H-1B Visa Reactor Operator Jobs
Reactor Operator roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations when the position requires a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering, physics, or a directly related field. Nuclear utilities and national laboratories are among the most consistent H-1B sponsors in this classification, filing LCAs through DOL before petitioning USCIS.
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Get Access To All JobsAre you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow? A position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for.
Position Summary
Responsible for participating and completing Senior Reactor Operator training to obtain the skills required for ensuring safe operation of the plant by overseeing control room operations to comply with all licensing and regulatory requirements and company requirements for generation capacity; coordinating operations with other plant groups; and maintaining operations data and records.
Essential Responsibilities
- Learn and obtain the necessary skills to ensure the nuclear generating plant operates safely and remains in compliance with plant requirements and governmental regulations. Trainees learn to verify the nuclear plant is operated in accordance with technical specifications and licensing basis.
- Learn and obtain the necessary skills to effectively oversee activities of Control Room Operators and Auxiliary Operators and to investigate Operational problems and evaluate for plant impact. Trainee will also learn to effectively coordinate shift activities with plant work schedule.
- Learn and obtain the necessary skills needed to perform administrative functions related to plant operational requirements. Trainees learn to issue Maintenance work requests and to maintain current plant logging requirements.
- Must complete all training required as evidenced by successfully passing any and all required licensing exams.
Minimum Requirements
Must meet one of the following items per ACAD 10-01:
- Certified Instructor with greater than 4 years commercial nuclear experience
- Licensed reactor operator duties as an ACTIVE* RO for 12 Months or more at Monticello or Prairie Island
- 12 months or more as an ACTIVE* RO or SRO at a commercial power reactor facility of the same vendor and vintage
- 18 months or more as an ACTIVE* RO or SRO at a noncomparable commercial power reactor facility
- 18 months or more in a position equivalent to a reactor operator position at a military reactor? (qualified to manipulate or direct the manipulation of control rods)
- reactor operator
- engineering officer of the watch
- propulsion plant watch officer
- engineering watch supervisor
- propulsion plant watch supervisor
- BS degree or equivalent in engineering, engineering technology or related sciences; or has a professional engineer license.
- 18 months of experience at a comparable nuclear power facility or military reactor
- 27 months of experience at a non-comparable power generation facility
- A non-traditional degree with the following:
- 36 months of nuclear experience for a nontraditional degree
As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. If you’re ready to be a part of something big, we invite you to join our team.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to apply please contact us at recruiting@xcelenergy.com.
Non-Bargaining
The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $46.60 to $70.00 per hour
This position is eligible for the following benefits: Spot On Bonus, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, Health Care Reimbursement Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave
Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.
In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Deadline to Apply: 04/25/27
EEO is the Law | EEO is the Law Supplement | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Equal Opportunity Policy (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF)
All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.
ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com/ accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Xcel Energy Talent Acquisition at recruiting@xcelenergy.com. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow? A position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for.
Position Summary
Responsible for participating and completing Senior Reactor Operator training to obtain the skills required for ensuring safe operation of the plant by overseeing control room operations to comply with all licensing and regulatory requirements and company requirements for generation capacity; coordinating operations with other plant groups; and maintaining operations data and records.
Essential Responsibilities
- Learn and obtain the necessary skills to ensure the nuclear generating plant operates safely and remains in compliance with plant requirements and governmental regulations. Trainees learn to verify the nuclear plant is operated in accordance with technical specifications and licensing basis.
- Learn and obtain the necessary skills to effectively oversee activities of Control Room Operators and Auxiliary Operators and to investigate Operational problems and evaluate for plant impact. Trainee will also learn to effectively coordinate shift activities with plant work schedule.
- Learn and obtain the necessary skills needed to perform administrative functions related to plant operational requirements. Trainees learn to issue Maintenance work requests and to maintain current plant logging requirements.
- Must complete all training required as evidenced by successfully passing any and all required licensing exams.
Minimum Requirements
Must meet one of the following items per ACAD 10-01:
- Certified Instructor with greater than 4 years commercial nuclear experience
- Licensed reactor operator duties as an ACTIVE* RO for 12 Months or more at Monticello or Prairie Island
- 12 months or more as an ACTIVE* RO or SRO at a commercial power reactor facility of the same vendor and vintage
- 18 months or more as an ACTIVE* RO or SRO at a noncomparable commercial power reactor facility
- 18 months or more in a position equivalent to a reactor operator position at a military reactor? (qualified to manipulate or direct the manipulation of control rods)
- reactor operator
- engineering officer of the watch
- propulsion plant watch officer
- engineering watch supervisor
- propulsion plant watch supervisor
- BS degree or equivalent in engineering, engineering technology or related sciences; or has a professional engineer license.
