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Nuclear Technicians

$100.42K Median Salary 700 Job Openings (Annual Projection) -12.1% Job Growth

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About This Career

Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.

Reported Job Titles

Auxiliary Operator, Equipment Operator, Licensed Nuclear Operator, Non-Licensed Nuclear Equipment Operator (NLO), Non-Licensed Nuclear Plant Operator (NLO), Nuclear Auxiliary Operator, Nuclear Equipment Operator (NEO), Nuclear Plant Equipment Operator (NAPEO), Operations Technician, Systems Operator

Career data shown for:

Skills You'll Need

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Abilities

Deductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning

Information Ordering

Near Vision

Perceptual Speed

Flexibility of Closure

Problem Sensitivity

Selective Attention

Far Vision

Oral Expression

Written Comprehension

Auditory Attention

Oral Comprehension

Speech Clarity

Speech Recognition

Hearing Sensitivity

Category Flexibility

Reaction Time

Visual Color Discrimination

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Control Precision

Mathematical Reasoning

Number Facility

Written Expression

Knowledge

Public Safety and Security

Mechanical

Physics

Engineering and Technology

Education and Training

Chemistry

English Language

Computers and Electronics

Mathematics

Law and Government

Skills

Active Listening

Monitoring

Operations Monitoring

Critical Thinking

Speaking

Operation and Control

Reading Comprehension

Complex Problem Solving

Judgment and Decision Making

Quality Control Analysis

Writing

Active Learning

Science

Time Management

Troubleshooting

Technology Skills

Data base user interface and query software

Presentation software

Operating system software

Spreadsheet software

Configuration management software

Application server software

Office suite software

Word processing software

Industrial control software

Tools

Radiation detectors

Respirators

Frequency analyzers

Ultrasonic examination equipment

Gamma counters

Remote reading thermometers

Two way radios

Elevators

Diesel generators

Nuclear fuel rod

Eddy current examination equipment

Hot cell remote handling equipment

Welder torch

Dosimeters

Hot cell remote viewing device

Spectrometers

Respiration air supplying self contained breathing apparatus or accessories

Water purification equipment

Vibration testers

Pressure or steam cleaners

Nuclear reactor control rod systems

Footwear covers

Digital camcorders or video cameras

Borescope inspection equipment

Radioactive waste disposal systems

Gas welding or brazing or cutting apparatus

Nuclear reactor earthquake instrumentation

Metal inert gas welding machine

Level sensors or transmitters

Leak testing equipment

Bridge cranes

Air compressors

Cryostats

Protective coveralls

Protective gloves

Videoscopes

Personal computers

Abilities

Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Hearing Sensitivity: The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Visual Color Discrimination: The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Number Facility: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Knowledge

Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Physics: Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Chemistry: Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Law and Government: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Skills

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Technology Skills

Data base user interface and query software: Blackboard software; Database software; Microsoft Access; Yardi software
Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint
Operating system software: Microsoft Windows
Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Configuration management software: Chef; IBM Software Configuration and Library Manager SCLM; Perforce Helix software; Puppet
Application server software: Oracle WebLogic Server
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Industrial control software: Industrial Scientific iNET; QuestSuite Professional

Tools

Radiation detectors:
Respirators: Half-face respirators; Respirator hose masks
Frequency analyzers: Spectrum analyzers
Ultrasonic examination equipment: Impact resonance devices; Sonic devices
Gamma counters: Gamma radiation survey meters
Remote reading thermometers: Non-contact thermometers
Two way radios:
Elevators: New fuel elevators
Diesel generators: Alternating current AC generators
Nuclear fuel rod: Fuel handling systems
Eddy current examination equipment: Eddy current flaw detectors; Eddy current probes
Hot cell remote handling equipment: Master-slave manipulators
Welder torch: Plasma arc cutting torches
Dosimeters: Passive dosimeters
Hot cell remote viewing device: Hot cell remote viewing devices
Spectrometers: Spectroscopes
Respiration air supplying self contained breathing apparatus or accessories: Self-contained breathing apparatus
Water purification equipment: Condensate demineralizers
Vibration testers: Vibration monitors
Pressure or steam cleaners: Pressure cleaners
Nuclear reactor control rod systems: Control rod drives
Footwear covers: Protective shoe covers
Digital camcorders or video cameras: Digital video cameras
Borescope inspection equipment: Video borescopes
Radioactive waste disposal systems: Spent fuel handling machines
Gas welding or brazing or cutting apparatus: Brazing torches
Nuclear reactor earthquake instrumentation: Seismic monitoring instruments
Metal inert gas welding machine: Fine wire welding machines
Level sensors or transmitters: Level transmitters
Leak testing equipment: Smoke generating tubes
Bridge cranes: Gantry cranes
Air compressors:
Cryostats:
Protective coveralls:
Protective gloves: Safety gloves
Videoscopes:
Personal computers:

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