Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Science and research / 19-4051.00

Nuclear Technicians

Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.

US jobs
6,470
Median wage
$110,240 a year
Job family
Science and research

Can agents do the work of nuclear technicians?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Science and research: Some tasks (no change in 12 months)

Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.

Evidence: CORE-Bench, declared solved.

0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.

  • 14%Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipmentNot measured
  • 13%Monitor operations to ensure adequate performanceNot measured
  • 11%Communicate with others about operational plans or activitiesNot measured
  • 5%Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standardsNot measured
  • 5%Inspect facilities or equipmentNot measured
  • 5%Test performance of equipment or systemsNot measured
  • 5%Maintain tools or equipmentNot measured
  • 5%Maintain electronic, computer, or other technical equipmentNot measured

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in science and research, not always this occupation's tasks.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

  • CORE-Benchby Princeton UniversityTask level · CORE-Bench-Hard accuracy (public test set)
    95.5%Claude Code + Claude Opus 4.5 (after manual regrading) · 3 Dec 2025
    Solved

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Follow nuclear equipment operational policies and procedures that ensure environmental safety.
  • Conduct surveillance testing to determine safety of nuclear equipment.
  • Monitor nuclear reactor equipment performance to identify operational inefficiencies, hazards, or needs for maintenance or repair.
  • Test plant equipment to ensure it is operating properly.
  • Apply safety tags to equipment needing maintenance.
  • Follow policies and procedures for radiation workers to ensure personnel safety.
  • Modify, devise, or maintain nuclear equipment used in operations.
  • Monitor instruments, gauges, or recording devices under direction of nuclear experimenters.
  • Perform testing, maintenance, repair, or upgrading of accelerator systems.
  • Warn maintenance workers of radiation hazards and direct workers to vacate hazardous areas.
  • Calculate equipment operating factors, such as radiation times, dosages, temperatures, gamma intensities, or pressures, using standard formulas and conversion tables.
  • Measure the intensity and identify the types of radiation in work areas, equipment, or materials, using radiation detectors or other instruments.
Other job titles for this occupation (35)

Auxiliary Operator · Equipment Operator · Licensed Nuclear Operator · Non-Licensed Nuclear Equipment Operator (NLO) · Non-Licensed Nuclear Plant Operator (NLO) · Nuclear Auxiliary Operator · Nuclear Equipment Operator (NEO) · Nuclear Plant Equipment Operator (NAPEO) · Operations Technician · Systems Operator · Accelerator Operator · Accelerator Technician · Cell Support Operator · Electric Systems Operator · Energy Systems Operator · Equipment Operation Instructor · Facilities Operator · Gamma Facilities Operator · Gamma Operator · Hot-Cell Technician · Non Licensed Operator · Non-Licensed Operator (NLO) · Nuclear Fuel Enrichment Technician · Nuclear Fuel Processing Technician · Nuclear Monitoring Technician · Nuclear Operations Specialist · Nuclear Power Plant Process Control Worker · Nuclear Reactor Technician · Nuclear Station Operator · Nuclear Technician · Operation Specialist · Radiation Protection Technician · Radiochemical Technician · Radioisotope Production Operator · Test and Research Reactor Operator