ALARA Specialist Pay?

[ryry]

Anyone out there know on average what kind of salary do in house ALARA Specialist make working at nuke plants?

[scotoma]

$80000-$120000. You'll make more as a technician with overtime.

[ryry]

Sounds like it is better to not make a jump to ALARA Specialist and just stay working as a Tech.

[retired nuke]

Unless you are happy with salary, and generally working 40 hours. I learned a long time ago that you will spend whatever you make (edit: - you will USE whatever you make... Thanks Unc). Life is good on salary @ 40 hours vs forced OT, nights & weekends, etc.

Good luck...

[UncaBuffalo]

Unless you are happy with salary, and generally working 40 hours. I learned a long time ago that you will spend whatever you make. Life is good on salary @ 40 hours vs forced OT, nights & weekends, etc.

Good luck...

I can't read that statement without a rebuttal...  

You do NOT have to spend everything you make, nor should you.  If you do, they own you...WAGE-SLAVE-HELL.

Figure out what are true necessities for you and try to live with just those necessities.  When you spend more than that, you will appreciate that you are giving yourself a treat, and enjoy it more.  (Anyone who has read my posts over the years knows that I'm not adverse to treating myself quite often....trips...music...the IMPORTANT extras! ) Also, 'hide' (401k, IRA, etc) as much money from yourself as you can if, like me, you are tempted to spend the money when it's readily available...    Blah-de, blah, blah, blah...  



Ok. Off my voluntary-minimalist-lifestyle soapbox...and returning you to the ALARA Specialist Thread - already in-progress...







modified for clarity

[Dave Warren]

Let me interject here, because I haven't in so long......The 80k-120k pay rates that were listed are certainly on the higher end for ALARA Specialists. The larger utilities would possibly pay that rate for a "permanent" position.

[Rennhack]

Let me interject here, because I haven't in so long......The 80k-120k pay rates that were listed are certainly on the higher end for ALARA Specialists. The larger utilities would possibly pay that rate for a "permanent" position.

Anyone out there know on average what kind of salary do in house ALARA Specialist make working at nuke plants?

Yeah Dave, thats what they are talking about.  As mentioned in the first message.

[Dave Warren]

No, I am on board with the thread. I just do not agree with the 80-120 statement.
That isn't the norm, with the exception of the larger utilities.
It may be as a contractor, but not as a house ALARA person.

[Rennhack]

No, I am on board with the thread. I just do not agree with the 80-120 statement.
That isn't the norm, with the exception of the larger utilities.
It may be as a contractor, but not as a house ALARA person.

You think $38/hr - $58/hr for ALARA isn't the norm?  I would think it is.  Most House HP Techs make around $38, and ALARA typically pays better than that.  So $38 starting and $58 cap after 30 years sure seems reasonable to me.  I've never worked as a utility employee, perhaps you have.  I know as a contractor, I made $43/hr as an ALARA guy.  It sure sounds to be in the right ball park to me.

[Dave Warren]

Recent ALARA Specialist position at Perry = $67,000 ($33.50 an hour).
Maybe its just First Energy.

[GLW]

You think $38/hr - $58/hr for ALARA isn't the norm?  I would think it is.  Most House HP Techs make around $38, and ALARA typically pays better than that.  So $38 starting and $58 cap after 30 years sure seems reasonable to me.  I've never worked as a utility employee, perhaps you have.  I know as a contractor, I made $43/hr as an ALARA guy.  It sure sounds to be in the right ball park to me.

I tend to agree with DW on his perception.

PM me and I'll tell you why,...

[scotoma]

Let me make myself perfectly clear. The last time I checked, the job posting at Entergy for an "ALARA Specialist", was $80,000 - $120,000/Yr. This is not "ballpark" or speculation. This payrate is probably valid at the northern plants. and what they offer probably varies depending on which plant you are working. I'll be willing to be that they will never offer $120000, so realistically speaking, $80K - 100K is the expectation, so don't delude yourself. You won't max out your FICA withholding, so it could affect your social security benefit. There are benefits as well - annual bonus (5-7% of salary), 401K match, pension, medical, life insurance, holidays, vacation, maybe even respect......, okay, forget that last one, you're still in RP. It is salary, 40 hours/week and generally no weekends or nights. If the plant is in crisis, you may temporarily be assigned to nights or weekends with no additional compensation. If you have a good boss, he may give you comp time.
They usually want someone with several years experience in the industry and preferrably at least three years at the plant. It could be a stepping stone to a higher postion, but remember the old adage - no pain, no gain.
As I said before, you'lll make more money as a technician. It all depends on which of the bad you are willing to take with the good that you realize.

[Ksheed]

I'll be willing to be that they will never offer $120000, so realistically speaking, $80K - 100K is the expectation, so don't delude yourself. You won't max out your FICA withholding, so it could affect your social security benefit. There are benefits as well - annual bonus (5-7% of salary), 401K match, pension, medical, life insurance, holidays, vacation, maybe even respect......, okay, forget that last one, you're still in RP. It is salary, 40 hours/week and generally no weekends or nights. If the plant is in crisis, you may temporarily be assigned to nights or weekends with no additional compensation.

The benefits package may be nice, but a salaried "uncovered worker" can expect to be on call 24 hrs/day 365 days/year. That $100,000 salary boils down to about $11.42/hour. You should keep that in mind when making the decision to take the salary position. Compensation for hours worked during outages is definitely something worth considering/asking for.

