by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Nuclear Engineering Technology allows you to study engineering principles and technical skills in order to support engineers and other professionals working with nuclear materials. Students will learn about operating nuclear facilities, nuclear applications and safety procedures. Along with this, you will be introduced to nuclear systems, radiological safety, radiological applications, nuclear plant and systems design, and nuclear science.
Students who chose a path in Nuclear Engineering Technology will be exposed to courses in Engineering of Nuclear Reactors, Superconducting Magnets, Physical Metallurgy, and Nuclear Reactor Safety. These courses will all teach students the fundamentals behind the nuclear industry. This major is typically offered as an Associate's degree, however at some institutions can be offered as a Bachelors.
Studying Nuclear Engineering Technology explores Nuclear Engineering Technology/technician. Continue reading for the essential details every nuclear engineering technology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering nuclear engineering technology programs.
In the U.S., nuclear engineering technology is a popular field of study, with 260 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Nuclear Engineering Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 9 schools to determine the best overall colleges for nuclear engineering technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of nuclear engineering technology programs later in this article.
Programs in Nuclear Engineering Technology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations nuclear engineering technology graduates commonly enter.
Mathematical skills are extremely important for this major. Along with this skill, physics plays a major role in this field. The nuclear industry in becoming increasingly significant in our society therefore a love of technology and innovation is extremely important.
Nuclear Engineering Technology integrates knowledge in mathematics and science to the safe applications of nuclear principles; attention to detail and problem solving are critical skills. In order to prepare for this major students are advised to take courses in physics, algebra, and computer science. If possible, an internship would be a positive experience to gain experience for students.
Skills built by a nuclear engineering technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a nuclear engineering technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several nuclear engineering technology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 43 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 214 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3 |
People currently working in careers related to nuclear engineering technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 44.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 25.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.1% |
| Some college courses | 7.3% |
| Master’s degree | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.9% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in nuclear engineering technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Nuclear Technicians operate nuclear research and test equipment, observe radiation, and help nuclear engineers and physicists. In addition, this major allows for a foundation to become a Nuclear medicine technologist. These technicians prepare radioactive drugs and admitters them to patients with ongoing scans.
Studying nuclear engineering technology opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to nuclear engineering technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to nuclear engineering technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Photonics Technicians | 306,018 | 1.6% |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | 295,668 | 3.0% |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | 169,705 | 2.0% |
| Nuclear Monitoring Technicians | 91,226 | 10.3% |
| Nuclear Technicians | 83,637 | 11.8% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of nuclear engineering technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $97,846 |
| 4 years | $116,960 |
| 5 years | $132,222 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for nuclear engineering technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers nuclear engineering technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $121,642 |
| Nuclear Monitoring Technicians | $115,968 |
| Photonics Technicians | $106,964 |
| Nuclear Technicians | $92,140 |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | $57,631 |
With 9 different nuclear engineering technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased nuclear engineering technology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in nuclear engineering technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician | 260 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
