Nuclear technology is one of the most prominent fields of research and engineering. This is because it is one of the most promising technologies that can provide the world with an endless supply of clean energy. Not only that, but nuclear technology also has multiple other benefits, as it is helping scientists from Physics, and Chemistry accurately understand the basics of an element and what is inside an atom. These studies have led to many scientific breakthroughs, for example, nuclear fission technology, and nuclear fusion discovery.

Most of the nuclear power plants are working using the knowledge of fission to produce electricity. Nuclear technology also has many defense and offense uses as well. Nuclear engineering is one of those engineering majors where you not only learn about nuclear science but also learn about engineering in the field of nuclear technologies. It prepares engineers who not only understand the principles of engineering but also the principles of nuclear science and technology. This is also one of the very rewarding fields as it offers some of the highest salaries and other job benefits. Below is a list of some of the best career choices after a degree in nuclear engineering.

Top 15 Career Choices After a Nuclear Engineering Degree:

Here are the top 15 best and highest paying career choices after a Nuclear Engineering degree.

• Nuclear Engineer
• Nuclear Scientist
• Health and Safety Engineer
• Nuclear Reactor Operator
• Nuclear Power Plant Manager
• Nuclear Material Mining Engineer
• Nuclear Waste Treatment Worker
• Engineering Project Manager
• Radiation Shielding Consultant
• Electrical Transmission Engineer
• Nuclear Technician
• Instrumentation and Control Engineer
• Nuclear Inspector
• Writer/Author/Journalist
• Teacher/Professor

Below is the detail about each of these career choices in Nuclear Engineering.

1. Nuclear Engineer:

After completing your degree in nuclear engineering, you can become a nuclear engineer. This is one of the top positions in many nuclear power plants and nuclear projects. Nuclear engineers work under project managers or lead researchers. Apart from working in power plants, nuclear engineers also work on research projects such as large hadrons colliders and others. They also work as consultants to the companies offering services related to nuclear technologies. Nuclear engineers are also responsible for engineering processes for safety and creating instruments, tests, and systems that will either increase the output or will benefit the industry.

As it is one of the top engineer positions, you might need a master’s degree for this job. Apart from that, you can join as a junior engineer and after gaining experience, you can be promoted to this position. According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of nuclear engineers is about $116,140. It is one of those jobs that offer a six-figure salary after a master’s degree. The top ten percent can make more than $185,550 and the lowest ten percent earners make about $74,800. The total number of people employed as nuclear engineers is about 17,200. According to this data, this profession will not add any new jobs as it has a negative growth rate of -8%. This indicates the loss of jobs over the past few years.

2. Nuclear Scientist:

You can also become a Nuclear Scientist after this degree. This is also one of the top and highest paying jobs in this profession. It is a job for those with experience and knowledge in this field. As a nuclear engineer, you will not only be researching the process of fission or fusion but will also be researching multiple objects that are used in nuclear research. Nuclear researchers work on multiple topics that are either assigned to them by the government, university department, or research bodies and they publish their findings in research papers.

It is also one of those jobs where you will need at least a master’s degree or doctorate. This is one of the highest-paying jobs in research fields. According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of nuclear scientists is about $156,530. The top ten percent can make more than $208,000 and the lowest ten percent earners make about $90,000. The total number of people employed as nuclear scientists is about 2,580 and the profession will grow at the rate of 2.9% over the next ten years. This is one of the slowest growth rates but it indicates that this profession will add some jobs in the future.

3. Health and Safety Engineer:

After completing your education in nuclear engineering, you can become a Health and Safety Engineer in the nuclear industry. Their job is to ensure the safety of everyone that works at a radioactive site, or nuclear power plant. It is also their job to make sure that every device that has radioactive material inside it is safer for normal usage. For example, many devices use small amounts of radioactive materials, and Health and Safety Engineers make sure that these safety limits are met when a company develops any device or product.

Apart from government jobs, there are also many private jobs in this field. You can work for businesses and agencies that deal with radioactive materials. According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of Health and Safety Engineers is about $94,240. The top ten percent can make more than $144,800 and the lowest ten percent earners make about $55,390. The total number of people employed as Health and Safety Engineer is about 24,100 and the profession will grow at the rate of 6% between 2020 to 2030. According to this data, this profession will only add 2500 new jobs, indicating a higher level of competition for each job position.

