Also called: Nuclear Treaty Monitoring Analyst, Seismic & Radionuclide Analyst
Studies earthquake signals, air samples and sound waves from sensors worldwide to detect secret nuclear explosions.
When sensors pick up a strange shake in a remote region, the analyst checks whether it was an earthquake, a mine blast, or a possible nuclear test. They compare seismic waves, look for radioactive particles in air filters, and check infrasound records. Their reports go to U.S. leaders and treaty groups.
Federal and contractor pay.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Degree in geophysics, physics or nuclear science; many have graduate degrees.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Military. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Geophysics, Physics, Nuclear Engineering.
Growing about average. Small, steady government mission.
Medium risk for 10 years. Machine learning screens thousands of events, but confirming a possible test needs expert judgment.
Classes: Physics, Calculus, Earth science.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.