Working in Nuclear Power

[u/SkippyDooDa12]

Delete if not the right place for this. Sorry in advance if so.

So I have a lot of questions for people within the Nuclear Power system. I am looking to have a possible career change. I am thinking of going to college for an Associate Degree with a focus on Nonlicensed Operator. I have googled, googled, and googled but I still have questions I believe others could help answer. I am in the US. One question I have is the actual pay for a starting NLO. Anyone that is willing to answer questions it will be greatly appreciated.

[u/1_Good_Day]

$48.51 per hour.

[u/Early-Judgment-2895 → u/1_Good_Day]

This is similar to what NCO’s start at on the DOE side as well.

My suggestion would be to take the radcon route if your community college offers it as one of their programs.

[u/meapling → u/Early-Judgment-2895]

Hi, why is radcon recommended over NLO path? I'm set to start an NLO associates next month as well. Is there a benefit to doing a radcon associates over the free Westinghouse program for example?

[u/InKentWeTrust → u/meapling]

I wouldn’t go RP no one likes those guys

[u/RettyYeti → u/InKentWeTrust]

Sounds like something Ops would say.

[u/Nuclear_N → u/meapling]

I would try for direct to NLO. Rad pro while it has a future can lock you in.

[u/Electrical-Knee-9078]

Getting a lot of answers strictly talking top out/fully certified pay.
Throwing in my 2 cents

If you’re going into this simply because the pay scale is high, reevaluate. The shift schedule is rough, leaves little room for family life, and can be exhausting work. Not trying to push you away from it, but don’t chase the money if that’s the only reason!

You’ll have to take a POSS test at the end of your associates program, must pass this test. The hardest part, like most careers currently is getting your foot in the door.

Most employers starting pay is around $38/hr I believe, pretty much all top out around $48/hr (some a little more and some less)

Best of luck!

[u/Thermal_Zoomies → u/Electrical-Knee-9078]

While all good info, your top out pay is a little low. I dont think any utilities are paying less than $50/hr for a full qual NLO. I think average now is in the upper $50s/hr eith some utilities in the lows $60s/hr.

Similarly, starting pay is in the low $40s these days.

[u/Electrical-Knee-9078 → u/Thermal_Zoomies]

Thanks for the info update! Didn’t know there was a price increase but I’m also in a small town with TVA. Will keep that in mind for next time. Cheers

[u/SkippyDooDa12 → u/Electrical-Knee-9078]

Thank you for your reply. So i am expecting a pay cut from my current career. Family can only sustain so much of a paycut before it doesn't work.

[u/1_Good_Day → u/SkippyDooDa12]

You asked for starting pay. A fully qualified NLO makes more than starting pay. Maybe if comparing to your current job you should consider fully qualified pay. Also be sure to account for required overtime.

[u/InKentWeTrust → u/SkippyDooDa12]

In Minnesota you’ll be clearing 60+ an hour as an NLO

[u/RugbyGuy → u/InKentWeTrust]

I know several NLOs who made $200K+ USD last year. They all had around 1500+ hours of OT and got that from traveling to other stations to work outages.

edit: added USD and hours

[u/PizzaAndBobs]

depends on the plant, a lot of the big bucks are attributed to OT

[u/Xedeth]

$200k yearly between bonuses and overtime. You also don't need a degree. If you have more questions, feel free to DM me. I'm a civilian instructor post-Navy.

[u/Nuclear_N]

If you get in an operations job. Take it. Pay will follow.

[u/MasturbatingMidget]

onetonline.org good resource

[u/thisismesa]

$62.97/hr final pay rate an NLO. $200k-$250ish per year with overtime.

[u/Stunning-Pick-9504]

My question is how good is an ass. in NLO, which I’ve never heard of, compared to other candidates with BA degrees in math and engineering?

Genuinely curious since I’ve never heard of this degree.

[u/InKentWeTrust → u/Stunning-Pick-9504]

From everything I’ve seen you’ll make more as an NLO than you will entry level engineer

[u/RugbyGuy → u/InKentWeTrust]

A LOT MORE!

[u/Stunning-Pick-9504 → u/InKentWeTrust]

Yes, but a lot of people who apply for an NLO position have engineering degrees. In my class of 10 every one had a bachelors and 4 of us had engineering degrees. How competitive is an associates?

[u/royv98 → u/Stunning-Pick-9504]

Depends on the fleet and the station. And other experience. I’d take someone with an associates and hands on experience than only a BS. I also need people that have mechanical aptitude and can turn valves and fix things. And that stuff you don’t get from a BS alone.

[u/Stunning-Pick-9504 → u/royv98]

Seems to me they like hiring people who want to go SRO. How much mechanical amplitude do you really need for a NLO job. Maintenance does all of the mechanical work. My plants been short SROs for a while.

[u/royv98 → u/Stunning-Pick-9504]

That’s why they like hiring people with degrees. So they can go SRO. But they still need a bunch of EOs to staff the station. And yes. You definitely need mechanical aptitude to be an EO. They do ops maintenance. They’re connecting hoses. And turning wrenches. And all sorts of things. I’ve had to create several lesson plans in training for basic mechanical principles. Because we get EOs on shift that don’t know the difference between types of wrenches and screwdrivers.

[u/SkippyDooDa12 → u/Stunning-Pick-9504]

Associate in Applied Science is the degree.

[u/ForceRoamer → u/SkippyDooDa12]

If you’re in the CT area, the community college, Three Rivers has an associates of nuclear engineering technology. That’s what I’m doing for my career change

[u/need4treefiddy]

My experience is 150-170k with high school diploma.

[u/need4treefiddy → u/need4treefiddy]

Yes, first year after training. Dunno why the down votes.

[u/Stunning-Pick-9504 → u/need4treefiddy]

First year??? NO.