NUCLEAR TECHNICIANS AND TECHNOLOGISTS California Occupational Guide Number 379 Interest Area 5-A 1995
THE JOB
NUCLEAR TECHNICIANS AND TECHNOLOGISTS are members of project teams which assist nuclear engineers and scientists in the servicing and maintenance of various types of existing facilities and in the research and development of new facilities. Research and Development Technicians may be involved with defense or medical applications. Other technicians function as reactor or accelerator systems operators at existing power, defense or medical facilities.
Working under the direction of Nuclear Engineers, Nuclear Technicians set up tests, install instruments, operate reactors and assist crafts workers in the construction of monitoring equipment for fissionable materials and experimental models of nuclear devices and facilities. They use remote- controlled hand tools as well as oscilloscopes, ammeters, voltmeters and electronic counters in their work, and they must follow rigid safety precautions at all times.
Nuclear Technicians are identified by the job they do or the equipment they use. Accelerator operators set up and coordinate the operation of particle accelerators such as betatrons. (Betatrons use magnets to speed up electrons to create energies of hundreds of millions of electron volts). Gamma Facilities Operators use remote-controlled machines to irradiate particles in gamma canals. Power Reactor Operators operate steam producing nuclear reactors, coordinate operation of auxiliary equipment and assist in handling nuclear fuel elements. Radiation Monitors operate instruments to detect and measure exposure time of personnel and materials to radiation and instruct others in radiation safety measures. Radioisotope Production Operators prepare radioactive samples of blood, oil or water, for tracing the path of fluids in systems. Scanners record details of atomic fusion on magnetic tape. Reactor Operators use neutron and gamma rays to study the atomic structure and properties of matter. Fuel Technicians control chemical equipment which processes raw uranium ores, extracts fuels and recovers unused uranium from spent nuclear fuel. Hot Cell Technicians perform chemical and other tests on metal and various other materials to determine amounts of radioactivity.
WORKING CONDITIONS
These different jobs require a wide range of physical activities from sedentary gauge monitoring to heavy labor. Many jobs require standing and walking. Some jobs require heavy lifting. Nuclear Technicians must have good vision, depth perception and color discrimination. They must be able to work under great pressure and be able to make fast, accurate decisions and adapt to rapidly changing situations where there is no room for error. Most jobs are performed indoors in clean, quiet, well-ventilated, well-lighted surroundings. For many jobs, technicians need a security clearance; Nuclear Reactor Operators must be licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Protective clothing and film badges or dosimeters, which show radioactive contamination, must be worn when working around radioactive materials.
Technicians working in nuclear power plants are usually members of the Utility Workers Union of America, or the AFL-CIO Division of Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers. Other technicians may affiliate with other craft unions.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division.
Estimated number of workers in 1990 480 Estimated number of workers in 2005 580 Projected Growth 1990-2005 21% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 210
(These figures do not include self-employment nor openings due to turnover.)
In California, Nuclear Technicians are employed by government agencies, academic and industrial research centers, nuclear power plants, military installations and industrial manufacturing plants. Currently, the future of nuclear power for certain uses in California is not clear and this situation translates into a slow overall job market for Nuclear Technicians. Hiring will be mostly to replace present workers who leave the labor market or change careers. Still, some positions requiring specific types of specialized experience are difficult to fill because qualified technicians are scarce.
WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS
Salaries in both private industry and in government service vary widely, depending upon the level of knowledge and experience required. In the private sector beginning employees with at least one year of related training or experience can have a starting pay ranging from $8.00 to $12.75 per hour. Journey-level workers can earn from $12.00 to $18.00 per hour and senior-level technicians can earn from $19.00 to $21.25 per hour. Supervisors earn $25.50 per hour or more.
Federal Civil Service wages also vary according to acquired experience and established GS Levels. Hourly earnings may start at approximately $8.50 per hour. Experienced individuals may earn from $9.50 to $10.50 per hour. Fully experienced technicians may earn approximately $14.25 to $20.75 per hour.
Some technicians must have a Reactor Operator's license issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to perform their specific job duties. Those technicians who do have an NRC license and use it on the job can get an incentive of several hundred dollars per month, with the specific amount of bonus depending on the employer.
The standard workweek is 40 hours. Time and one-half is paid for overtime. Benefits include paid vacations, holidays and sick leave. Life and accident insurance are usually provided. Many companies offer retirement and profit sharing in their benefit package.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING
The minimum requirement is high school graduation with heavy emphasis on courses in the sciences and mathematics, supplemented by some amount of relevant experience (previous U.S. Navy service in nuclear ratings is very helpful). Most employers prefer trainees with two to four years of college. College course work should be in mathematics, chemistry, physics and related subjects. Jobs involving direct exposure to radiation or responsibility for the health of others, such as Radiation Monitors, Radiographers and Radioisotope Production Operators, usually require an Associate Science degree in Nuclear Health or Nuclear Technology. Job applicants need scientific and mathematical aptitude and should have good manual and finger dexterity. They must be able to sustain a long span of attention and be able to follow instructions exactly. Technical training is conducted on the job and is supplemented with classroom instruction. There are apprenticeship programs for technicians working in nuclear power plants. The U.S. Navy conducts a 40-week training course in nuclear power plant operation.
ADVANCEMENT
Technicians with some college background and work experience can be promoted to senior and lead technician positions. Experienced technicians with a BS degree can become Nuclear Engineers. Some employers pay job-related educational costs, while others offer work-study plans.
FINDING THE JOB
Those interested in civil service positions should apply at Federal Job Information Centers, located in most major metropolitan areas. Applicants should apply directly to private employers engaged in research, design and operation of nuclear facilities or to firms in nuclear medicine. Branches of the U. S. Armed Forces also train and employ Nuclear Technicians. The Employment Development Department Job Service Office is often a good source of job leads.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
The Department of Energy Office of Public Affairs 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20585
The American Nuclear Society 555 North Kensington Avenue La Grange Park, IL 60525
Utility Workers Union of America, Local 246 10355 Los Alamitos Boulevard, Suite F Los Alamitos, CA 90720 (310) 594-8881
RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES
Electronics Technicians No. 60 Nuclear Engineers No. 367 Instrumentation Technicians No. 485
OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed., Rev. 1) Chemical Radiation Technician 015.261-010 Accelerator Operator (prof. & kin.) 015.362-010 Gamma-Facilities Operator (prof. & kin.) 015.362-014 Hot Cell Technician (chem.) 015.362-018 Radioisotope Production Operator 015.362-022 Scanner (prof. & kin.) 015.384-010 Radiation Monitor (prof. & kin.) 199.167-010
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System Nuclear Technicians & Technologists 24508
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
(916) 262-2162.
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