Nuclear Plant Control Operator Salary in the United States

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

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Nuclear Plant Control Operator in the United States is $72,721 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $82,844
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,249 to $78,020
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48,894
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View as table View as graph 25% $60,249 10% $48,894 90% $82,844 75% $78,020 $72,721 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Nuclear Plant Control Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $78,020 $6,502 $1,500 $38
Average $72,721 $6,060 $1,398 $35
25th Percentile $60,249 $5,021 $1,159 $29
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Key Factors That Influence Nuclear Plant Control Operator Salaries

A Nuclear Plant Control 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 Plant Control Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Nuclear Plant Control 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): $62,253
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $73,587
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $91,311
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $105,722
  • Expert (over 8 years): $120,582
Levels Salary
Commercia... Level Nuclear Plant Control Operator$62,253
Nuclear P... Level Nuclear Plant Control Operator$73,587
Commercia... Level Nuclear Plant Control Operator$91,311
Commercia... Level Nuclear Plant Control Operator$105,722
Commercia... Level Nuclear Plant Control Operator$120,582
$62,253 0 yr
$73,587 < 2 yrs
$91,311 2-4 yrs
$105,722 5-8 yrs
$120,582 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Nuclear Plant Control Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Nuclear Plant Control Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $80,516.
  • California: $80,211.
  • Massachusetts: $79,142.

Top Paying Cities for Nuclear Plant Control 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: $91,723
  • San Francisco: $90,821
  • Oakland: $88,807

What Skills Can Increase a Nuclear Plant Control Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 20.47% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.16% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Customer Care (Mentioned in 1.16% Job Postings): Customer care is the process of building an emotional connection with your customers, whereas customer service is simply the advice or assistance your business provides them.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 20.47%
Microsoft Office 2.16%
Customer Care 1.16%
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 Plant Control Operator's salary.
  • Customer Care: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Credit Risk: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Customer Care
 $90,174
24%
Process Improvement
 $79,266
9%
Credit Risk
 $77,811
7%
Balance Sheet
 $76,357
5%
Initiative
 $76,357
5%
Products and Services
 $75,630
4%
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How Education impacts a Nuclear Plant Control Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Nuclear Plant Control 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 Plant Control Operator with a Bachelor's Degree is between $69,942 and $75,270).

Nuclear Plant Control Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Nuclear Plant Control Operator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.5%
High School 2.5%
Associates 2.1%
Bachelors 66.7%
Masters 28.0%
Doctorate 0.7%
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Nuclear Plant Control Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Nuclear Plant Control 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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on April 01, 2026
$60,249
Average $72,721/year
$78,020
$5,021
Average $6,060/month
$6,502
$1,159
Average $1,398/week
$1,500
$29
Average $35/hour
$38
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $78,020 $6,502 $1,500 $38
Average $72,721 $6,060 $1,398 $35
25th Percentile $60,249 $5,021 $1,159 $29

Salaries of jobs related to Nuclear Plant Control Operator

Salary Trends for Nuclear Plant Control Operator

Salaries for a Nuclear Plant Control Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $71,224 in 2023 to around $70,510 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Nuclear Plant Control Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Nuclear Plant Control Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$71,224
2024
$71,241
2025
$70,510
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $71,224
2024 $71,241
2025 $70,510
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Nuclear Plant Control Operator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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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.)

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