Nuclear logistics coordinatorSalary, qualifications, career path and hiring demand, 2026 edition
A nuclear logistics coordinator ensures materials, components, and equipment move safely and efficiently from suppliers or warehouses to the exact location where the nuclear project requires them, precisely when the project can utilize them. This position organizes transportation, delivery schedules, bills of lading, customs clearance, storage, laydown, material handling, and site receipt, while maintaining records that comply with nuclear sector quality and security standards. Expeditors track supplier progress; materials teams manage inventory control; logistics coordinators oversee the physical movement and handoff between these phases, ensuring seamless collaboration among stakeholders.
In the US, established nuclear logistics coordinators typically model around $68,000–$90,000, with senior and lead roles around $82,000–$120,000. The broad BLS Logisticians median is $82,320, while a current Aecon nuclear Material Logistics Coordinator assignment in Richland is advertised at $60–$85/hour. In the UK, established nuclear logistics coordinator candidates typically sit around £36,000–£48,000, with current Sellafield material-logistics contracting at up to £36/hour and more complex nuclear project roles moving into the £50,000s.
There is no universal Nuclear Logistics Coordinator licence. Employers screen for logistics activities such as delivery planning, transport documentation, material tracking, warehouse/site coordination, ERP discipline and the ability to work safely around lifting, traffic and construction infrastructure. Roles involving Class 7 radioactive material add ADR/RID/IMDG/ICAO requirements, package and shipment controls, security and emergency arrangements. Those specialist rules matter only where radioactive material is actually being transported.
The role at a glance
Everything an employer will ask about in the first fifteen minutes of a screening call.
- Also called
- Materials logistics coordinator · site logistics coordinator · delivery coordinator · transport coordinator · material movement coordinator · logistics planner
- Entry qualification
- Degree, HNC/HND, apprenticeship or equivalent experience in logistics, supply chain, construction, transport, warehousing or project coordination.
- Typical entry pay
- $55,000–$72,000 US · £30,000–£38,000 UK
- Senior pay
- $82,000–$105,000 US senior, rising above $110,000 for project leads · £45,000–£58,000 UK senior, with project leads around £52,000–£65,000
- Contract day rates
- £250–£350 experienced coordinator · £350–£450 senior/specialist nuclear logistics · approximately $60–$85/hr on current US nuclear project contracting
- Professional gate
- No licence. CILT, ASCM/APICS, CPC/transport, dangerous-goods or project-logistics training can help depending on scope.
- Security
- UK BPSS common, with SC/DV for defence-sensitive logistics. US DOE/naval or controlled nuclear material movements may require citizenship, clearance or security-authorised access.
- Where the work sits
- New-build construction sites, warehouse/materials teams, reactor vendors, fuel-cycle facilities, decommissioning projects, operating sites and logistics contractors.
- Travel
- Moderate. Supplier collections, ports, warehouses, laydown areas and site-delivery interfaces may require regular field presence.
- TRX segments
- Large new build · New technology development · Operating fleet · Fuel cycle · Decommissioning & dismantling · Radioactive waste management · Defence nuclear
Six versions of the same job title
"Logistics Coordinator" can mean construction traffic, material receipt, heavy equipment movement or radioactive-material transport. The title is broad; the employer's material and site constraints define the real job. Bar shows relative hiring volume across TRX's 2026 desk activity.
Construction-site logistics coordinator
Coordinates vehicle bookings, delivery windows, traffic routes, marshalling, laydown, plant interfaces and daily material flow on a major nuclear construction site.
Material logistics coordinator
Controls movement from supplier or warehouse into project storage and work areas, including requisitions, inventory tracing, BOLs and material-status reporting. Aecon's current nuclear roles are direct examples.
Heavy / abnormal-load logistics
Plans movement of large modules, vessels, transformers or fabricated assemblies using special trailers, cranes, barges or route controls. Permits, lift interfaces and delivery sequencing dominate.
Warehouse-to-workfront logistics
Connects receipt, storage, preservation, picking, kitting and final issue to construction or maintenance teams. Accuracy and workfront timing matter as much as transport.
