Occupation

Nuclear Monitoring Technicians

Human Advantage 67%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.2 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

Collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment.

Also Known As: Cathodic Protection Technician, Chemical Radiation Technician, Decontaminator, Health Physics Technician (HP Tech), Instrumentation Control Specialist, Laboratory Control Specialist, Metallographic Technician, Nuclear Chemistry Technician +12 more

Core Tasks

  1. Brief workers on radiation levels in work areas.
  2. Calculate safe radiation exposure times for personnel using plant contamination readings and prescribed safe levels of radiation.
  3. Monitor personnel to determine the amounts and intensities of radiation exposure.
  4. Inform supervisors when individual exposures or area radiation levels approach maximum permissible limits.
  5. Provide initial response to abnormal events or to alarms from radiation monitoring equipment.
  6. Determine intensities and types of radiation in work areas, equipment, or materials, using radiation detectors or other instruments.
  7. Instruct personnel in radiation safety procedures and demonstrate use of protective clothing and equipment.
  8. Collect samples of air, water, gases, or solids to determine radioactivity levels of contamination.
  9. Analyze samples, such as air or water samples, for contaminants or other elements.
  10. Determine or recommend radioactive decontamination procedures, according to the size and nature of equipment and the degree of contamination.
  11. Set up equipment that automatically detects area radiation deviations and test detection equipment to ensure its accuracy.
  12. Prepare reports describing contamination tests, material or equipment decontaminated, or methods used in decontamination processes.
  13. Place radioactive waste, such as sweepings or broken sample bottles, into containers for shipping or disposal.
  14. Decontaminate objects by cleaning with soap or solvents or by abrading with wire brushes, buffing wheels, or sandblasting machines.

Supplemental Tasks (2)

  1. Enter data into computers to record characteristics of nuclear events or to locate coordinates of particles.
  2. Calibrate and maintain chemical instrumentation sensing elements and sampling system equipment, using calibration instruments and hand tools.

Emerging Tasks

New and evolving responsibilities for this role:

  • Calibrate, maintain, and repair chemical instrumentation sensing elements and sampling system equipment, using calibration instruments and hand tools.
  • Document results from radiation and contamination surveys.
  • Inspect, test, and maintain respiratory protection equipment.
  • Write radiological work permits.

Education & Training

Job Zone 3 Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
29%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
27%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
17%
Bachelor's Degree
16%
Some College Courses
11%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Microsoft Azure software
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Windows Server
  • Microsoft Word
  • Oracle Java
  • Structured query language SQL

Software (18)

  • AVEVA InTouch HMI
  • Connectivity software
  • Gamma waste assay system GWAS
  • Google Compute Engine (GCE)
  • RESRAD
  • Radiological assessment display and control system RADACS
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
  • Word processing software

Tools & Equipment (43)

  • Air purifying respirators
  • Air sampling devices
  • Airline respirators
  • Alpha air monitors
  • Alpha/beta counting systems
  • Alpha/beta surface contamination monitors
  • Area gamma monitors
  • Atmosphere supplying respirators
  • Contamination probes
  • Cryogenic microcalorimeters
  • Cryostats
  • Desktop computers
  • Digital ratemeters
  • Digital signal analyzers
  • Digital spectrum analyzers
  • Dose rate monitors
  • Electron microscopes
  • Gamma ray detectors
  • Gamma ray spectrometers
  • Geiger-Muller counters
  • Ionization chambers
  • Liquid scintillation counters
  • Multichannel analyzers
  • Neutron detectors
  • Neutron dose-rate meters
  • Neutron spectrometers
  • Nuclear moisture/density gauges
  • Personal computers
  • Portable data collectors
  • Portable spectroscopes
  • Portable survey radiation meters
  • Portal monitors
  • Pressure demand respirators
  • Proportional counters
  • Protective coveralls
  • Protective gloves
  • Protective shoe covers
  • Radiological detectors
  • Self-contained breathing apparatus
  • Sodium Iodide NaI scintillation detectors
  • Thermoluminescent dosimeters
  • Tritium/Noble gas monitors
  • Whole body counters

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Engineering Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
Nuclear Monitoring Technicians You are here
Zone 5

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