4. Nuclear Reactor Operator:

You can also become a nuclear reactor operator after completing your nuclear engineering degree. This degree will give you all the knowledge and skills that you will need to successfully operate a nuclear reactor. Reactor and power plant operators are employed by power generation companies, and also by the government agencies and energy departments. They work on safely operating the nuclear reactors and power plants so that they can keep generating clean energy and safely dispose of the nuclear waste materials. This is one of those jobs where many nuclear scientists, engineers, technicians work under your command.

You can this job after a bachelor’s degree but to reach the top level in this profession, you will need advanced knowledge and skills. This job also requires some on-the-job training as well. According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of nuclear reactor operators is about $89,090. The top ten percent can make more than $121,490 and the lowest ten percent earners make about $55,000. The total number of people employed as nuclear reactor operators is about 49,000 and the profession will decline at the rate of -14%. This negative growth rate shows that this profession is losing jobs and has a lot of competition.

5. Nuclear Power Plant Manager:

Nuclear Power Plants produce a large portion of electricity for the United States. These power plants are operated by the U.S government and state contractors. These power plants also need proper management. Power plant operating companies and the U.S government hires professional managers for this job. Their job is to manage everything related to power plants. A nuclear engineer can also become a power plant manager because they have all the technical knowledge about the power plant.

But you may also need an additional diploma, or training apart from a degree in nuclear engineering to become a plant manager. According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of a nuclear power plant manager is about $104,040. The top ten percent can make more than $121,490 and the lowest ten percent earners make about $51,670. The total number of people employed as political scientists is about 5,300 and the profession will grow at the rate of -9%. From this, it is concluded that this profession is declining and will lose jobs over the years.

6. Nuclear Material Mining Engineer:

After completing your education in the field of nuclear engineering, you can become a nuclear material mining engineer. There are a lot of mining companies that extract nuclear materials from mines. These companies need mining engineers who not only know about mining but also about nuclear material. So that they can create a better and safer mining environment and provide consultancy in different matters related to the process of refining the ore.

You can get this job after a bachelor’s degree but if you have a master’s degree or doctorate, your chances of employment will increase. According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of nuclear material mining engineers is about $93,800. The top ten percent can make more than $140,000 and the lowest ten percent earners make about $65,000. The total number of people employed as political scientists is about 6,300 and the profession will grow at the rate of 4%, which is an average fast growth rate. It indicates lower job opportunities and higher competition.

7. Nuclear Waste Treatment Worker:

Nuclear materials need to be treated properly as they can leak radiation if they are not properly disposed of. It is one of the biggest problems in the nuclear industry. There are many ways to safely dispose of radioactive material but any mistake in the process can lead to disastrous results. That is why many companies, agencies, and nuclear power plants turn towards professionals who are trained in nuclear waste treatment work. All the knowledge and skills that a nuclear engineer needs for this job come from a nuclear engineering degree.

You can get this job with a diploma, but if you have a bachelor’s degree, your employability will increase. According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of nuclear waste treatment workers is about $45,270. The top ten percent can make more than $100,000 and the lowest ten percent earners make about $30,000. The total number of people employed as nuclear waste treatment workers is about 44,500 and the profession will grow at the rate of 7% between 2020 to 2030. According to this data, this profession will create more than 2,900 new jobs.

8. Engineering Project Manager:

You can also become an engineering project manager after completing your degree in nuclear engineering. The job of a project manager is to manage a project from the perspective of an engineer. For example, if a company is developing a new project related to nuclear technology or starting a new power plant, they will hire an engineering project manager who would oversee the engineering process. For example, if a reactor is being built, the engineering project manager will have the best knowledge about structure and engineering process and also a lot of knowledge about nuclear engineering.

This job requires a master’s degree with some experience in project management. You can also get this job with a bachelor’s degree but you will need at least five years’ experience. According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of political scientists is about $149,530. The top ten percent can make more than $208,000 and the lowest ten percent earners make about $95,310. The total number of people employed as engineering project managers is about 197,800 and the profession will grow at the rate of 4% which is an average growth rate. From this, we can conclude that it will produce more than 8,100 new jobs.

9. Radiation Shielding Consultant:

After completing your degree in nuclear engineering, you can become a radiation shielding consultant. Their job is to consult with companies, governments, and agencies and provide insight about their devices if they are using radiation. For example, radiation shielding in hospitals, where cancer patients are treated with the help of radiation therapy. They also help develop risk assessment, create rules and regulations related to radiation use and shielding.

