The physics of atomic nuclei and fundamental particles, and the jobs running reactors, accelerators, fusion experiments, and nuclear security.
Top pay: highest pay, longest training
Nuclear Physicist: Studies the cores of atoms: what holds them together and what happens when they split or fuse. Typical pay $160k.
Experimental Particle Physicist: Smashes particles together at nearly light speed to discover the universe's smallest building blocks. Typical pay $140k.
Theoretical Particle Physicist: Uses advanced math to predict new particles and forces, and to explain dark matter. Typical pay $130k.
Accelerator Physicist: Designs and tunes the machines that speed particles up to nearly the speed of light. Typical pay $160k.
Particle Detector Scientist: Builds the giant 'cameras' that photograph particle collisions, neutrinos, and dark matter. Typical pay $145k.
Fusion Energy Scientist: Works on recreating the power of the sun on Earth to make nearly limitless clean energy. Typical pay $155k.
Plasma Physicist: Studies plasma, the glowing fourth state of matter found in lightning, stars, neon signs, and chip factories. Typical pay $150k.
Neutron Scattering Scientist: Runs instruments that fire neutrons at materials to reveal where atoms sit and how they move. Typical pay $135k.
Nuclear Forensics Scientist: Analyzes seized or leftover nuclear material to figure out where it came from and who made it. Typical pay $140k.
Nuclear Nonproliferation Analyst: Helps keep nuclear weapons from spreading by tracking materials and verifying treaties. Typical pay $125k.
Nuclear Power Reactor Operator: Controls a nuclear reactor from a control room, keeping it running safely to power whole cities. Typical pay $122k.
Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer: Makes sure nuclear material is never stored or handled in a way that could start an accidental chain reaction. Typical pay $125k.
Isotope Production Scientist: Makes rare radioactive isotopes in reactors and accelerators for cancer treatment, research and industry. Typical pay $130k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Radiochemist: Works with radioactive elements to make medical isotopes, clean up waste, or study the environment. Typical pay $98k.
Nuclear Technician: Helps run and monitor nuclear reactors and research equipment, and measures radiation. Typical pay $101k.
Accelerator Operator: Runs a particle accelerator from a control room around the clock. Typical pay $85k.
Navy Nuclear Electronics Technician: Operates and maintains the reactors that power Navy submarines and aircraft carriers. Typical pay $72k.
Radiation Protection Technician: Measures radiation at nuclear plants, hospitals, and labs, and keeps workers' exposure safe. Typical pay $75k.
Hot Cell Technician: Handles highly radioactive materials using robotic arms through windows of thick leaded glass. Typical pay $82k.
Starter: fastest way in
Decontamination Technician: Cleans up radioactive and hazardous materials at old nuclear sites and labs. Typical pay $50k.
Industrial Radiographer: Uses X-ray machines and radioactive sources to "see inside" pipelines, welds and aircraft parts for hidden cracks. Typical pay $54k.
Radiocarbon Dating Lab Technician: Prepares bones, wood, shells and seeds so a particle accelerator can count their carbon-14 atoms and reveal how old they are. Typical pay $53k.
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.