Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
SOC code 51-8011 · Production Occupations
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $98,640 | $47.42 |
| 25th percentile | $109,440 | $52.61 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $122,890 | $59.08 |
| 75th percentile | $130,490 | $62.73 |
| 90th percentile | $149,310 | $71.78 |
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Estimate only, based on linear interpolation between this occupation's BLS OEWS reported percentiles above.
Wages by state (May 2024)
State-level employment and wage estimates for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators (SOC 51-8011), from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) State estimates, May 2024. Data available for 6 of 51 states/DC for this occupation.
| State | Employment | Mean annual | Median annual | 10th pctl annual | 25th pctl annual | 75th pctl annual | 90th pctl annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 460 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | 80 | $112,830 | $111,300 | $105,220 | $105,240 | $123,740 | $126,990 |
| New York | 280 | $139,850 | $131,520 | $107,120 | $114,870 | $165,820 | $165,820 |
| North Carolina | 340 | $113,850 | $107,200 | $89,000 | $104,870 | $122,340 | $139,850 |
| Ohio | 150 | $117,030 | $124,030 | $102,790 | $102,790 | $124,610 | $124,610 |
| South Carolina | 320 | $115,160 | $112,070 | $83,190 | $110,950 | $122,810 | $146,340 |
Hourly by-state wages are in the source dataset but not rendered here (annual only, to keep this table a manageable width); see the source link below for the full file. BLS suppresses some state-level figures for reliability: an em dash (—) means BLS did not publish that figure for this state and occupation. Per BLS’s own field definitions: "*" = a wage estimate is not available; "**" = an employment estimate is not available; "#" = a wage equal to or greater than $115.00 per hour or $239,200 per year (all three are shown here as —, not guessed). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), State occupational employment and wage estimates, May 2024.
Similar-paying occupations in Production Occupations
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers 51-8012$106,730/yr
- Power Plant Operators 51-8013$102,040/yr
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers 51-8093$96,710/yr
- Gas Plant Operators 51-8092$87,820/yr
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators 51-8021$78,620/yr
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 estimates. Wage figures are BLS OEWS estimates and may not reflect current pay.