Prevailing Wage for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
The prevailing wage for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators is set by DOL under the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey and applies to every H-1B, E-3, and green card sponsorship for this occupation. Whether your offer is for a Licensed Reactor Operator, Nuclear Control Operator, or Nuclear Station Operator role, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts by worksite city.
See all jobs for this roleLook up your work address
Level 1 covers entry-level reactor operators with limited experience who work under close supervision on routine monitoring and control tasks. Candidates typically hold an associate or bachelor's degree and have not yet completed independent licensed operator duties.
Level 2 applies to qualified operators who perform standard reactor control and monitoring functions with moderate supervision. This is the most common filing level for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators, reflecting the licensed operator stage most sponsored candidates enter at.
Level 3 covers experienced operators who exercise independent judgment, respond to abnormalities, and may lead shift activities. Candidates typically hold an active license with several years of full-power operating experience and a track record of emergency procedure execution.
Level 4 applies to fully competent senior operators or control room supervisors who direct teams, oversee complex procedure implementation, and serve as primary technical resources. These positions carry broad autonomous responsibility and typically require a senior reactor operator license.
Prevailing Wage for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
See all jobs for this role
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
Confirm your NRC license maps to the right level
An active senior reactor operator license typically signals Level 3 or 4, while a standard reactor operator license maps to Level 2. Filing at Level 1 for a licensed incumbent misrepresents the role and exposes the employer to DOL audit risk on the LCA.
Watch for performance-bonus exclusions in nuclear comp
Nuclear plant operators frequently receive shift differentials, outage bonuses, and safety-incentive pay. DOL prevailing wage compliance counts only guaranteed base wages, so variable nuclear-specific pay components cannot bridge a gap between the offer and the prevailing wage floor.
Treat Charlotte as the data floor, not the benchmark
Charlotte is the only metro with published OES data for this occupation and it sits below national medians. If your worksite is at a multi-unit plant in a higher-cost region, the applicable wage is the national average or a state-level figure, not Charlotte's rate.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with nuclear sponsorship history
Nuclear power reactor operator sponsorships are rare. Migrate Mate shows which utilities and plant operators have actually sponsored this occupation before, so you can focus your search on employers with a documented track record rather than speculating on new sponsors.
Jobs for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-8011.00 alongside Nuclear Power Reactor Operators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Licensed Reactor Operator Prevailing Wage
Licensed Reactor Operator Prevailing Wage
Licensed Reactor Operator positions fall under SOC 51-8011.00 (Nuclear Power Reactor Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Nuclear Control Operator Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Control Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Nuclear Control Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-8011.00 (Nuclear Power Reactor Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Nuclear Control Room Operator Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Control Room Operator Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Control Room Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-8011.00 (Nuclear Power Reactor Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Nuclear Plant Operator (NPO) Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Plant Operator (NPO) Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Plant Operator (NPO) positions fall under SOC 51-8011.00 (Nuclear Power Reactor Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Nuclear Reactor Operator Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Reactor Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Nuclear Reactor Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-8011.00 (Nuclear Power Reactor Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Nuclear Station Operator (NSO) Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Station Operator (NSO) Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Station Operator (NSO) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-8011.00 (Nuclear Power Reactor Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Nuclear Supervising Operator (NSO) Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Supervising Operator (NSO) Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Supervising Operator (NSO) positions fall under SOC 51-8011.00 (Nuclear Power Reactor Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Nuclear Unit Operator Prevailing Wage
Nuclear Unit Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Nuclear Unit Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-8011.00 (Nuclear Power Reactor Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Reactor Operator (RO) Prevailing Wage
Reactor Operator (RO) Prevailing Wage
Reactor Operator (RO) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-8011.00 (Nuclear Power Reactor Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 51-8011, OFLC maps survey wage percentiles to four experience levels: the 17th percentile anchors Level 1, the 34th Level 2, the 50th Level 3, and the 67th Level 4. Employers must pay at least the level that matches the actual job duties when filing an LCA or PERM application.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect experience and supervision. Level 1 is entry-level under close supervision; Level 2 is a qualified, licensed operator performing standard duties; Level 3 is an experienced operator working independently; Level 4 is a senior or supervisory operator with full autonomous responsibility. Your level should match the duties in the job description and your NRC license class, not just your job title. If your offer letter cites a Level 1 wage for a licensed operator role, that is a mismatch worth raising with the employer.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same reactor operator role vary by city?
OFLC derives wages from regional OES surveys, which capture what employers in each metropolitan statistical area actually pay. The LCA must list the worksite location, and the wage floor is then pulled from that area's survey data. Dense nuclear markets with multiple operating plants in close proximity can push regional rates above national medians, while areas with a single plant and limited competition may sit at or below the national figure. The worksite address on the LCA, not the employer's headquarters, determines which regional rate applies.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA or receive PERM approval if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage. USCIS and DOL both review wage compliance during adjudication. If a violation is found after approval, the employer faces back-pay liability, debarment from future sponsorship, and potential civil penalties. For the sponsored worker, a denied or revoked petition means loss of the visa status tied to that employer. The offer must meet or exceed the floor before any petition is filed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC code 51-8011 for your worksite's metropolitan area or state. Select the survey year currently in effect for LCA filings and confirm the wage level that matches your duties. For green card cases filed under PERM, request a formal Prevailing Wage Determination directly from OFLC. Migrate Mate can also show you which employers have sponsored Nuclear Power Reactor Operators and at what locations, helping you identify realistic targets before you verify the applicable wage floor.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators right now.
Search Jobs for this role