Nuclear Engineers
Machines can already do 39% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 70%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Nuclear Engineers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 39% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2030, and 70% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 15,280 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $133,970 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 58% for contact with people.
- Also called: Engineer, Nuclear Design Engineer, Nuclear Engineer, Nuclear Licensing Engineer.
- Competency here means how well the best AI model, tool or robot available can do a task, scored out of 100: today using the best available now, and for later years the 311 prediction of what AI and robots will be able to do.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms | 9% | 50% to 85% | |
| Monitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations | 9% | 40% to 80% | |
| Prepare technical reports of findings or recommendations, based on synthesized analyses of test results | 9% | 65% to 92% | |
| Design or oversee construction or operation of nuclear reactors, power plants, or nuclear fuels reprocessing and reclamation systems | 8% | 10% to 30% | |
| Direct operating or maintenance activities of nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards | 6% | 10% to 30% | |
| Write operational instructions to be used in nuclear plant operation or nuclear fuel or waste handling and disposal | 6% | 70% to 95% | |
| Conduct tests of nuclear fuel behavior and cycles or performance of nuclear machinery and equipment to optimize performance of existing plants | 6% | 25% to 65% | |
| Prepare environmental impact statements, reports, or presentations for regulatory or other agencies | 5% | 70% to 95% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills nuclear engineers use most, most used first.
Human value: what makes people in this job hard to replace
How much nuclear engineers rely on each one, from 0 to 10. 311 estimates, medium confidence.
- Go-to problem solver10/10
- Trust and reliability10/10
- Know-how about the organisation9/10
- Network and relationships4/10
- Mentoring and developing others6/10
- Culture and morale5/10
- Initiative beyond the role7/10
- Calm in a crisis10/10
- Bridge between teams7/10
- Reputation and influence5/10
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians68% of tasks by 2035 · US median $66,120
- Mechanical Engineers69% of tasks by 2035 · US median $104,110
- Marine Engineers and Naval Architects68% of tasks by 2035 · US median $112,230
- Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary67% of tasks by 2035 · US median $109,270
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Nuclear Engineers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2030. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of nuclear engineers?
Machines can do 39% of the tasks of nuclear engineers today and 70% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 17-2161.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring, forecast and human value: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit (human value scores are 311 estimates, medium confidence); after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Nuclear Engineers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/nuclear-engineers/