truest.me
Explore CareersSponsor Someone 🎁Log InSign Up
truest.me
AboutCareer Growth ToolsWays to access truestPricingSponsor people/teamsWho is truest for
Terms of useContactPrivacy policytruest is a public benefit company
Copyright Β© 2026, Truest.me. All rights reserved.
Browse Careers
Career Explorer β†’
Tracks
See all β†’
Admin & OfficeAgricultureArts & MediaBusiness OperationsConstructionEducationEngineeringExecutive LeadershipFacilitiesFinanceFood ServiceHealthcareHuman ResourcesLegalMaintenance & RepairMarketingOperationsPersonal CareProductionProtective ServicesReal EstateSalesScienceSocial ServicesTechnologyTransportation
Top industries
See all β†’
HealthcareAdministrative ServicesK-12 SchoolsHospitality & Food ServiceHospital SystemsRetailWholesale & DistributionCatering & Mobile Food ServicesProfessional ServicesHospitals & Medical CentersEducationRestaurants & DiningGovernmentManufacturingAmbulatory Healthcare ServicesAdministrative Support ServicesConstructionFinancial ServicesGeneral Merchandise StoresColleges & UniversitiesConsumer ServicesLocal Government ServicesFull-Service RestaurantsSpecialty Trade ContractorsTransportation & LogisticsReal Estate Services
Top metros
See all β†’
New York-NewarkLos Angeles-Long BeachChicago-NapervilleDallas-Fort WorthHouston-PasadenaWashington-ArlingtonAtlanta-Sandy SpringsPhiladelphia-CamdenMiami-Fort LauderdaleBoston-CambridgeSan Francisco-OaklandPhoenix-MesaSeattle-TacomaMinneapolis-St. PaulDetroit-WarrenRiverside-San BernardinoDenver-AuroraSan Diego-Chula VistaTampa-St. PetersburgOrlando-KissimmeeCharlotte-ConcordBaltimore-ColumbiaSt. LouisAustin-Round RockPortland-VancouverSan Jose-Sunnyvale
Careersβ€ΊRolesβ€ΊNon-Licensed Operator (NLO)
Mid-Level

Non-Licensed Operator (NLO)

You're the hands in the plant β€” making rounds, operating equipment, and watching the systems that generate power, working under the licensed operators in the control room. The eyes and hands out on the plant floor.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
R
C
I
E
S
A
Realistichands-on, practical
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Non-Licensed Operator (NLO)s
Energy & Utilities Β· 63%Professional Services Β· 17%Administrative Services Β· 9%Manufacturing Β· 6%Healthcare Β· 2%Government Β· 2%
Job markets for Non-Licensed Operator (NLO)s
Employment concentration Β· ~5 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Science
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Non-Licensed Operator (NLO)

The work is hands-on and procedure-bound β€” walking rounds, operating valves and equipment, monitoring readings, and responding to direction from the control room. Plants run around the clock, and shift work and strict procedures are the whole rhythm. Much of the craft is catching a small problem on rounds before it grows.

Nuclear, fossil, and other plants frame the work, but safety culture and regulation run heavy, especially in nuclear. Rotating shifts disrupt life, the work can be repetitive, and the role is often a path toward becoming a licensed operator. The pay tends to be solid for the trade-offs.

It tends to fit the steady and procedure-minded β€” people who like hands-on work, take safety seriously, and don't mind shift work. If you want a desk or regular hours, rotating shifts may not suit. But if being a reliable part of keeping the power on appeals, the role is stable and a real foothold toward licensure.

What people in this role value
SupportHigh
Working ConditionsLower
RelationshipsLower
AchievementLower
RecognitionLower
IndependenceLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial β€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape β€” and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Professional Services$92K+15%
Technology & Information$91K+13%
Energy & Utilities$82K+2%
Financial Services$81K+2%
Wholesale & Distribution$79K-1%
Compared to Science average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Non-Licensed Operator (NLO)s (SOC 19-4051.00), not just this title Β· BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Science β†’
Non-Licensed Operator (NLO)Operations TechnicianSystems OperatorNuclear TechnicianRadiochemical TechnicianGamma OperatorHot-Cell TechnicianAccelerator OperatorAccelerator TechnicianElectric Systems OperatorGamma Facilities OperatorNon-Licensed Nuclear Plant Operator (NLO)Non-Licensed Nuclear Equipment Operator (NLO)
Exploring the Non-Licensed Operator (NLO) career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit β€” and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
✦ Editorial β€” career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape β€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$64K–$127K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
6K
U.S. Employment
-7.7%
10yr Growth
700
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$77K$74K$71K$68K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 Β· BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Operations MonitoringMonitoringCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningQuality Control AnalysisActive LearningJudgment and Decision MakingTroubleshootingComplex Problem Solving
O*NET OnLine Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
19-4051.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midOperations Technician$66KmidSystems Operator$101KmidNuclear Technician$104KmidRadiochemical Technician$104KmidGamma Operator$104KmidHot-Cell Technician$104K
View all Science roles β†’

Navigate your career with clarity

Truest gives you tools to understand your strengths, explore roles that fit, and plan your next move.

Explore Truest career tools
Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) Β· BLS Employment Projections Β· O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.