Radioactive-material logistics
Coordinates Class 7 consignments where approved packages, dangerous-goods documentation, security, dose/contamination controls and regulatory notifications apply. This is a specialist variant, not every nuclear logistics role.
Commissioning / operations logistics
Prioritises spares, tools, consumables and replacement equipment needed for outages, testing or plant operations, often against short delivery windows.
What the week actually looks like
A composite day for a logistics coordinator on a nuclear construction project receiving fabricated modules, piping materials and commissioning spares through a controlled site-delivery system.
What nuclear logistics coordinators are paid in 2026
Nuclear Logistics Coordinator does not have a standalone wage series. The closest official US occupation is Logisticians, with a May 2025 median of $82,320, a 10th percentile below $50,890 and a 90th percentile above $133,160. The ladders below are a TRX nuclear-project model cross-checked against current Aecon, Sellafield and Sizewell C logistics hiring. Contract project roles can look unusually high against permanent coordinator salaries because hourly rates absorb benefits, employment risk, travel and short project duration.
How nuclear logistics coordination compares to adjacent roles
BLS rows are broad occupation anchors. Aecon and Sellafield are current nuclear-project contract examples and should not be read as universal permanent salaries.
| Occupation | Median | P10 | P90 | What moves the number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear logistics coordinator (US TRX model) | $85,000 | $55,000 | $120,000 | Project scale, transport complexity, nuclear controls, shifts |
| Logisticians, all industries (BLS May 2025) | $82,320 | $50,890 | $133,160 | Industry, federal work, complexity and responsibility |
| Federal-government Logisticians (BLS May 2025) | $103,790 | — | — | Mission complexity, government environment and security |
| Aecon Material Logistics Coordinator, Richland 2026 | $72.50/hr midpoint | — | — | Nuclear materials, project coordination and contract market |
| Sellafield Materials Logistics Coordinator, 2026 | £36/hr | — | — | Nuclear site, stock control, receipt and material distribution |
BLS rows are broad occupation anchors. Aecon and Sellafield are current nuclear-project contract examples and should not be read as universal permanent salaries.
Heavy and abnormal-load logistics
Coordinators who understand route surveys, permits, cranes, special trailers and module delivery command more than standard warehouse/logistics roles.
Class 7 radioactive-material transport
ADR/RID/IMDG/ICAO and nuclear-security competence creates a premium where the role genuinely includes radioactive consignments.
Construction workfront integration
People who can link transport, laydown, lifting and installation need dates add more value than coordinators who only book freight.
Three ways in, and only one of them starts with a nuclear logistics degree
Nuclear logistics coordination is accessible from mainstream logistics, construction, warehousing, materials or transport. Nuclear experience matters more as the load, site or regulatory consequence increases.
Logistics / freight progression
Ten or more years to lead / logistics manager.
Materials / warehouse progression
Ten or more years to materials/logistics leadership.
Construction / project coordination transfer
Five steps from site coordinator to project logistics lead.
Are you actually ready to compete for a nuclear logistics coordinator role?
A logistics CV should prove movement and consequence. Show delivery volumes, load types, project value, warehouse size, on-time performance, abnormal loads, customs, systems used, shift coverage and the construction or operational milestones your coordination protected. "Coordinated deliveries" is too generic; a strong CV explains what moved, how complex it was and what happened when the plan failed.
Free resume scoring on avua. Your score is yours; it is not shared with employers.Strong candidates quantify delivery volume, equipment complexity, site interfaces, system accuracy and exceptions recovered rather than listing generic freight duties.
Illustrative TRX shortlisting pattern only.
