The nuclear industry is seeing some interesting opportunities in the modern age. More nuclear facilities are being planned for development than ever before, and as aging infrastructure requires renovation and replacement, there are likely to be more jobs in the nuclear industry than ever before. Here are a few details about options for careers in the nuclear industry and the top reasons why you should become a nuclear engineer.
-
A Growing Workforce
As more employees are needed to staff and maintain existing and proposed nuclear facilities across the country, it’s clear that opportunities are growing in the nuclear field. Nuclear energy offers challenging and rewarding work with plenty of opportunities for advancement. Many employees who work in the field of nuclear energy do so for life as their skills make them uniquely specialized to provide value to employers. Nuclear power plants currently provide nearly 20 percent of all U.S. electricity. That opens up a great deal of demand for talented and skilled workers now and in the future.
-
Interesting Opportunities to Specialize
There are a wide variety of job types available in the nuclear industry. From business development to power plant operator, there is sure to be a job type that fits your interests and abilities. Field Service Engineers can earn as much as $85k per year. Compliance and nuclear audit engineers are another opportunity within this growing field. Fieldwork supervisors and nuclear technician jobs offer challenging work with great potential to advance given the right experience and positive outlook.
From systems engineering to mechanical or civil engineering, it’s clear that nuclear engineers make up a large part of the workforce. But there are also opportunities for accountants, analysts, information technology experts, occupational safety, and other trained specialists in the field. Carpenters and construction trades workers, electricians, and equipment operators are also critical to the industry.
-
Training and Education
Generally, the commercial nuclear energy industry seeks out new hires from four key areas: universities, community colleges, labor apprenticeships, and the military. This is due to the need for the appropriate training and education to succeed within this specialized field. There are a wide variety of training and education programs that can prepare you for a successful career in the nuclear energy field. Nearly all careers require at least a high school diploma or GED, and many positions provide extensive company-sponsored training on the job. But it is clear that associate degrees or bachelor of science degrees are needed for many jobs, particularly relating to engineering, chemistry, and operations.
-
Engaged Employers
Employers in the nuclear energy industry are looking for workers with experience in a broad range of disciplines, but most fall under the categories of engineering, technical skills, trade work, and technology. An emphasis on health and safety is very important for employers in this industry, so a good record of safety on the job will be a definite benefit to your resume.
For more support boosting your career in the power generation field, connect with the recruiting team at ESGI today.