- 18 months of experience at a comparable nuclear power facility or military reactor
- 27 months of experience at a non-comparable power generation facility
- A non-traditional degree with the following:
- 36 months of nuclear experience for a nontraditional degree
As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. If you’re ready to be a part of something big, we invite you to join our team.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to apply please contact us at recruiting@xcelenergy.com.
Non-Bargaining
The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $46.60 to $70.00 per hour
This position is eligible for the following benefits: Spot On Bonus, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, Health Care Reimbursement Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave
Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.
In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Deadline to Apply: 04/25/27
EEO is the Law | EEO is the Law Supplement | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Equal Opportunity Policy (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF)
All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.
ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com/ accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Xcel Energy Talent Acquisition at recruiting@xcelenergy.com. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
See all H-1B Visa Reactor Operator Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Reactor Operator
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation
USCIS requires your degree field to directly relate to reactor operations. A nuclear engineering or health physics degree strengthens the specialty occupation argument. A general engineering degree may trigger an RFE, so gather documentation showing how your coursework maps to the role.
Target NRC-licensed facilities for sponsorship
Commercial nuclear power plants operating under Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses have established HR processes for foreign nationals. These employers file LCAs regularly and understand prevailing wage requirements for reactor operations roles, making sponsorship conversations more straightforward.
Search H-1B filing history on Migrate Mate
Filter by reactor operator and nuclear operations job titles to see which utilities and national laboratories have active DOL LCA filing history. This lets you prioritize outreach to employers who have already committed to H-1B sponsorship in this specific occupation.
Check prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level I through Level IV prevailing wage for your target work location before you receive an offer. Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the applicable level, so knowing the floor prevents misaligned expectations during negotiation.
Confirm NRC operator licensing timelines with your employer
Many reactor operator positions require an NRC-issued operator license that takes 18 to 24 months to obtain on site. Clarify whether your H-1B petition will be filed before or after licensure, since job duties and specialty occupation qualifications can differ across that timeline.
Align your H-1B start date with fuel cycle outages
Nuclear utilities schedule major maintenance outages around reactor refueling cycles, typically every 18 to 24 months. If your petition targets a standard October 1 start date, confirm with your employer that the role remains fully active and won't be paused during an outage window.
H-1B Visa Reactor Operator: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Reactor Operator role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
It depends on the specific position requirements. If the employer's job description mandates a bachelor's degree or higher in nuclear engineering, health physics, or a closely related field, USCIS will generally accept the specialty occupation argument. Roles where the employer accepts any engineering degree regardless of field face a higher risk of a Request for Evidence, so the job description and degree field alignment matter significantly.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for Reactor Operator jobs?
Commercial nuclear utilities, Department of Energy national laboratories, and university research reactors are the most consistent sponsors. National laboratories operating under DOE contracts often have cap-exempt status, meaning they can file H-1B petitions year-round without entering the annual lottery. Use Migrate Mate to browse employers with verified LCA filing history in nuclear operations roles.
How does the NRC operator licensing requirement interact with H-1B status?
The NRC individual operator license is issued after on-site training that typically runs 18 to 24 months. Your H-1B petition covers the position itself, not the license, so you can begin the role in a trainee or non-licensed capacity while pursuing licensure. Confirm with your employer how the job duties and title change after you receive your NRC license, since USCIS may require an amended petition if the role changes materially.
What prevailing wage level applies to Reactor Operator H-1B positions?
DOL assigns prevailing wages to reactor operator roles using O*NET occupation codes and the geographic location of the worksite. The LCA your employer files must certify a wage at or above the applicable level, typically Level II or Level III for experienced operators. You can verify the wage floor for your specific metro area using the OFLC Wage Search before your employer files.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new nuclear employer if I change jobs?
Yes. Under H-1B portability, you can start working for a new employer as soon as they file an H-1B transfer petition, without waiting for USCIS approval, as long as your previous H-1B was approved and you've maintained valid status. The new employer must file a fresh LCA with DOL and submit an I-129 petition to USCIS. Given the specialized nature of reactor operator roles, the new employer's job description must also satisfy the specialty occupation requirement independently.