The discussion revolves around the potential salaries and career prospects for nuclear engineering (NukeE) graduates, particularly those pursuing advanced degrees. Participants explore the implications of entering the nuclear engineering field, the challenges associated with industry experience, and the impact of public perception on nuclear energy opportunities.
Participants do not reach a consensus on the salary expectations or career prospects in nuclear engineering. Multiple competing views are presented regarding the value of advanced degrees, the state of the job market, and the potential for high earnings.
Limitations include uncertainty about the job market for nuclear engineers with research experience in radiation effects on materials and the lack of clarity regarding realistic salary expectations for Ph.D. graduates.
JakeBrodskyPE said:I'm not sure what "ridiculous amounts of money" means. If you mean getting vastly underpaid, that can happen real easily.
Not without experience. Even with a PhD, one would still be new in industry, and only if one had a substantial contribution to the profession would one command a substantial salary. I've seen PhDs work in industry for some years and then go out on their own and start a company, or companies. A number have done quite well.TheNE said:Just curious. I am getting my B.S. in NukeE this December from Missouri S&T, and going immediately back for my Ph.D. I would like to make ridiculous amounts of money with a future Ph.D, if possible.
GraphicsGuy said:
I was thinking along the line of easily $100k+ (hopefully). I want to get into investments in the not too distant future (venture capital). I figure that if I can split a couple septillion atoms, I could make wise investments with money I have saved up over the course of working as a NukeE. Consulting sounds very attractive with respect to salary, but DOES require a substantial amount of industry experience and expertise. I will be working under a materials professor. I was contemplating two routes for my Ph.D. Either fusion materials (or general plasma materials research), or materials research towards the ageing/corrosion mitigation of LWRs in the US (I have been doing undergrad research for 2+ years on a NRC grant towards educating NukeE students on these concepts). If I go "balls-deep" into the field of corrosion and ageing mitigation of LWRs (wouldn't companies just hire metallurgy engineers for this?) do you think I could expect a decent outcome? Thanks for the input, everyone.JakeBrodskyPE said:Good luck with that. I'm not sure what "ridiculous amounts of money" means. If you mean getting vastly underpaid, that can happen real easily.
Nuclear engineering is a field where there is a huge generation gap. There are the old timers who build the plants we have today. And then there are the new-comers who see new opportunities. The problem with the new opportunities is that while people hardly notice the tons of carbon dioxide and pollutants emerging from the stacks of coal fired power plants, they get irrationally scared of nuclear radiation, fearing that their kids will turn out funny or that it might go boom.
Getting permission to build even a small scale plant is going to require a great deal of patience and perseverance. But maybe you have that kind of patience and perseverance. If you do, then perhaps you can some day make ridiculous amounts of money.
Most metallurgists would be missing courses on radiation effects in materials. Life extension and material characterization are big topics these days. The effects of neutron, beta and gamma radiation on structural materials would be common to fusion systems as well as LWRs, however, fusion systems generally use different alloys. The materials in current LWRs are more or less fixed, e.g., the pressure vessel and core supporting structures are not likely to be replaced. Reactor vessel heads and the upper structures can be replaced, but at considerable cost.TheNE said:I was contemplating two routes for my Ph.D. Either fusion materials (or general plasma materials research), or materials research towards the ageing/corrosion mitigation of LWRs in the US (I have been doing undergrad research for 2+ years on a NRC grant towards educating NukeE students on these concepts). If I go "balls-deep" into the field of corrosion and ageing mitigation of LWRs (wouldn't companies just hire metallurgy engineers for this?) do you think I could expect a decent outcome? Thanks for the input, everyone.
Are there many opportunities (ideally several upon graduation for me to apply to) for NukeEs with research experience on radiation effects on materials? Do you have any idea what a realistic expectation for a Ph.D starting salary would be? I have not really examined the job market for materials-oriented NukeEs.Astronuc said:Most metallurgists would be missing courses on radiation effects in materials. Life extension and material characterization are big topics these days. The effects of neutron, beta and gamma radiation on structural materials would be common to fusion systems as well as LWRs, however, fusion systems generally use different alloys. The materials in current LWRs are more or less fixed, e.g., the pressure vessel and core supporting structures are not likely to be replaced. Reactor vessel heads and the upper structures can be replaced, but at considerable cost.
http://www.energy.gov/ne/nuclear-re...ght-water-reactor-sustainability-lwrs-program