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Nuclear Engineering
Safely harnessing the power of the atom to produce energy or to diagnose and treat medical problems is the work of the nuclear engineer. As a nuclear engineer, you may work on nuclear reactors that generate power for large cities, submarines, or even space ships. Your work may involve researching the nuclear fuel cycle from production to the safe disposal of nuclear waste. Or you might explore the development of fusion energy. Or you might work in nuclear medicine, developing machines that image the human body and destroy cancer cells.
Overview1
$116,140
Median salary
17,200
Number of jobs in 2020
-8%
Expected job growth over next 10 years
Jobs and education
4-year degree:
- Design PET scanners, X-ray, and MRI machines to help diagnose a patient’s illness
- Develop ways to use radiation to produce and preserve food supplies
- Develop star power or nuclear fusion, an alternative energy source with unlimited potential and little waste
- Develop power sources that fuel satellites and deep space probes
2-year degree:
- Properly dispose of leftover radioactive medications to keep people and the environment safe.
- Test levels of radiation on lab equipment to ensure the equipment is safe for researchers to use
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References:
1. US Bureau of Labor Satistics
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/nuclear-engineers.htm