Jobs Similar to Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to nuclear power reactor operators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Nuclear Monitoring Technicians, Power Distributors and Dispatchers and Nuclear Technicians.
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators: $122,890 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Nuclear Power Reactor Operators) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nuclear Monitoring Technicians | 81% | $110,240Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 2 | Power Distributors and DispatchersSame group | 79% | $106,730−13% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Nuclear Technicians | 78% | $110,240−10% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Chemical Plant and System OperatorsSame group | 76% | $78,120−36% | High school |
| 5 | Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | 75% | $61,560−50% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Gas Plant OperatorsSame group | 74% | $87,820−29% | High school |
| 7 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 73% | $232,140+89% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 73% | $58,040−53% | High school |
| 9 | Hydroelectric Production Managers | 73% | $126,060Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 10 | Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | 72% | $78,350Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 11 | Biomass Plant TechniciansSame group | 72% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 12 | Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | 72% | $53,350−57% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | 72% | $115,160−6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Validation Engineers | 71% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 71% | $59,920−51% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | 71% | $78,000−37% | High school |
| 17 | Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 71% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersSame group | 70% | $96,710−21% | High school |
| 19 | Biomass Power Plant Managers | 70% | $126,060Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Transportation Inspectors | 70% | $92,100−25% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
81% similar · $110,240 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 2Power Distributors and Dispatchers
79% similar · $106,730 (−13%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Nuclear Technicians
78% similar · $110,240 (−10%) · Training or associate
- 4Chemical Plant and System Operators
76% similar · $78,120 (−36%) · High school · Same group
- 5Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
75% similar · $61,560 (−50%) · Training or associate
- 6Gas Plant Operators
74% similar · $87,820 (−29%) · High school · Same group
- 7Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
73% similar · $232,140 (+89%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
73% similar · $58,040 (−53%) · High school
- 9Hydroelectric Production Managers
73% similar · $126,060 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 10Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
72% similar · $78,350 (broader group) · High school
- 11Biomass Plant Technicians
72% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 12Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
72% similar · $53,350 (−57%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
72% similar · $115,160 (−6%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Validation Engineers
71% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
71% similar · $59,920 (−51%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
71% similar · $78,000 (−37%) · High school
- 17Environmental Compliance Inspectors
71% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
70% similar · $96,710 (−21%) · High school · Same group
- 19Biomass Power Plant Managers
70% similar · $126,060 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Transportation Inspectors
70% similar · $92,100 (−25%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Chemical Plant and System Operators76% similar · High school
- Gas Plant Operators74% similar · High school
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders73% similar · High school
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists72% similar · High school
- Biomass Plant Technicians72% similar · High school
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters71% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for nuclear power reactor operators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where nuclear power reactor operators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians (91)
- Nuclear Technicians (88)
- Nuclear Engineers (76)
- Occupational Health and Safety Technicians (75)
- Hydroelectric Production Managers (73)
- Geothermal Production Managers (70)
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (70)
- Commercial Pilots (69)
- Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians (69)
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors (69)
Questions about jobs like nuclear power reactor operators
What jobs are most similar to nuclear power reactor operators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Nuclear Monitoring Technicians (81% similar), Power Distributors and Dispatchers (79% similar), Nuclear Technicians (78% similar), Chemical Plant and System Operators (76% similar) and Occupational Health and Safety Technicians (75% similar).
Which jobs like nuclear power reactor operators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($232,140, +89%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with nuclear power reactor operators ($122,890).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.