Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
Collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment.
$110,240 a year (for the broader BLS group this job sits in).
of the working time. Estimate.
- 32%
- 0%
- 68%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 1%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 24%. Today's estimate: 27%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 16 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyze samples, such as air or water samples, for contaminants or other elements.Done daily by most who do it. | 13% | 1.3 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Instruct personnel in radiation safety procedures and demonstrate use of protective clothing and equipment.Done daily by most who do it. | 11% | 50 min25 min to 1.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Determine or recommend radioactive decontamination procedures, according to the size and nature of equipment and the degree of contamination.Done daily by most who do it. | 10% | 2.1 h50 min to 5 h | 65%Half by now | |
| Determine intensities and types of radiation in work areas, equipment, or materials, using radiation detectors or other instruments.Done daily by most who do it. | 9% | 38 min17 min to 1.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Prepare reports describing contamination tests, material or equipment decontaminated, or methods used in decontamination processes.Done daily by most who do it. | 7% | 1.3 h25 min to 3.3 h | 77%Half by now | |
| Decontaminate objects by cleaning with soap or solvents or by abrading with wire brushes, buffing wheels, or sandblasting machines.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 7% | 1.7 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Monitor personnel to determine the amounts and intensities of radiation exposure.Done daily by most who do it. | 7% | 38 min13 min to 1.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Collect samples of air, water, gases, or solids to determine radioactivity levels of contamination.Done daily by most who do it. | 6% | 50 min25 min to 1.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Brief workers on radiation levels in work areas.Done daily by most who do it. | 6% | 17 min8 min to 38 min | 100%Half by now | |
| Set up equipment that automatically detects area radiation deviations and test detection equipment to ensure its accuracy.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 5% | 1.7 h38 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Calculate safe radiation exposure times for personnel using plant contamination readings and prescribed safe levels of radiation.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 38 min17 min to 1.3 h | 100%Half by now | |
| Calibrate and maintain chemical instrumentation sensing elements and sampling system equipment, using calibration instruments and hand tools.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 1.7 h50 min to 2.5 h | Stays with people |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Nuclear Technicians36% now, 40% by 2028
- Nuclear Engineers2% now, 25% by 2028
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health11% now, 61% by 2028
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists28% now, 29% by 2028
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators9% now, 13% by 2028
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians17% now, 55% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.