You can get this job after a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering but if you have a master’s degree or doctorate; it would positively impact your employment chances and your salaries. According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of radiation shielding consultants is about $118,908. The top ten percent can make more than $208,000 and the lowest ten percent earners make about $70,000. The total number of people employed as radiation shielding consultants is about 17,200 and this profession has a growth rate of -8% indicating a decrease in the total available jobs.

10. Electrical Transmission Engineer:

You can also become an electrical transmission engineer after completing your degree in nuclear engineering. Nuclear power plants produce a lot of electricity, and this electricity needs to be transmitted from power plants towards distribution facilities. The job of a transmission engineer is to design creative solutions and provide assistance in the electrical transmission process. This job requires knowledge of electrical engineering, the transmission of electricity, and nuclear engineering provides all of this knowledge to you. 

This is also one of those jobs that you can get after a bachelor’s degree. According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of electrical transmission engineers is about $103,390. The total number of jobs in this profession is about 313,200 and it has a growth rate of 7% indicating that this profession will produce new jobs in the future.

11. Nuclear Technician:

You can also become a Nuclear Technician at a nuclear power plant after completing your nuclear engineering degree. This job requires technical knowledge of nuclear power plants, and also about nuclear engineering. This job may not pay as much as the job of a project manager or an engineer but it offers a stable income every year. Some of these jobs also pay a six-figure income to those who have experience in the field.

You can get this job after a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering. According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of nuclear technicians is about $84,190. The top ten percent can make more than $116,680 and the lowest ten percent earners make about $53,570. The total number of people employed as nuclear technicians is about 6,600 and the profession will grow at the rate of -12%. This negative rate of growth shows the loss of jobs over the year.

12. Instrumentation and Control Engineer:

After completing your degree in nuclear engineering, you can also become an instrumentation and control engineer. Their job is to create control equipment and instruments that can be used to control other equipment. For example, they can create hardware devices or robots to detect radiation in different areas of the nuclear reactors where humans cannot go to detect the level of radiation. Apart from the knowledge of nuclear engineering, instrumentation engineers also need a lot of knowledge of electronics, and software engineering as well. It is one of those jobs that offer a six-figure income after a bachelor’s degree.

This job is also one of those career choices that only need a bachelor’s degree and some experience in the field. According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of Instrumentation and Control Engineers is about $103,390. The top ten percent can make more than $150,000 and the lowest ten percent earners make about $60,000. The total number of people employed as instrumentation and control engineers is about 313,200 and the profession will grow at the rate of 7% between 2020 to 2030. This shows that this profession will create more jobs in the future.

13. Nuclear Inspector:

You can also become a nuclear inspector or investigator after completing your degree in nuclear engineering. Nuclear inspectors and investigators are hired by the military, secret services, and other government and private agencies and businesses. Their job is to inspect or investigate matters relevant to nuclear technology, radiology equipment regulations, and nuclear materials. Nuclear inspectors also inspect and test sites for multiple purposes, for example, to declare a site safe or not safe for human presence.

You can get this job after a bachelor’s degree and some experience or on-the-job safety training. According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of a nuclear inspector is about $62,860. The top ten percent can make more than $100,000 and the lowest ten percent earners make about $35,000. The total number of people employed as nuclear inspectors is about 129,300 and it has a growth rate of -3% for the next ten years. This is showing a decline in the number of people employed in this profession.

14. Writer/Author/Journalist:

You can also become a Writer/Author/Journalist after completing your education in the field of nuclear engineering. You can write about multiple topics, for example, what is happening in the nuclear universe. You can write about political events that are happening because of nuclear technology, or how it is impacting the public currently. There are a lot of topics to be explored in this domain and as a nuclear engineer, you will have both the knowledge and required skills to analyze the information and provide factual content for the readers.

Writers can work as journalists and authors. You can also do this as a freelancer. According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of a writer/author/journalist is about $67,120. The top ten percent can make more than $120,000 and the lowest ten percent earners make about $45,000. The total number of people employed as writers/authors/journalists is about 143,200. The growth rate of this profession is about 9% which is an average fast growth rate.

15. Teacher/Professor:

After completing your education in the field of nuclear engineering, you can also become a teacher or professor. University Professors need to have a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering and they should have done some research work in their field as well. But you can teach at colleges and schools with a master’s degree as well. The level of your education will determine the type of education career that you will have. For example, those with a bachelor’s degree can only teach at technical colleges and high schools.

