 $2,162 $54
25th Percentile $104,198 $8,683 $2,004 $50
Check out Nuclear Operator Job Openings in the United States
CMM Operator

GOVERNMENT & INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY, INC - PULASKI, TN

Machine Operator

LAKE CABLE, LLC - CONCORD, IN

CNC Milling Operator

Magellan Aerospace Limited - NEW YORK CITY, NY

CNC Machine Operator

Synergy Employment Group - PALMYRA, PA

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Key Factors That Influence Nuclear Operator Salaries

A Nuclear Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Nuclear Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Nuclear Operator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $80,524
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $94,126
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $114,157
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $137,902
  • Expert (over 8 years): $159,256
Levels Salary
Nuclear E... Level Nuclear Operator$80,524
Nuclear E... Level Nuclear Operator$94,126
Nuclear O... Level Nuclear Operator$114,157
Nuclear E... Level Nuclear Operator$137,902
Nuclear E... Level Nuclear Operator$159,256
$80,524 0 yr
$94,126 < 2 yrs
$114,157 2-4 yrs
$137,902 5-8 yrs
$159,256 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Nuclear Operators

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $141,821
  • San Francisco: $140,426
  • Oakland: $137,312

What Skills Can Increase a Nuclear Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 18.57% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Construction Management (Mentioned in 0.34% Job Postings): Construction management (CM) is a professional service that uses specialized, project management techniques to oversee the planning, design, and construction of a project, from its beginning to its end. The purpose of CM is to control a project's time / delivery, cost and quality—sometimes referred to as a project management triangle or "triple constraints." CM is compatible with all project delivery systems, including design-bid-build, design-build, CM At-Risk and Public Private Partnerships. Professional construction managers may be reserved for lengthy, large-scale, high budget undertakings (commercial real estate, transportation infrastructure, industrial facilities, and military infrastructure), called capital projects.
  • Python (Mentioned in 0.34% Job Postings): Applying the concepts and algorithms of Python to design, develop and maintain software applications to comply with business requirements.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 18.57%
Construction Management 0.34%
Python 0.34%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Nuclear Operator's salary.
  • SOW: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Cybersecurity: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
SOW
$132,679
18%
Cybersecurity
$128,182
14%
Written Communication
$127,057
13%
Storage Systems
$125,933
12%
Consulting
$124,808
11%
Customer Service
$123,684
10%
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How Education impacts a Nuclear Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Nuclear Operators enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Nuclear Operator with a Bachelor's Degree is between $123,288 and $130,001).

Nuclear Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Nuclear Operator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.6%
High School 2.6%
Associates 2.6%
Bachelors 17.9%
Masters 56.4%
Doctorate 20.5%
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Nuclear Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Nuclear Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Nuclear Operator

Salaries for a Nuclear Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $116,022 in 2023 to around $114,923 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Nuclear Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Nuclear Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$116,022
2024
$116,177
2025
$114,923
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $116,022
2024 $116,177
2025 $114,923
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Nuclear Operator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Nuclear Operator

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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