Nuclear engineers research and develop projects or address problems concerning the release, control and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal. They work on power plants, radiation safety, medical and industrial uses, and waste handling. AI and software can help analyze plant data and run simulations. Safety decisions under strict regulation stay with engineers.
The short answer: very low exposure; the energy market matters more than AI. The ILO's 2025 index rates engineering professionals not elsewhere classified, the closest group, as not exposed with a score of 0.30. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects little or no change from 2025 to 2035, with about 800 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed nuclear engineers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified | Not exposed | 0.30 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for nuclear engineers, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear engineers | Little or no change (0%) | About 800 |
The BLS says the increased focus on renewable energy and limited construction of new nuclear power plants is expected to limit demand. It adds that these engineers will still be needed to oversee and maintain operations of existing plants. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Spotting early signs of equipment problems in plant data.
- Running and comparing simulations faster.
- Searching regulations, procedures and technical records.
What stays with nuclear engineers
- Safety analysis: deciding what is safe and proving it to regulators.
- Operations oversight: guiding how existing plants run and are maintained.
- Waste and radiation: planning safe handling, storage and protection.
- Checking AI help: generated analyses and summaries can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Most work centers on keeping existing plants safe and efficient. Better data tools support that work, while licensing and safety rules keep engineers accountable for every decision. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace nuclear technicians?, will AI replace power plant operators? and will AI replace engineers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for nuclear engineers at $133,970 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace nuclear engineers?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects little or no change from 2025 to 2035, with about 800 openings a year.
How exposed are nuclear engineers to AI?
The ILO rates engineering professionals not elsewhere classified, the closest group, as not exposed with a score of 0.30.
Why is growth flat?
The BLS points to the focus on renewable energy and limited construction of new nuclear plants.
Will there still be work?
Yes. The BLS says nuclear engineers will still be needed to oversee and maintain existing plants.