As of June 2026, Nuclear Engineers has an AI-exposure score of 58/100 (Elevated exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.

AI Exposure Score for

Nuclear Engineers

58/100
Elevated exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 57% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$133,970. About 800 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

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How you compare to similar Architecture & Engineering roles

Nuclear Engineers (you)
58
Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
58
Water/Wastewater Engineers
58
Transportation Engineers
58
Materials Engineers
58
Environmental Engineers
58
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Your tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable

No automatable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as augmentable (85%).

Augmentable
  • Initiate corrective actions or order plant shutdowns in emergency situations.
  • Perform experiments that will provide information about acceptable methods of nuclear material usage, nuclear fuel reclamation, or waste disposal.
  • Write operational instructions to be used in nuclear plant operation or nuclear fuel or waste handling and disposal.
  • Discuss construction project proposals with interested parties, such as vendors, contractors, or nuclear facility review boards.
  • Prepare technical reports of findings or recommendations, based on synthesized analyses of test results.
  • Conduct tests of nuclear fuel behavior and cycles or performance of nuclear machinery and equipment to optimize performance of existing plants.
  • Consult with other scientists to determine parameters of experimentation or suitability of analytical models.
  • Conduct environmental studies on topics such as nuclear power generation, nuclear waste disposal, or nuclear weapon deployment.
  • Develop or contribute to the development of plans to remediate or restore environments affected by nuclear radiation, such as waste disposal sites.
  • Recommend preventive measures to be taken in the handling of nuclear technology, based on data obtained from operations monitoring or from evaluation of test results.
  • Direct operating or maintenance activities of nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.
  • Direct environmental compliance activities associated with nuclear plant operations or maintenance.
  • Prepare environmental impact statements, reports, or presentations for regulatory or other agencies.
  • Monitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations.
  • Design fuel cycle models or processes to reduce the quantity of radioactive waste generated from nuclear activities.
  • Keep abreast of developments and changes in the nuclear field by reading technical journals or by independent study and research.
  • Examine accidents to obtain data for use in design of preventive measures.
Durable
  • Design or oversee construction or operation of nuclear reactors, power plants, or nuclear fuels reprocessing and reclamation systems.
  • Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.
  • Design or direct nuclear research projects to develop, test, modify, or discover new uses for theoretical models.

Safer adjacent roles

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
80% skills overlap · Very High exposure · ~US$122,890
72
Nuclear Technicians
72% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$110,240
65
Chemical Engineers
64% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$125,040
64
Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
56% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$110,240
59
Environmental Engineers
48% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$107,110
58
Geothermal Production Managers
40% skills overlap · High exposure · ~US$126,060
68
Power Plant Operators
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$102,040
57
Fuel Cell Engineers
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$104,110
60

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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.