But those with master’s degrees can teach at colleges and to become a university professor, you must have some research knowledge and a Ph.D. According to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of a Teacher/Professor is about $80,560. The top ten percent can make more than $150,000 and the lowest ten percent earners make about $65,000. The total number of people employed as Teacher/Professor is about 1,276,900 and the profession will grow at the rate of 12%. This indicates low competition and more job opportunities.

Benefits and Salaries for Nuclear Engineering Related Jobs:

Job Position	Requirements	Number of Jobs	Job outlook	Median Income
Nuclear Engineer	Bachelor-Master-Ph.D.	17,200	-8%	$116,140
Nuclear Scientist	Bachelor-Master-Ph.D.	2.508	3%	$156,530
Health and Safety Engineer	Bachelor-Master-Ph.D.	24,100	6%	$94,240
Nuclear Reactor Operator	Bachelor-Master-Ph.D.	49,000	-4%	$89,090
Nuclear Power Plant Manager	Bachelor-Master-Ph.D.	5,300	-9%	$104,040
Nuclear Material Mining Engineer	Bachelor-Master-Ph.D.	6,300	4%	$93,800
Nuclear Waste Treatment Worker	Bachelor-Master-Ph.D.	44,500	7%	$45,270
Engineering Project Manager	Bachelor-Master-Ph.D.	197,800	4%	$149,530
Radiation Shielding Consultant	Bachelor-Master-Ph.D.	17,200	-8%	$118,908
Electrical Transmission Engineer	Bachelor-Master-Ph.D.	313,200	7%	$103,390
Nuclear Technician	Bachelor-Master-Ph.D.	6,600	-12%	$84,190
Instrumentation and Control Engineer	Bachelor-Master-Ph.D.	313,200	7%	$103,390
Nuclear Inspector	Bachelor-Master-Ph.D.	129,300	-3%	$62,860
Writer/Author/Journalist	Bachelor-Master-Ph.D.	143,200	9%	$67,120
Teacher/Professor	Bachelor-Master-Ph.D.	1,276,900	12%	$80,560

Note 🙁 Bachelors for the job and Masters for further promotion) data source Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Types of Nuclear Engineering Degrees:

Here is the list of the top three degrees that you can do with a Nuclear Engineering major.

1.   Bachelor’s Degree:

A bachelor’s in nuclear engineering is a four-year-long university degree. In this degree, you will learn about engineering, technology, nuclear fission and fusion processes, nuclear reactor operations, and many other similar subjects. This degree requires the completion of 120 credit hours and can cost more than $150,000.

2.   Master’s Degree:

A master’s in nuclear engineering is a 2 more than a 2-year long university degree. This degree provides additional and latest knowledge and skills of nuclear engineering to the students. It enables nuclear engineering professionals to improve their knowledge base and their level of expertise in the field. This degree requires the completion of research work and more than 30 credit hours. It can cost more than $60,000.

3.   Ph.D. or Doctorate:

A doctorate in nuclear engineering is for those who are looking for a career in research fields. This degree will provide you with the skills and knowledge that you need for research. It can take more than four years to complete and can cost more than $200,000.

Skills You Will Learn From Nuclear Engineering Degree:

• Nuclear engineering skills
• Mathematics and statistics skills
• Communication and management skills
• Nuclear waste management skills
• Administrative skills

Conclusion:

Nuclear engineering major enables students to learn about the processes of nuclear physics, and create technologies using this knowledge. It offers the students a deeper insight into engineering and also in the fission and fusion process and how nuclear reactors and power plants work. This knowledge and skills enable them to work in engineering projects related to the nuclear industry. It is one of the most competitive fields as there is a lot of research and hard work required to succeed. But it is also one of the most rewarding majors as well. So, if you are looking for a competitive but rewarding career choice, you should consider nuclear engineering as a college major.

FAQs:

Question: What are the salaries of nuclear engineers?

Answer: According to the data from BLS, the median salary of a nuclear engineer is about $116,140. It is one of those majors that offer a six-figure income after a bachelor’s degree.

Question: What is the scope of nuclear engineering?

Answer: It is one of the most extensive fields of study as it covers engineering, mathematics, physics, nuclear technology, power generation, radioactivity, and the study of many other subjects.

Question: Are there any applications of nuclear engineering?

Answer: Yes, nuclear engineering has many applications. Nuclear engineers are responsible for running nuclear reactors, and power plants. They are also responsible for creating safety measures and producing many technologies that use nuclear fission or fusion processes.