How To Become A Reactor Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a reactor operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a reactor operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $19.49 an hour? That's $40,533 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -15% and produce -6,500 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreReactor OperatorUS Average

Salary

3.2

Avg. Salary $40,533

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

9.2

Growth Rate -15%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 2.37%

Asian 1.52%

Black or African American 6.04%

Hispanic or Latino 8.04%

Unknown 5.47%

White 76.56%

Gender

female 7.71%

male 92.29%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress Level

9.2

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.0

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

3.9

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a reactor operator

Explore reactor operator education requirements

Most common reactor operator degrees

Bachelor's

44.0 %

High School Diploma

24.1 %

Associate

19.9 %

Start to develop specific reactor operator skills

Skills	Percentages
Personnel Safety	11.27%
Plant Operations	8.45%
Nuclear Reactor	6.37%
Control Room	6.09%
Corrective Maintenance	4.85%

Complete relevant reactor operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New reactor operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a reactor operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real reactor operator resumes.

Gain additional reactor operator certifications

Reactor operator certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific reactor operator certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for reactor operators include Certification in Nuclear Medicine and Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma).

More About Certifications

Research reactor operator duties and responsibilities

Operate batch and continuous type reactors, high-pressure reactors, centrifuges, filters and solvent distillation equipment.
Coordinate a team of operators and contractors performing leak rate testing (LLRT) within a 17-day outage window.
Monitor, and adjust: modulation, frequency, audio, and antenna current in compliance with FCC regulations.
Maintain and perform troubleshooting on CD/DVD replication equipment.

Prepare your reactor operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your reactor operator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a reactor operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Reactor Operator Resume templates

Build a professional Reactor Operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Reactor Operator resume.

Apply for reactor operator jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a reactor operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do reactor operators rate their job?