18 Nuclear Energy Jobs (With Salaries And Job Descriptions)

Updated 2 January 2023

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The nuclear energy sector is critical to the national infrastructure, contributing to the supply of clean, safe and reliable electricity. This field offers a wide range of careers that often require unique and highly technical skills. If you want to pursue a career in nuclear energy, learning about the jobs available can help you find a suitable role. In this article, we share 18 nuclear energy jobs and discuss their primary duties and average salaries to help you plan the next step in your career.

18 Nuclear Energy Jobs

There are a wide range of nuclear energy jobs available, and they require varied qualifications and skills. These roles may be on site in a nuclear power plant or in the field. Here are 18 careers in the nuclear energy industry:

1. Maintenance Technician

National average salary: ₹2,23,652 per year

Primary duties: Maintenance technicians are nuclear energy sector personnel who maintain the equipment at an industrial facility, including plumbing and electrical systems. They respond to on-site repair requests, maintain alarm systems and take part in safety drills. Maintenance technicians may also keep the management team up to date on the status of the facility's infrastructure and inform them if the building or equipment requires maintenance.

2. Field Engineer

National average salary: ₹2,27,298 per year

Primary duties: Field engineers work anywhere on the infrastructure of a nuclear energy system to maintain and service critical components. Their duties include installing, testing and maintaining equipment. Their employer may schedule their work, or they may be on call to respond to emergency on- or off-site requests.

3. Electrical Engineer

National average salary: ₹3,08,504 per year

Primary duties: An electrical engineer designs, creates and maintains key electrical systems in the energy sector, such as observation, safety or communication systems. They remain innovative by keeping up to date with industry trends and technology. Electrical engineers collaborate with the wider engineering team to respond to the requests and concerns of the nuclear power station's managers. They create, test, implement and maintain electrical engineering solutions.

4. Utility Operator

National average salary: ₹2,33,268 per year

Primary duties: Utility operators are responsible for the installation, maintenance and repair of industrial equipment, including wastewater systems, heating, ventilation and cabling. Their role typically involves managing inventory, monitoring gauges and conducting chemical analyses. Senior utility operators may plan and implement solutions to improve operations at a nuclear power plant.

5. Mechanical Engineer

National average salary: ₹5,70,963 per year

Primary duties: Mechanical engineers design and produce critical components used in the nuclear energy sector, including steam turbines, engines and ventilation and air conditioning systems. They may also examine machinery and systems to check for issues or design and test new products. They may work in a variety of environments, including offices, laboratories, factories and nuclear power plants.

6. Valve Technician

National average salary: ₹3,92,954 per year

Primary duties: Valve technicians are engineers who specialise in the examination, maintenance and repair of the valves, pipes and surrounding structures used in industrial operations. They ensure this equipment withstands high pressure, turns on and off correctly and functions in line with regulatory and safety standards.

7. Chemist

National average salary: ₹2,44,291 per year

Primary duties: In a nuclear power plant, a chemist performs tests and monitors the critical chemical reactions that routinely take place there. They monitor and maintain the water chemistry to limit corrosion and control the neutron flux of a pressurised water reactor. Nuclear energy chemists can also develop and test plans and chemical equations, collaborating with industry stakeholders to innovate chemical protocols throughout the nuclear energy sector.

8. Electrical Engineer

National average salary: ₹3,08,504 per year

Primary duties: Electrical engineers develop, implement and maintain critical electrical systems that include monitoring, control and communications systems. They keep up to date on industry technologies and trends so that they can apply them innovatively in their work. Many electrical engineers in the nuclear energy sector collaborate as part of a wider engineering team to create novel solutions to key issues in their industry.

9. Security Officer

National average salary: ₹2,57,022 per year

Primary duties: A security officer ensures the premises of a nuclear energy facility are secure from unauthorised access. Nuclear power companies often deploy security professionals in teams, covering the entire property to ensure the protection of equipment and personnel. A security officer's role often involves handling sensitive information or equipment, so they may be subject to an enhanced level of disclosure.

10. Control Room Operator

National average salary: ₹2,62,350 per year

Primary duties: Control room operators monitor the functions of a nuclear power plant. This role has a high level of responsibility and operatives often require enhanced security clearance. They operate and monitor highly specialised equipment, maintain a data log of operations and ensure that the nuclear power plant is operating in line with stringent safety protocols.

11. Nuclear Power Reactor Operator

National average salary: ₹2,52,476 per year

Primary duties: A nuclear power reactor operator has a highly technical role that involves overseeing the energy distribution at a nuclear power plant. Their duties include monitoring levels of radioactivity and chemicals, adjusting control rods and reviewing the functionality of turbines and cooling systems. Nuclear power reactor operators keep meticulous records and continually seek to develop more efficient ways to optimise power reactor performance and safety.

12. Environmental Analyst

National average salary: ₹3,15,035 per year

Primary duties: Environmental analysts are scientists who undertake detailed analyses of the environment, including the condition and quality of soil, water and air. They then use the data to devise and propose strategies to improve environmental conditions and health. In industrial or nuclear energy settings, environmental analysts lead wide-ranging assessments of the impact of nuclear energy infrastructure on the surrounding region so that energy sector stakeholders can protect the local environment from contamination.

13. Safety Specialist

National average salary: ₹2,95,527 per year

Primary duties: Safety specialists focus on safety procedures in a power plant. They evaluate performance and suggest strategies to make procedures safer. They may work for a facility permanently or work contractually to undertake a specific project. They review and amend existing safety protocols and may also design and implement new ones in line with industry regulations or legislation.

14. Computer Scientist

National average salary: ₹5,47,333 per year

Primary duties: Computer scientists develop the computer-based technology that controls critical processes in a nuclear power plant. They may create custom solutions using new and existing technology. Their duties include assessing computer and system functions, writing and revising code and collaborating with other IT professionals. Computer scientists may also work in academic positions in addition to their nuclear energy sector roles.

15. Software Engineer

National average salary: ₹5,59,554 per year

Primary duties: Software engineers develop and update the software for computer systems in a nuclear power plant and its associated companies. They use their programming expertise and engineering strategies to write code, test applications, maintain data logs and collaborate with fellow IT professionals. Software engineers can use their skills to support teams throughout the nuclear energy industry, from research and development to sales.

16. Environmental Manager

National average salary: ₹5,21,020 per year

Primary duties: Environmental managers evaluate the procedures of a nuclear power plant to ensure that they comply with environmental legislation and regulations. Their role involves working closely with the leadership of a nuclear energy company to establish industrial and working practices that protect the environment. They may also create staff training programmes, undertake research and propose improvements that the company can implement.

17. Plan Manager

National average salary: ₹6,26,120 per year

Primary duties: A plan manager oversees the planning of projects. They may create budgets and coordinate with the contractors, suppliers and service providers who are taking part in the project. Plan managers also supervise staff and meet with stakeholders to determine company goals, develop operational plans and ensure the organisation follows the relevant regulations.

18. Research Scientist

National average salary: ₹5,18,095 per year

Primary duties: Research scientists may devise and run experiments in the nuclear energy sector. They collect and interpret data using various research methods. They then publish the results of their research and share it with industry stakeholders and investors.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.