How Much Does a Nuclear Reactor Operator Make in the United States ? (2026 Salary Guide)

Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary in the United States

As of July 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Nuclear Reactor Operator in the US is $108,674, equivalent to $52 per hour, $2,090 weekly, or $9,056 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Nuclear Reactor Operator in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Nuclear Reactor Operator in the US vary widely, spanning from $94,737 to $121,786. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($101,379) and 75th percentile ($115,537), while top earners (90th percentile) make $121,786 per year. This $14,158 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Troubleshooting or Construction Management, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Nuclear Reactor Operator often earn 10.7% above national averages due to demand from Fortune 15 companies and industry startups. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Develop a Job description
Pay Equity
Salary Grading Scale
Pay Strategy
2026 Compensation Trend
Compensation Consulting
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits How To Become
Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
View as table View as graph
Nuclear Reactor Operator Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $94,737 US July 01, 2026
25th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $101,379 US July 01, 2026
50th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $108,674 US July 01, 2026
75th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $115,537 US July 01, 2026
90th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $121,786 US July 01, 2026
25% $101,379 10% $94,737 90% $121,786 75% $115,537 $108,674 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
Employers: Find Surveys For This Job Employers: Price Your Company Jobs Employees: View your Salary
Change Search Criteria
Check out Nuclear Reactor Operator jobs in Columbus, Ohio

Chemical Reactor Operator (3rd shift)

Franklin International - Columbus, OH

Apply Now

Chemical Reactor Operator

The Kable Group - Groveport, OH

Apply Now

Senior Reactor Operator - In Training

Vistra - Oak Harbor, OH

Apply Now
Apply Now
Search More Nuclear Reactor Operator Jobs in Columbus, Ohio
See it in Action

What is a Nuclear Reactor Operator ?

A reactor operator (or nuclear reactor operator) is an individual at a nuclear power plant who is responsible for directly controlling a nuclear reactor from a control panel and is the only individual at a nuclear power plant who can directly alter significant amounts of reactor reactivity. The reactor operator occupies a position of great responsibility that may require him or her to start up a nuclear reactor, shut down a critical nuclear reactor, monitor reactor parameters, or respond to a casualty of the nuclear reactor. All reactor operators are required to be licensed or qualified by ...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/18/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

See user submitted job responsibilities for Nuclear Reactor Operator.

Search Nuclear Reactor Operator Job Openings

Job Openings for Nuclear Reactor Operator

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    Nuclear Engineer II

    2 - 4 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. This Job:

    Nuclear Reactor Operator

    4 - 7 years experience
    Master's Degree or MBA

  3. Up a level:

    Nuclear Engineer IV

    7 + years experience
    Master's Degree or MBA

Not the job you're looking for? Search more salaries here:

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Nuclear Reactor Operator, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
101379
115537
108674

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
117947
144201
130031
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Nuclear Reactor Operator in the United States. The base salary for Nuclear Reactor Operator ranges from $101,379 to $115,537 with the average base salary of $108,674. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $117,947 to $144,201 with the average total cash compensation of $130,031.

Discover how your pay is adjusted for skills, experience, and other factors

How much should you be paid?

For a real-time salary target, tell us more about your role in the four categories below.

101379
115537

 

Recently searched related titles: Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Specialist

Learn more about: Compensation Packages, Employee Flight Risk, Gender Pay Gap, Job Openings for This Role

Jobs with a similar salary range to Nuclear Reactor Operator : Nuclear Operator, React Engineer, Reactor Engineer