7 Nuclear Careers that Don't Require an Engineering Degree

The people that build, operate, and maintain nuclear power plants are highly trained, hard-working, and well-paid.

Source: Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy

Their salaries are typically 50% higher on average than other energy generation sources.

Some of those dedicated folks are engineers or nuclear scientists, with years of advanced education and high-level degrees.

But you don’t have to be an engineer to work in nuclear energy.

In fact, the majority of nuclear careers don’t require a four-year degree.

Many good-paying, union jobs in the industry are open to applicants with just a high school degree or equivalent.

From welders to operators to scuba divers, read on for some of the nuclear career paths that have plenty of room for growth.

Reactor Operator

Reactor operators are responsible for a nuclear plant’s most essential functions, from starting and stopping the reactor to raising and lowering control rods, monitoring sensor data, and more. Some spend most of their time in the control room, while others roam the plant taking readings and making adjustments to keep things humming along.

Operators go through years of rigorous, employer-provided training to get proficient at reading and manipulating the plant’s controls. But to get started as a reactor operator, you don’t need anything more than a high school degree.

Many reactor operators get their start in the U.S. Navy before transitioning to the energy industry. Entry-level workers can start as non-licensed operators and work towards positions with higher levels of responsibility — and higher salaries.

Radiation Protection Technician

Safety is paramount in nuclear energy, and the industry has the track record to prove it. Radiation exposure is a potential hazard whenever nuclear material is present, but that risk is carefully managed at nuclear power plants by safety personnel.

Radiation protection technicians monitor radiation levels throughout the plant and help ensure compliance with NRC guidelines. These dedicated team members also work on emergency preparedness, ensure that workers who spend time in radioactive areas follow safety procedures, and keep track of plant employees’ radiation exposure.

Getting started as a radiation protection technician is possible with a high school degree and a week-long training course.

Construction Worker

Nuclear power plants are massive construction projects. According to estimates, building a large light-water reactor like the ones currently operating in the United States employs an average of 7,000 workers at peak construction.

Construction workers on a nuclear energy project handle excavation, pouring concrete, operating heavy machinery, and moving enormous quantities of materials like steel rebar.

Some of tomorrow’s advanced reactors will be smaller and faster to build thanks to advancements in standardized, modular construction — but plenty of labor will still be needed to deploy them across the United States.

Welder/Welding Inspector

Every nuclear power plant needs welders.

The basic function of a nuclear reactor is to use the heat from the fission reaction to boil water and create steam, which drives a turbine to generate electricity.

That heat and pressure make it important to regularly inspect the reactor’s metal components, from pipes to valves to the reactor vessel itself.

Welding inspectors examine these components for wear and tear and can even deploy tools like X-rays and ultrasonic machines to reveal invisible flaws before they become a problem. Welders fix trouble spots wherever they arise — even underwater — to keep the reactor and steam generator running smoothly around the clock.

Welding is a skilled trade with several paths to entry including community college courses, training centers, and apprenticeships.

Diver

Would you believe that scuba diver is a real nuclear energy career? It’s true!

Many nuclear power plants use water from lakes, rivers, or the ocean to cool their reactors. Divers inspect those intakes and outflows regularly to keep them clear of obstructions like debris and shellfish.

Inside the plant, inspections and repairs sometimes need to be done underwater. Highly trained divers wearing protective gear venture into places like the spent fuel pool or reactor vessel to conduct critical maintenance work where no one else can reach.

Commercial diving certifications are offered by many community colleges and diving academies across the United States.

Outage Planner

One beauty of nuclear energy is that it’s always on. Commercial nuclear plants in the United States operated at full power a staggering 93 percent of the time in 2023, higher than any other energy source.

But with so little downtime, how do you fit in the inspections and maintenance that can’t be done while the reactor is operating?

You do it during a refueling outage.

Nuclear plants only need to be refueled every 18 to 24 months, so shutting down the reactor to swap out the spent fuel rods is a big deal.

Outage planners carefully orchestrate every step of the process far in advance so all the refueling, repairs, and preventative maintenance happen without a moment wasted — and the plant can get back to generating carbon-free electricity.

Planners don’t need an engineering degree — just solid organizational ability, an eye for detail, and project management skills that can be developed on the job or at technical institutions.

Physical Security

Visit a nuclear power plant, and you will see how seriously the industry takes security.

Physical security personnel protect the perimeter of the plant, control access to sensitive areas, screen and monitor visitor movements, and safeguard nuclear material — including the spent fuel stored securely on site at nuclear plants across the United States.

Physical security accounts for roughly 20% of the staffing at nuclear plants. Nuclear security teams train continuously to prepare for a wide range of potential threats to plant security.

No engineering degree required — although military and law enforcement experience can be a plus.

Article posted by:

Levi Gwaltney

Levi Gwaltney is the Editor In Chief of Las Cruces Digest. The Editor makes editorial and posting decisions regarding content published on this site. In most cases, the Editor makes little if any contribution to content published, and takes no credit for the content of republished posts. If available, the source or author of posts is provided at the top of the article.