| With the ever growing demand for clean energy | | | | current ratio of jobs becoming available versus those |
| options, and uncertainty over the price and long term | | | | qualified to fill them, entry level salaries are likely to |
| availability of fossil fuels, the once maligned nuclear | | | | increase. |
| energy industry is making a comeback. Nowhere is | | | | Of course, the nuclear energy field isn't limited to |
| this renewed interest seen more than in the | | | | college educated engineers, and those who fill other |
| increasing job prospects in the nuclear industry. In | | | | crucial positions, such as nuclear reactor operators, |
| particular demand are those who can fill nuclear | | | | are finding themselves in greater demand as well. |
| engineering jobs. | | | | Nuclear power plant operators, who often begin their |
| The 30 year decline in interest in nuclear energy led | | | | careers right out of high school and are given in |
| to so many colleges and universities dropping their | | | | depth on the job and classroom training before they |
| nuclear engineering programs that the American | | | | are considered fully qualified, will nonetheless see an |
| Nuclear Society reported a decline from 65 such | | | | increase of more than ten percent in demand for |
| programs in 1980 to less than half that now. This | | | | those who can fill that position according to the U. S. |
| means that those who are entering the nuclear | | | | Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS expects an |
| engineering job market now are finding their | | | | increase of around 400 jobs by 2016. |
| qualifications in high demand. While the ANS says that | | | | While no one can say for certain what tomorrow will |
| at least 700 nuclear engineering graduates are | | | | bring, it is a fact that only a certain amount of fossil |
| needed to fill the void left by a rapidly retiring | | | | fuel exists in the world. Couple that fact with the |
| workforce, they estimate that only about 249 new | | | | ever growing concern about air and water pollution |
| engineers are currently available each year. | | | | and its effect on the climate, and clean, alternative |
| Obviously, this means that nuclear engineering | | | | methods of producing energy, such as nuclear power, |
| graduates are looking at the ideal situation when it | | | | look to stay in ever increasing demand. That demand |
| comes to salary and job security. Those who first | | | | can only produce an even greater demand for highly |
| enter the nuclear engineering field will typically see | | | | qualified individuals to fill the crucial positions in the |
| salaries in the $60,000 range, but that can increase to | | | | nuclear power industry. |
| around $100,000 in as little as ten years. At the | | | | |