Nuclear power reactor operator
Operates and controls nuclear reactors by moving control rods, monitoring and adjusting controls, recording data, and following emergency procedures.
Will AI replace nuclear power reactor operator jobs?
AI changes jobs more often than it replaces them. How much AI can help with this work: Low. More AI overlap than 23 in 100 jobs. AI touches a small part of this work. Most of the job happens with your hands, your body or in person. 0% of this job’s working time is already spent on tasks people bring to AI at work (Anthropic Economic Index). Based on Microsoft research on real AI use at work, matched to the tasks of each job in O*NET.
What AI already helps with
- Give orders to staff by radio or intercom to coordinate auxiliary equipment
- Record operating data, like results of safety tests
- Review and edit standard operating procedures
What stays human
- Run reactors following policies that protect workers and the environment
- Adjust controls to position rods and regulate power and coolant temperature
- Set up lockouts and tagouts so equipment can be repaired safely
10-year outlook · USA
Expected change in the number of these jobs by 2035: -5.9%. Typical pay: $122,890 a year. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. German figures differ, but the direction is usually similar.
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