The credentials that actually gate the work
Most nuclear logistics coordination is competence-gated rather than licensed. Specialist transport requirements apply only when the coordinator is responsible for regulated loads or dangerous goods.
| Credential | Jurisdiction | Required for | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logistics/supply-chain qualification or equivalent experience | UK / US | Entry | 0–4 yrs | Degree, apprenticeship and experience routes all occur. |
| CILT / ASCM/APICS or equivalent | UK / US | Competitive advantage | Months to years | Helpful for progression but not mandatory. |
| CPC / operator / transport-planning competence | UK | Road-transport-heavy roles | Role-specific | Required responsibilities depend on whether the employer operates vehicles directly. |
| ADR / Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser support competence | UK / Europe | Dangerous-goods logistics | Role-specific | Only relevant when movements fall under dangerous-goods rules. |
| Class 7 / SSR-6 transport competence | International | Radioactive-material movements | Training + role experience | IAEA SSR-6 underpins mode-specific rules; specific legal duties depend on jurisdiction and transport mode. |
| BPSS / SC / DV | UK | Nuclear and defence-sensitive logistics | Weeks to months | Security level depends on site and material. |
| US DOE/NRC/security or export eligibility where specified | US | Federal, naval or controlled movements | Role-specific | Not universal to ordinary construction logistics. |
A general logistics coordinator does not automatically need radioactive-material credentials. Employers should match training and authorisation to the actual loads, routes and legal duties the role controls.
What appears on a 2026 nuclear logistics coordinator shortlist
Employers want coordinators who can keep material moving without losing control of safety, paperwork, location or the project need date. Ordered by how often a hiring manager treats it as a hard filter rather than a nice-to-have.
Named on the specification
- Transport and delivery planning — Bookings, carrier coordination, routes, delivery windows, vehicle/load constraints and daily delivery schedules
- Material tracking and inventory interface — Goods receipt, identification, inventory location, requisitions and accurate status from supplier to workfront
- Shipping and transport documentation — Bills of lading, packing lists, manifests, customs/export documentation and delivery records
- Site logistics and material handling — Gates, marshalling, laydown, cranes, forklifts, preservation, storage and controlled internal movement
- ERP / logistics-system discipline — SAP, Oracle, warehouse-management or project logistics tools used to maintain accurate movements and status
- Exception and interface management — Late vehicles, rejected loads, damage, shortages, blocked routes, storage conflicts and coordination with security, quality, procurement and construction
What decides between two shortlisted candidates
- Heavy / abnormal-load movement — Oversized modules, transformers, vessels or large fabricated equipment
- Class 7 radioactive-material logistics — Practical understanding of package, labelling, documentation, notification, security and emergency requirements
- Nuclear construction logistics — High-volume delivery systems supporting Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, Darlington or comparable megaprojects
- Customs and international freight — Cross-border equipment movements, Incoterms, import/export documentation and port interfaces
- Commissioning-critical logistics — Urgent spares and equipment delivered into tightly sequenced testing or outage windows
- Digital material traceability — Strong use of barcode/RFID, ERP and logistics dashboards to maintain exact material location and status
The 2026 demand map
Logistics demand follows construction intensity, material volume and site complexity. In 2026, the clearest nuclear signals come from Sizewell C mobilisation, Hinkley Point C, Darlington SMR work, Sellafield materials operations and expanding US advanced-reactor/fuel programmes.
| Programme | Location | Phase in 2026 | Engineering demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sizewell C | Suffolk, UK | Main construction and site-logistics mobilisation | Very high — active Logistics Coordinator hiring covers delivery management, marshalling, materials handling and earthworks support |
| Hinkley Point C | Somerset, UK | Advanced construction, installation and commissioning preparation | High — mature site logistics still supports heavy material flow, plant access and commissioning deliveries |
| Sellafield | Cumbria, UK | Decommissioning, waste and operational material movements | High — current Materials Logistics Coordinator contracting covers stock, receipt, storage and distribution |
| Darlington New Nuclear Project | Ontario, Canada | BWRX-300 construction execution | Very high — Aecon's live Logistics Coordinator role manages modules/material movement and BOLs |
| Aecon Richland nuclear projects | Washington, US | Nuclear construction/procurement support | High — live Material Logistics Coordinator contracting at $60–$85/hr |
| Natrium / Kemmerer Unit 1 | Wyoming, US | Nuclear construction and supply-chain execution | Growing fast — TerraPower's supply-chain organisation explicitly includes logistics, warehousing and material flow |
| Advanced fuel / enrichment projects | US | New fuel-cycle manufacturing and construction | Growing — specialist equipment, controlled materials and new facilities increase logistics coordination needs |
| UK radioactive-material transport network | UK-wide | Operating fleet, decommissioning and waste movements | Sustained specialist demand — ONR continues to regulate Class 7 road, rail and inland-waterway transport |
Programme phases move. Confirm current status before making a relocation decision; TRX tracks these weekly.
