Average Nuclear Power Reactor Operators Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators is $122,890 per year. The middle 50% earn between $109,440 and $130,490, with 5,150 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates . Data covers 5 states and 1 metro areas.
Pay distribution
Here is how Nuclear Power Reactor Operators pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $98,640
- 25th
- $109,440
- Median
- $122,890
- 75th
- $130,490
- 90th
- $149,310
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators are among the highest-paid occupations tracked by BLS, well into the top decile of US wages.
Pay is tightly clustered around the median. Most nuclear power reactor operators earn within a narrow band, with less variation than many other occupations. That is often a sign of standardized roles or union and public-sector pay scales.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for nuclear power reactor operators from 2024 to 2034. This occupation is projected to shrink. Workers may face more competition for fewer openings, and the role may see automation or consolidation pressure.
- Projected growth
- -15.3%
- -900 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 400
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave.
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
A high-school diploma is typically sufficient for entry, with much of the training happening on the job.
Where Nuclear Power Reactor Operators earn the most
Geographic variation is relatively low. Pay for nuclear power reactor operators is fairly consistent across the country, so moving for higher pay has limited upside. Right now, the top-paying state is New York at $129,580, about 5.4% above the national median. At the metro level, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC leads with a median of $112,860.
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $129,580 | 230 |
| Illinois | $123,980 | 410 |
| Alabama | $119,000 | 360 |
| South Carolina | $118,620 | 320 |
| Nebraska | $108,650 | 50 |
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $112,860 | N/A |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see nuclear power reactor operators pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2025, the national median salary for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators rose from $100,530 to $122,890, a gain of +22.2% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +25.9%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $100,530 would need to be worth $126,595 in 2025 dollars.
The actual 2025 median of $122,890 is −$3,705 below that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of -2.9% in purchasing power.
Adjusted for inflation, pay has lost ground. Nominal growth of 22.2% has not kept up with rising prices.
- Nominal change
- +22.2%
- 2019–2025
- Cumulative inflation
- +25.9%
- US CPI, 2019–2025
- Real change
- -2.9%
- After adjusting for inflation
Median salary over time
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2025
- $122,890
- 2024
- $122,610
- 2023
- $120,350
- 2022
- $115,870
- 2021
- $104,260
- 2020
- $104,040
- 2019
- $100,530
BLS did not publish a median for 2000–2018, so those years are omitted.
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Power Distributors And Dispatchers
- $106,730
- Power Plant Operators
- $102,040
- Gas Plant Operators
- $87,820
Common salary questions for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Nuclear Power Reactor Operators workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.