MINORITY ENGINEER

The Career Magazine for Entry-Level and Professional Engineers

FA L L 2 0 0 9

NUCLEAR ENERGY JOBS:

Opportunity And Top Salaries

“It is important “With unemployment rates among
the minority community higher
to talk about than the overall national average,
which itself is staggering,” states
the great Deborah Nelson, of the Clean and
opportunities Safe Energy Coalition (CASEnergy),
a national grassroots coalition
for members of that promotes the economic and
Jobs at nuclear power plants pay
substantially more than average
salaries in areas where the plants
are located. For example, these are
median annual salaries for select
positions:
• Senior Reactor Operator:

minority groups environmental benefits of nuclear $85,426

power as part of a responsible
in the energy energy policy.
sector, especially “It is important to talk about the
in nuclear… great opportunities for members
of minority groups in the energy
These jobs are sector, especially in nuclear,” says
• Reactor Operator: $77,782
• Electrical Technician: $67,517
• Mechanical Technician: $66,581
Thirty-five percent of the current
nuclear industry workforce may
be eligible to retire within five

permanent and Nelson. “These jobs are permanent
and well-paying, with training
well-paying, with programs that are both time- and
cost- competitive.”
training programs
that are both For some jobs in nuclear, she notes,
such as technician, operator, or
time-and cost- engineer, additional training can
years. Between now and 2012, the
industry will provide opportunities
for approximately 19,600 workers
to replace retirees and 6,300 to
account for other attrition.
For more information, please
visit the following website: www.

competitive.” take as little as two years, and the cleansafeenergy.org.

– CASENERGY COALITION
average annual starting salaries
are close to $65,000-$80,000.
Nuclear engineers, according to the
U.S. Department of Labor, earn on
average $8,000 more than all other
engineering disciplines, except
petroleum engineers.