As of July 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Nuclear Reactor Operator in District of Columbia is $120,324, equivalent to $58 per hour, $2,314 weekly, or $10,027 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 District of Columbia vary widely, spanning from $104,892 to $134,841. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($112,246) and 75th percentile ($127,923), while top earners (90th percentile) make $134,841 per year. This $15,677 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% higher than national averages due to demand from Fortune 15 companies. However, District of Columbia currently ranks 1 nationwide for Nuclear Reactor Operator job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Nuclear Reactor Operator Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $104,892 DC July 01, 2026
25th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $112,246 DC July 01, 2026
50th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $120,324 DC July 01, 2026
75th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $127,923 DC July 01, 2026
90th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $134,841 DC July 01, 2026
25% $112,246 10% $104,892 90% $134,841 75% $127,923 $120,324 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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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

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Naval Anacost Annex, DC Avg. Salary $139,822 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Parcel Return Service, DC Avg. Salary $139,827 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Washington, DC Avg. Salary $139,829 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Washington Navy Yard, DC Avg. Salary $139,827 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Job Openings for Nuclear Reactor Operator in District of Columbia

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

Recently searched related titles: Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Specialist

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