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- 57
- Nuclear Engineers
-
- (D.O.T. 015.061, .067, .137, and .167)
-
- Nature of the Work
-
- A nuclear engineer assesses the operation of a reactor and its power
- generating unit.
-
- Nuclear engineers conduct research on nuclear energy and radiation.
- They design, develop, monitor, and operate nuclear power plants used
- to generate electricity and power Navy ships. For example, they may
- work on the nuclear fuel cycle the production, handling, and use of
- nuclear fuel and the safe disposal of waste produced by nuclear
- energy or on fusion energy. Some specialize in the development of
- nuclear weapons; others develop industrial and medical uses for
- radioactive materials such as equipment to help diagnose and treat
- medical problems.
-
- Employment
-
- Nuclear engineers held about 17,000 jobs in 1992; one-fifth each
- were in the Federal Government, research and testing services, and
- utilities. Nearly half of all federally employed nuclear engineers
- were civilian employees of the Navy, about one-third worked for the
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and most of the rest worked for the
- Department of Energy or the Tennessee Valley Authority. Most
- nonfederally employed nuclear engineers worked for public utilities
- or engineering consulting companies. Some worked for defense
- manufacturers or manufacturers of nuclear power equipment.
-
- Job Outlook
-
- Because of concerns over the cost and safety of nuclear power, it is
- unlikely that any new nuclear power plants will be built by the year
- 2005. Nevertheless, nuclear engineers will be needed to operate
- existing plants. In addition, nuclear engineers will be needed to
- work in defense-related areas and to improve and enforce safety
- standards. Therefore, employment of nuclear engineers is expected
- to change little through the year 2005.
-
- Despite the expected absence of employment growth, good
- opportunities for nuclear engineers should exist because the number
- of persons graduating with degrees in nuclear engineering is likely
- to be in rough balance with the number of job openings. Those
- openings will arise as nuclear engineers transfer to other
- occupations or leave the labor force.
-
- Sources of Additional Information
-
- American Nuclear Society, 555 North Kensington Ave., LaGrange Park,
- IL 60525.
-
- (See introductory part of this section for information on training
- requirements and earnings.)
-