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Careers›Roles›Radiation Protection Engineer
Mid-Level

Radiation Protection Engineer

Keeping people and the environment safe from radiation is your engineering charge, designing shielding, monitoring exposure, and enforcing the safety that lets nuclear and medical work happen. Where invisible hazards get engineered against.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
I
R
C
E
S
A
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Realistichands-on, practical
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Radiation Protection Engineers
Professional Services · 47%Government · 31%Manufacturing · 7%Administrative Services · 6%Energy & Utilities · 1%Education · 1%
Job markets for Radiation Protection Engineers
Employment concentration · ~175 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Engineering
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Radiation Protection Engineer

The work blends designing shielding and controls, monitoring radiation levels, assessing exposure, and ensuring compliance with strict regulations. You work in nuclear, medical, or research settings, between calculation and the field. Safety is the entire point, since a design flaw can expose people to real harm.

What people underestimate is the dense regulation and the weight of the stakes: the rules are strict because the hazards are serious. Documentation and audits are heavy, the work demands deep expertise, and the consequences of an error are severe. Settings and specialties vary, but the rigor holds.

It fits someone rigorous, safety-minded, and exacting. If you want fast, loose work, the exacting nature can feel heavy. But if you like applying physics to protect people, and work that genuinely keeps people safe, the role tends to feel meaningful and important.

What people in this role value
AchievementAbove avg
RecognitionAbove avg
Working ConditionsAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
SupportModerate
RelationshipsLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — 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
Technology & Information$117K+15%
Professional Services$103K+1%
Energy & Utilities$87K-14%
Financial Services$86K-16%
Wholesale & Distribution$74K-28%
Compared to Engineering average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Radiation Protection Engineers (SOC 17-2081.00, 17-2161.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Engineering →
Radiation Protection EngineerEnvironmental Program ManagerRemedial Project ManagerBrownfield Program ManagerBrownfields Program ManagerEnvironmental Protection SpecialistRadiation TechnicianRadiation MonitorChemical Radiation TechnicianProject EngineerEnvironmental Remediation SpecialistHazardous Waste Management SpecialistCivil EngineerSanitary EngineerWeapons DesignerWeapons EngineerEnvironmental PlannerEnvironmental ConsultantSystem EngineerEnvironmental DesignerEnvironmentalistEnvironmental Safety SpecialistReservoir EngineerEnvironmental EngineerFlood Control Engineer+1 more
Exploring the Radiation Protection Engineer career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — 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 — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$65K–$187K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
53K
U.S. Employment
+1.4%
10yr Growth
4K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

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

Skills & Requirements

ScienceCritical ThinkingWritingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingMathematicsMonitoringMonitoringCritical Thinking
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
17-2081.0017-2161.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midEnvironmental Program Manager$145KmidRemedial Project Manager$137KmidBrownfield Program Manager$137KmidBrownfields Program Manager$137KmidEnvironmental Protection Specialist$80KmidRadiation Technician$91K
View all Engineering roles →

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