[GLW]

Let me make myself perfectly clear. The last time I checked, the job posting at Entergy for an "ALARA Specialist", was $80,000 - $120,000/Yr. This is not "ballpark" or speculation. This payrate is probably valid at the northern plants. and what they offer probably varies depending on which plant you are working. I'll be willing to be that they will never offer $120000, so realistically speaking, $80K - 100K is the expectation, so don't delude yourself. You won't max out your FICA withholding, so it could affect your social security benefit. There are benefits as well - annual bonus (5-7% of salary), 401K match, pension, medical, life insurance, holidays, vacation, maybe even respect......, okay, forget that last one, you're still in RP. It is salary, 40 hours/week and generally no weekends or nights. If the plant is in crisis, you may temporarily be assigned to nights or weekends with no additional compensation. If you have a good boss, he may give you comp time.
They usually want someone with several years experience in the industry and preferrably at least three years at the plant. It could be a stepping stone to a higher postion, but remember the old adage - no pain, no gain.
As I said before, you'lll make more money as a technician. It all depends on which of the bad you are willing to take with the good that you realize.

Well there are benefits as you said,....

Entergy did add this little blurb at the end of the posting IIRC:

- At least 5 years experience in the associated department.
- SRO certification on BWR or PWR.
- Proficiency with current computer business applications
Additional Responsibilities
As a provider of essential services, Entergy expects its employees to be available to work additional hours, to work in alternate locations, and/or to perform additional duties in connection with storms, outages, emergencies, or other situations as deemed necessary by the company.

Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.

I know very few HP techs with an SRO certification on a BWR or PWR,...

I'm just saying,...

because someone's gonna ask:

http://jobsearch.entergy.com/port-gibson-ms/specialist-alara/32548944/job/

[Rennhack]

Recent ALARA Specialist position at Perry = $67,000 ($33.50 an hour).
Maybe its just First Energy.

Dave, they may have called you an ALARA Specialist... but they didn't  pay you as one.  And that is a contractor position, not a house position.  They payed you the Democrat rate.  Us republicans get paid the alternative minimum rate.  Love you man.

[GLW]

Dave, they may have called you an ALARA Specialist... but they didn't  pay you as one.  And that is a contractor position, not a house position.  They payed you the Democrat rate.  Us republicans get paid the alternative minimum rate.  Love you man.

Cold,....dam cold,.....

[GLW]

.....Us republicans get paid the alternative minimum rate. ....

followed closely by the AMT,...

[retired nuke]

Let me make myself perfectly clear. The last time I checked, the job posting at Entergy for an "ALARA Specialist", was $80,000 - $120,000/Yr. This is not "ballpark" or speculation. This payrate is probably valid at the northern plants. and what they offer probably varies depending on which plant you are working. I'll be willing to be that they will never offer $120000, so realistically speaking, $80K - 100K is the expectation, so don't delude yourself. You won't max out your FICA withholding, so it could affect your social security benefit. There are benefits as well - annual bonus (5-7% of salary), 401K match, pension, medical, life insurance, holidays, vacation, maybe even respect......, okay, forget that last one, you're still in RP. It is salary, 40 hours/week and generally no weekends or nights. If the plant is in crisis, you may temporarily be assigned to nights or weekends with no additional compensation. If you have a good boss, he may give you comp time.
They usually want someone with several years experience in the industry and preferrably at least three years at the plant. It could be a stepping stone to a higher postion, but remember the old adage - no pain, no gain.
As I said before, you'lll make more money as a technician. It all depends on which of the bad you are willing to take with the good that you realize.

All of the above is true. The job is better with a good boss (I'm lucky). Entergy rates are fleetwide - even the southerners are in the pay range, but maybe not as far off the minimum.

Anybody that gets paid less is not really doing an ALARA Spec job, they are hanging lead....

[Rennhack]

All of the above is true.

Anybody that gets paid less is not really doing an ALARA Spec job, they are hanging lead....

AMEN. They are "ALARA Technicians".

[retired nuke]

Well there are benefits as you said,....

Entergy did add this little blurb at the end of the posting IIRC:

- At least 5 years experience in the associated department.
- SRO certification on BWR or PWR.
- Proficiency with current computer business applications
Additional Responsibilities
As a provider of essential services, Entergy expects its employees to be available to work additional hours, to work in alternate locations, and/or to perform additional duties in connection with storms, outages, emergencies, or other situations as deemed necessary by the company.

Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.

I know very few HP techs with an SRO certification on a BWR or PWR,...

I'm just saying,...

because someone's gonna ask:

http://jobsearch.entergy.com/port-gibson-ms/specialist-alara/32548944/job/

Entergy puts the SRO cert blurb an just about all professional positions. Doesn't mean its common, or really expected. But... once you cross into professional land, an opportunity may turn up for a cert class. Never been interested, but I've seen others go that direction.

[Dave Warren]

Dave, they may have called you an ALARA Specialist... but they didn't  pay you as one.  And that is a contractor position, not a house position.  They payed you the Democrat rate.  Us republicans get paid the alternative minimum rate.  Love you man.

I didn't say I ever made that chump change. I act like a Republican when I am negotiating, but then I turn on them once I get hired. I understand that "HOUSE" people make that much, but that certainly isn't the norm......Democrat or Republican...

Oh and, how bout that election?....