Nuclear Technicians
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 19-4051.00
Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.26
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 16 hidden tasks21 rated tasks · 5 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (23.8%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 3 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Calculate equipment operating factors, such as radiation times, dosages, temperatures, gamma intensities, or pressures, using standard formulas and conversion tables.O*NET Task ID 22319 | 1.0 |
Prepare reports to communicate information such as contamination test results, decontamination results, or decontamination procedures.O*NET Task ID 22325 | 1.0 |
Monitor nuclear reactor equipment performance to identify operational inefficiencies, hazards, or needs for maintenance or repair.O*NET Task ID 22310 | 0.5 |
Monitor instruments, gauges, or recording devices under direction of nuclear experimenters.O*NET Task ID 22315 | 0.5 |
Determine or recommend radioactive decontamination procedures, according to the size and nature of equipment and the degree of contamination.O*NET Task ID 22327 | 0.5 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (18)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Follow nuclear equipment operational policies and procedures that ensure environmental safety. | Core |
| Conduct surveillance testing to determine safety of nuclear equipment. | Core |
| Monitor nuclear reactor equipment performance to identify operational inefficiencies, hazards, or needs for maintenance or repair. | Core |
| Test plant equipment to ensure it is operating properly. | Core |
| Apply safety tags to equipment needing maintenance. | Core |
| Follow policies and procedures for radiation workers to ensure personnel safety. | Core |
| Modify, devise, or maintain nuclear equipment used in operations. | Core |
| Monitor instruments, gauges, or recording devices under direction of nuclear experimenters. | Supplemental |
| Perform testing, maintenance, repair, or upgrading of accelerator systems. | Supplemental |
| Warn maintenance workers of radiation hazards and direct workers to vacate hazardous areas. | Supplemental |
| Calculate equipment operating factors, such as radiation times, dosages, temperatures, gamma intensities, or pressures, using standard formulas and conversion tables. | Supplemental |
| Measure the intensity and identify the types of radiation in work areas, equipment, or materials, using radiation detectors or other instruments. | Supplemental |
| Communicate with accelerator maintenance personnel to ensure readiness of support systems, such as vacuum, water cooling, or radio frequency power sources. | Supplemental |
| Identify and implement appropriate decontamination procedures, based on equipment and the size, nature, and type of contamination. | Supplemental |
| Decontaminate objects by cleaning them using soap or solvents or by abrading using brushes, buffing machines, or sandblasting machines. | Supplemental |
| Collect air, water, gas or solid samples for testing to determine radioactivity levels or to ensure appropriate radioactive containment. | Supplemental |
| Determine or recommend radioactive decontamination procedures, according to the size and nature of equipment and the degree of contamination. | — |
| Set up equipment that automatically detects area radiation deviations and test detection equipment to ensure its accuracy. | — |
0.87/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Follow nuclear equipment operational policies and procedures that ensure environmental safety. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Conduct surveillance testing to determine safety of nuclear equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Monitor nuclear reactor equipment performance to identify operational inefficiencies, hazards, or needs for maintenance or repair. | E2 structured facilities |
| Test plant equipment to ensure it is operating properly. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Apply safety tags to equipment needing maintenance. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Follow policies and procedures for radiation workers to ensure personnel safety. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Modify, devise, or maintain nuclear equipment used in operations. | E0 none |
| Perform testing, maintenance, repair, or upgrading of accelerator systems. | E0 none |
| Measure the intensity and identify the types of radiation in work areas, equipment, or materials, using radiation detectors or other instruments. | E2 structured facilities |
| Identify and implement appropriate decontamination procedures, based on equipment and the size, nature, and type of contamination. | E0 none |
| Decontaminate objects by cleaning them using soap or solvents or by abrading using brushes, buffing machines, or sandblasting machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Collect air, water, gas or solid samples for testing to determine radioactivity levels or to ensure appropriate radioactive containment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set up equipment that automatically detects area radiation deviations and test detection equipment to ensure its accuracy. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
Values for the whole SOC 19-4051 group (Nuclear technicians), not for this O*NET occupation alone.
- Employment, 2025
- 7K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 7K
- Change (2025–35)
- +1.1%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $110,240
- Typical education needed for entry
- Associate's degree
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21331 | 물리학 시험원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 3119Physical and Engineering Science Technicians Not Elsewhere Classified
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
This unit group covers physical and engineering science technicians not classified elsewhere in Minor Group 311: Physical and Engineering Science Technicians. For instance, the unit group includes those who assist scientists and engineers engaged in developing procedures or conducting research on safety, biomedical, environmental or industrial and production engineering.
Tasks
- In such cases tasks would include -
- (a) collecting data and providing technical assistance regarding: efficient, safe and economic utilization of personnel, material and equipment; methods of work and sequence of operations and supervision of their implementation; and efficient layout of plant or establishment;
- (b) aiding in the identification of potential hazards and introducing safety procedures and devices;
- (c) modifying and testing equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental pollution, site remediation and land reclamation;
- (d) assisting in the development of environmental pollution remediation devices under the direction of an engineer;
- (e) assisting engineers in testing and designing robotics equipment.
Example occupations
Engineering technician (production) · Fire investigator · Forensic science technician · Quantity surveying technician · Robotics technician · Time and motion study technician
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- nuclear technicianESCO 3111.10Same scope
Nuclear technicians function as aids to physicists and engineers in nuclear laboratories and power plants. They monitor the procedures to ensure safety and quality control, and maintain equipment. They also handle and control radioactive equipment and measure radiation levels to ensure safety.
- physics technicianESCO 3111.11This occupation is narrower
Physics technicians monitor physical processes and perform tests for manufacturing, educational or scientific purposes. They work in laboratories, schools or production facilities where they assist physicists in their work. Physics technicians perform technical or practical work and report about their results.
- nuclear reactor operatorESCO 3131.1.6Overlapping, not the same
Nuclear reactor operators directly control nuclear reactors in power plants from control panels, and are solely responsible for the alterations in reactor reactivity. They start up operations and react to changes in status such as casualties and critical events. They monitor parameters and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H2706 | Opérateur / Opératrice de production en énergie nucléaire | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H2707 | Technicien / Technicienne essais en industrie nucléaire | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H2708 | Technicien / Technicienne d'exploitation nucléaire | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| K1734 | Spécialiste du soutien armement nucléaire | Related, not a match |
| K1738 | Spécialiste du soutien ou de la formation propulsion nucléaire | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 3121 | Técnicos en ciencias físicas y químicas | Related, not a match |
| 3131 | Técnicos en instalaciones de producción de energía | Related, not a match |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 26233 | Berufe in der Energie- und Kraftwerkstechnik - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 42333 | Strahlenschutzbeauftragte - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 089 | その他の製造技術者（開発を除く） | Related, not a match |
| 641 | 発電員，変電員 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources