As of July 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Nuclear Reactor Operator in Kentucky is $102,262, equivalent to $49 per hour, $1,967 weekly, or $8,522 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 Kentucky vary widely, spanning from $89,147 to $114,601. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($95,397) and 75th percentile ($108,721), while top earners (90th percentile) make $114,601 per year. This $13,324 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, Kentucky Nuclear Reactor Operator often earn 5.9% lower than national averages due to demand from Fortune 15 companies. However, Kentucky currently ranks 41 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 $89,147 KY July 01, 2026
25th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $95,397 KY July 01, 2026
50th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $102,262 KY July 01, 2026
75th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $108,721 KY July 01, 2026
90th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $114,601 KY July 01, 2026
25% $95,397 10% $89,147 90% $114,601 75% $108,721 $102,262 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 Aberdeen, KY Avg. Salary $114,683 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Adairville, KY Avg. Salary $116,049 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Adams, KY Avg. Salary $113,438 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Adolphus, KY Avg. Salary $116,347 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Ages Brookside, KY Avg. Salary $113,688 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Albany, KY Avg. Salary $114,220 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Alexandria, KY Avg. Salary $123,013 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Allen, KY Avg. Salary $113,542 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Allensville, KY Avg. Salary $115,142 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Almo, KY Avg. Salary $114,909 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Job Openings for Nuclear Reactor Operator in Kentucky

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