As of July 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Nuclear Reactor Operator in Rockford, IL is $104,675, equivalent to $50 per hour, $2,013 weekly, or $8,723 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 Rockford, IL vary widely, spanning from $91,250 to $117,304. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($97,648) and 75th percentile ($111,285), while top earners (90th percentile) make $117,304 per year. This $13,637 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, Rockford Nuclear Reactor Operator often earn 5.5% lower than national averages. However, Rockford currently ranks 497 statewide 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 $91,250 Rockford, IL July 01, 2026
25th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $97,648 Rockford, IL July 01, 2026
50th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $104,675 Rockford, IL July 01, 2026
75th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $111,285 Rockford, IL July 01, 2026
90th Percentile Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary $117,304 Rockford, IL July 01, 2026
25% $97,648 10% $91,250 90% $117,304 75% $111,285 $104,675 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Check out Nuclear Reactor Operator jobs in Rockford, Illinois

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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

See user submitted job responsibilities for Nuclear Reactor Operator.

Job Openings for Nuclear Reactor Operator in Rockford, IL

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

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

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
97648
111285
104675

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
113607
138894
125246
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 Rockford, IL. The base salary for Nuclear Reactor Operator ranges from $97,648 to $111,285 with the average base salary of $104,675. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $113,607 to $138,894 with the average total cash compensation of $125,246.

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

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

97648
111285

 

About Rockford, Illinois    Rockford is a city in Winnebago County in the U.S. state of Illinois, in far northern Illinois. Located on the banks of the Rock River, Rockford is t....More

Rockford, Illinois  area prices were up 1.3% from a year ago

Nuclear Reactor Operator Salary in popular cities: ChicagoAuroraJoliet

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