Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
Collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment.
Also called: Health Physics Technician (HP Tech) · Nuclear Chemistry Technician · Radiation Control Technician (Radcon Technician) · Radiation Protection Specialist (RP Specialist) · Radiation Protection Technician (RPT) · Radiation Technician
Median pay (national)
$104,240
$64,370–$126,890 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
5,990
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-7.7%
~700 openings/yr
Typical entry
Associate's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for nuclear monitoring technicians shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $126,890 versus $64,370 at the bottom 10% — 2.0x. The median of $104,240 leaves roughly 22% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -7.7% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 700 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 14 states with released data, New York pays the most for this role (median $121,460, +17% vs the national median), while Tennessee sits lowest at $94,620 — a 28% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Science
- Learning Strategies
- Active Learning
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Analyze samples, such as air or water samples, for contaminants or other elements.
- Prepare reports describing contamination tests, material or equipment decontaminated, or methods used in decontamination processes.
- Provide initial response to abnormal events or to alarms from radiation monitoring equipment.
- Determine or recommend radioactive decontamination procedures, according to the size and nature of equipment and the degree of contamination.
- Determine intensities and types of radiation in work areas, equipment, or materials, using radiation detectors or other instruments.
- Instruct personnel in radiation safety procedures and demonstrate use of protective clothing and equipment.
- Brief workers on radiation levels in work areas.
- Inform supervisors when individual exposures or area radiation levels approach maximum permissible limits.
- Collect samples of air, water, gases, or solids to determine radioactivity levels of contamination.
- Set up equipment that automatically detects area radiation deviations and test detection equipment to ensure its accuracy.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Azure software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Windows Server
- Oracle Java
- Structured query language SQL
- AVEVA InTouch HMI
- Connectivity software
- Gamma waste assay system GWAS
- Google Compute Engine (GCE)
- Radiological assessment display and control system RADACS
- RESRAD
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Knowledge areas
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Public Safety and Security
- Chemistry
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
- Mechanical