The nuclear energy sector directly employs more than 70,000 people in the United States, a figure that climbs to roughly 250,000 once secondary jobs supported by the industry are included, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute. Each operating nuclear power plant supports between 500 and 800 permanent workers, and building a large new reactor can employ up to 4,500 workers at the peak of construction. Wages in the sector run well above the broader energy workforce, with the median hourly wage for nuclear generation jobs running 52 percent higher than the median wage across all electric power generation jobs and 116 percent higher than the national median wage across all industries. The commercial nuclear industry adds an estimated 64 billion dollars to the country's gross domestic product each year and pays roughly 9 billion dollars in state and local taxes, funding that supports schools, roads, and emergency services in the communities surrounding plant sites. In the Southeast, the multiplier effect is pronounced. For every 10 direct nuclear jobs, an additional 18 jobs are created elsewhere in the local economy through suppliers, contractors, and local spending. With most utilities now planning to operate their reactors out to 80 years, the workforce data suggest nuclear plants will continue functioning as long term economic engines for the towns and counties that host them, offering stable, multi generational career paths in fields ranging from engineering to the skilled trades.

Source: Nuclear Energy Institute - https://www.nei.org/advantages/jobs