The median annual wage for nuclear technicians was $80,260 in May 2015.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $47,730, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $103,750.
In May 2015, the median annual wages for nuclear technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
$86,290
Electric power generation, transmission and distribution
84,320
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
69,160
Manufacturing
59,310
Engineering services
54,160
Most nuclear technicians work full time. In power plants, which operate 24 hours a day, technicians may work variable schedules that include nights, holidays, and weekends. Occasionally, plants stop operations for maintenance and upgrades. Workers may need to work overtime during these periods. In laboratories, technicians typically work during normal business hours.
Nuclear Technicians
Median annual wages, May 2015
Nuclear technicians
$80,260
Life, physical, and social science technicians
$43,490
Total, all occupations
$36,200
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics