Jobs Similar to Nuclear Technicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to nuclear technicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Biomass Plant Technicians, Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators and Biofuels Processing Technicians.
Nuclear Technicians: $110,240 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 Technicians) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biomass Plant Technicians | 82% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 2 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 81% | $78,620−29% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Biofuels Processing Technicians | 80% | $62,470Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 4 | Gas Plant Operators | 80% | $87,820−20% | High school |
| 5 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | 78% | $78,120−29% | High school |
| 6 | Nuclear Monitoring TechniciansSame group | 78% | $110,240Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 7 | Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | 78% | $60,020−46% | High school |
| 8 | Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | 78% | $78,350Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 9 | Power Plant Operators | 78% | $102,040−7% | High school |
| 10 | Nuclear Power Reactor Operators | 78% | $122,890+11% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 77% | $96,710−12% | High school |
| 12 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | 77% | $103,020−7% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Hydroelectric Plant Technicians | 77% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 14 | Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | 77% | $77,320−30% | High school |
| 15 | Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 77% | $66,120Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Geothermal Technicians | 76% | $49,230Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 17 | Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 76% | $58,040−47% | High school |
| 18 | Automotive Engineering Technicians | 75% | $74,510Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 19 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 75% | $74,510−32% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | 75% | $82,890−25% | Training or associate |
- 1Biomass Plant Technicians
82% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · High school
- 2Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
81% similar · $78,620 (−29%) · Training or associate
- 3Biofuels Processing Technicians
80% similar · $62,470 (broader group) · High school
- 4Gas Plant Operators
80% similar · $87,820 (−20%) · High school
- 5Chemical Plant and System Operators
78% similar · $78,120 (−29%) · High school
- 6Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
78% similar · $110,240 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 7Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
78% similar · $60,020 (−46%) · High school
- 8Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
78% similar · $78,350 (broader group) · High school
- 9Power Plant Operators
78% similar · $102,040 (−7%) · High school
- 10Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
78% similar · $122,890 (+11%) · Training or associate
- 11Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
77% similar · $96,710 (−12%) · High school
- 12Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
77% similar · $103,020 (−7%) · Training or associate
- 13Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
77% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 14Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
77% similar · $77,320 (−30%) · High school
- 15Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians
77% similar · $66,120 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Geothermal Technicians
76% similar · $49,230 (broader group) · High school
- 17Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
76% similar · $58,040 (−47%) · High school
- 18Automotive Engineering Technicians
75% similar · $74,510 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 19Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
75% similar · $74,510 (−32%) · Training or associate
- 20Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
75% similar · $82,890 (−25%) · Training or associate
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 pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than nuclear technicians.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Biomass Plant Technicians82% similar · High school
- Biofuels Processing Technicians80% similar · High school
- Gas Plant Operators80% similar · High school
- Chemical Plant and System Operators78% similar · High school
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators78% similar · High school
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists78% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for nuclear technicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where nuclear technicians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators (87)
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators (81)
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay (77)
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians (77)
- Power Plant Operators (77)
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (75)
- Automotive Engineering Technicians (75)
- Aviation Inspectors (75)
- Biofuels Processing Technicians (75)
- Gas Plant Operators (75)
Questions about jobs like nuclear technicians
What jobs are most similar to nuclear technicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Biomass Plant Technicians (82% similar), Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators (81% similar), Biofuels Processing Technicians (80% similar), Gas Plant Operators (80% similar) and Chemical Plant and System Operators (78% similar).
Which jobs like nuclear technicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Nuclear Power Reactor Operators ($122,890, +11%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with nuclear technicians ($110,240). Without more preparation than nuclear technicians usually need: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators.
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.