Nuclear logistics is becoming a construction-control discipline
Sizewell C and Darlington show that logistics coordination is embedded directly in delivery teams, not treated as a back-office freight function. As sites get busier, the constraint is often physical: gate capacity, storage, lifting, traffic routes and workfront readiness. Coordinators who understand the construction schedule therefore become more valuable than people who only understand transport booking.
People who can connect the road, warehouse and workfront
A haulier can deliver a load and a warehouse can receive it, but the project still fails if the item cannot reach the installation point when required. The hardest logistics hires understand the full chain—carrier, documentation, site access, receipt, preservation, laydown, lift and final handoff—and can solve conflicts across all of it. That skill becomes more valuable as construction density rises: the coordinator must balance today's urgent delivery against tomorrow's crane path, traffic plan, storage capacity and installation sequence.
Adjacent and onward roles
Nuclear logistics coordination can progress into logistics leadership, materials management or wider supply-chain roles.
Questions we get asked every week
How much does a nuclear logistics coordinator earn in 2026?
In the US, the TRX model places established nuclear logistics coordinators around $68,000–$90,000, with senior roles earning between $82,000 and $105,000. The broad BLS Logisticians median salary is $82,320, while a current Aecon nuclear Material Logistics Coordinator assignment in Richland is advertised at $60–$85/hour.
In the UK, nuclear logistics coordinator candidates typically earn around £36,000–£48,000, with current Sellafield material-logistics contracting roles paying up to £36/hour.
What is the difference between a logistics coordinator and an expeditor?
The Expeditor focuses upstream on supplier progress, including manufacturing milestones, documentation, inspections, recovery, and forecasting shipment dates.
The Logistics Coordinator manages the physical movement of materials after or around that point, coordinating carriers, routes, shipping documents, delivery slots, site receipt, storage, and movement to the workfront. They overlap at shipment readiness but address different challenges.
Do nuclear logistics coordinators need radioactive-material transport qualifications?
Only if the role involves handling radioactive material or other regulated dangerous goods. Many new-build logistics coordinators manage ordinary construction materials and equipment and do not require Class 7 credentials.
Where radioactive material is involved, compliance with ADR, RID, IMDG, or ICAO air-transport regulations, security requirements, and employer-provided training is essential.
What qualifications are useful for nuclear logistics coordination?
CILT, ASCM/APICS, and logistics or supply-chain qualifications are valuable but not mandatory. Practical experience with ERP/WMS systems, transport documentation, carrier management, site delivery, and material tracking is often more critical.
Heavy logistics, dangerous-goods, customs training, and proficiency in Excel enhance a candidate's profile for specialized nuclear logistics coordinator vacancies.
Is this mainly a desk role or a site role?
It can be either, but major nuclear construction projects tend to make the role site-heavy. Coordinators frequently work between delivery booking systems, security gates, warehouses, laydown areas, and construction teams.
International freight logistics roles may be more office-based, while heavy-load, commissioning, and material-receipt roles require more field presence.
Where is nuclear logistics demand strongest in 2026?
Sizewell C is the clearest UK growth market, with active logistics coordination embedded in construction mobilisation. Hinkley Point C and Sellafield provide mature project and operational demand.
Internationally, the Darlington New Nuclear Project's BWRX-300 programme has live Aecon logistics hiring, while US nuclear construction, advanced-reactor, and fuel-cycle projects are expanding material-flow and project logistics services.
We only recruit in nuclear. That is the whole point.
TRX can assess whether your experience fits nuclear logistics, materials, expediting, warehouse operations, radioactive-material transport or wider supply-chain roles — and which projects will value it most. Send us the CV and we will look for load complexity, delivery volume, systems, heavy transport, site interfaces, regulated movements and the project milestones your logistics work protected.