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Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician

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What is a Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician?

Career Description Operate equipment used for the release, control, or utilization of nuclear energy to assist scientists in laboratory or production activities.

A Day in the Life of a Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician

  • Apply safety tags to equipment needing maintenance.
  • Modify, devise, or maintain nuclear equipment used in operations.
  • Communicate with accelerator maintenance personnel to ensure readiness of support systems, such as vacuum, water cooling, or radio frequency power sources.
  • Perform testing, maintenance, repair, or upgrading of accelerator systems.
  • Adjust controls of equipment to control particle beam movement, pulse rates, energy or intensity, or radiation, according to specifications.
  • Test plant equipment to ensure it is operating properly.

Qualities of a Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician

When polled, Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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.

Operation 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.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Types of Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician Jobs

  • Auxiliary Operator
  • Accelerator Operator
  • Non-Licensed Nuclear Plant Operator (NLO)
  • Gamma Facilities Operator
  • Hot-Cell Technician

What Kind of Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician Job Opportunities Are There?

In the United States, there were 6,900 jobs for Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician. There will be an estimated 800 positions for Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician are Connecticut, Washington, and Missouri. Watch out if you plan on working in Idaho, Virginia, or Pennsylvania. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician Salary

The salary for Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians ranges between about $49,820 and $114,670 a year.

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Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians who work in California, New York, or Pennsylvania, make the highest salaries.

How much do Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
California $95,420
Connecticut $78,300
Florida $88,550
Idaho $73,160
Illinois $84,810
Louisiana $61,080
Mississippi $79,890
New York $95,940
North Carolina $86,300
Ohio $73,210
Pennsylvania $93,380
South Carolina $69,130
Tennessee $86,030
Texas $85,990
Virginia $61,010

What Tools do Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Access
  • Data entry software
  • Word processing software
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Structured query language SQL
  • Database software
  • Linux
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
  • VMware
  • Microsoft operating system
  • Data logging software
  • VMWare ESX Server

How do I Become a Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician?

What education is needed to be a Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician?

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Who Employs Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians?

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Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians work in the following industries:

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Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those interested in being a Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician may also be interested in:

Are you already one of the many Nuclear Equipment Operation Technician in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

References:

Image Credit: via Creative Commons CC0

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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