O*NET-SOC 17-2161.00

Nuclear Engineers

Conduct research on nuclear engineering projects or apply principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.

Preparation

ItemValue
Preparation zoneZone 4 – Considerable preparation needed
What O*NET says the zone requiresConsiderable skill, knowledge, or experience is needed
Broad occupation in O*NETTrue (Yes)
Skills listed for this occupation6
Abilities listed for this occupation6
Tasks listed for this occupation5
Interest scores given for this occupation6

Skills

The 6 skills with the highest importance values in this occupation's records.

SkillO*NET elementImportanceDate
Critical Thinking2.A.2.a4.1208/2024
Science2.A.1.f4.1208/2024
Active Listening2.A.1.b4.008/2024
Complex Problem Solving2.B.2.i4.008/2024
Judgment and Decision Making2.B.4.e4.008/2024
Mathematics2.A.1.e4.008/2024

The importance value is what each record itself carries on O*NET's importance scale; the date is the date in each record.

Abilities

The 6 abilities with the highest importance values in this occupation's records.

AbilityO*NET elementImportanceDate
Problem Sensitivity1.A.1.b.34.6208/2024
Written Expression1.A.1.a.44.1208/2024
Category Flexibility1.A.1.b.74.008/2024
Deductive Reasoning1.A.1.b.44.008/2024
Inductive Reasoning1.A.1.b.54.008/2024
Information Ordering1.A.1.b.64.008/2024

The importance value is what each record itself carries on O*NET's importance scale; the date is the date in each record.

Tasks

The tasks O*NET records for this occupation, with the type, respondent count and date each record carries.

TaskTypeIncumbents respondingDate
Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.Core2108/2024
Monitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations.Core2108/2024
Initiate corrective actions or order plant shutdowns in emergency situations.Core2108/2024
Examine accidents to obtain data for use in design of preventive measures.Core2108/2024
Direct operating or maintenance activities of nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.Core2108/2024

Work interests

The interest scores O*NET gives this occupation, on the six interest types.

InterestScoreDate
Investigative6.3111/2023
Realistic5.011/2023
Conventional4.4211/2023
Enterprising2.5811/2023
Artistic2.0711/2023
Social1.9711/2023

More occupations in preparation zone 4

Source: O*NET 29.1 Database (Occupation Data, Job Zones, Skills, Abilities, Task Statements, Interests), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Data fetched 2026-10-31. See about and sources.