Nuclear Techicians and Technologists

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