Nuclear Engineering Technology
What Nuclear Engineering Technology Graduates Do
Your career begins on the front lines of energy and research. As a nuclear technician, your day involves monitoring complex control panels in a power plant, using remote-handling equipment to manage materials, and conducting regular tests to ensure the safety of the facility and personnel. You might be collecting air and water samples or calibrating radiation detection instruments. Alternatively, you can apply your skills more broadly as an engineering technologist, helping engineers design and test new equipment in a lab, building prototypes, and meticulously documenting results.
You’ll typically start as a junior technician, learning specific plant systems under close supervision. With experience, you’ll become a trusted independent operator or a health physics specialist responsible for entire systems. This is hands-on work that requires your physical presence and judgment, a skill set that can't be automated. While entry-level pay is solid, experienced senior technicians and specialists command six-figure salaries. The need for skilled technicians to operate, maintain, and decommission critical infrastructure creates consistent, high-paying opportunities for qualified professionals in this essential field.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 10 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Nuclear Engineering Technology. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Additive 3D Printing Technician
RAPIDS 2078HY |
2000-4000 hrs | Hybrid | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Industrial Manufacturing Technician
RAPIDS 2031HY |
2736-3000 hrs | Hybrid | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Industrial Manufacturing Technician (Alternate Title: Manafacturing Production Techician)
RAPIDS 2031CB |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Laboratory Asst, Metallurgical
RAPIDS 621 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Non-Destructive Tester
RAPIDS 1010 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Non-Destructive Tester
RAPIDS 1010CL |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Nondestructive Testing (Ndt) (Existing Title: Non-Destructive Tester) (Military Only)
RAPIDS 1010R |
5920 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Optics Manufacturing Technician
RAPIDS 2045CB |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Radiation Monitor
RAPIDS 1007 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $83K – $104,240 – $114K | -7.7% |
|
Welding Technician
RAPIDS 498 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Best Schools for Nuclear Engineering Technology
1 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR |
58 56–59 |
$74,249/yr | 42.6x |
Highest Earning Nuclear Engineering Technology Programs
Schools where Nuclear Engineering Technology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Tech University | $74,249/yr | 58 |
Best ROI for Nuclear Engineering Technology
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Nuclear Engineering Technology.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Tech University | 42.6x | $74,249/yr | 58 |
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