ETNElectronics Technician Nuclear(ETN Navy Rating)
Maintains nuclear reactor instrumentation and control systems.
Overall
Quick Stats
Security Clearance
Secret~$3K–$15K civilian sector value
Requires a National Agency Check with Local Agency Check and Credit Check (NACLC). Processing typically takes 1–3 months and is initiated early in your training pipeline.
ASVAB Requirements
AFQT Minimum
50
Line-score options — meet any one
- GS+AR+MK+EI≥252 and AR+MK+MC+VE≥235
- AR+MK+MC+VE≥252 and GS+AR+MK+EI≥235
Who This Is Best For
Best for top-performing students who want nuclear-level electronics training and a guaranteed high-paying career path. If you have exceptional math and science aptitude and can handle an intense academic pipeline, civilian careers routinely start above $80K with rapid advancement in nuclear power and engineering.
+Pros
- ✓Strong civilian career transition
–Cons
- ✗Long A-school pipeline
- ✗Significant sea duty
Real Opinions
+Positive
“Nuke life is brutal but the bonuses and civilian options are insane. I walked into a $90k+ job right out.”
“ETN combines the best of electronics and nuclear power. You maintain reactor instrumentation, control systems, and electrical distribution for a nuclear power plant. The technical depth is unmatched — civilian nuclear plants, data centers, and utility companies all want former ETNs. The six-figure civilian career path is real and well-documented.”
–Negative & Mixed
“It is not uncommon to work 14-hour days, and you likely will not get a shore duty assignment for several years.”
“The training pipeline is brutal but what you learn is genuinely world-class. Civilian nuclear power plants actively recruit Navy ETNs.”
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0 charsRecruiter vs Reality
What the recruiter says vs. what it's actually like.
🫡 Recruiter says
“Nuclear program pays huge bonuses and you will have unlimited civilian job options!”
💀 Reality
Source: MyNavyRates researchBonuses are real but come with a 6-year contract minimum. The training pipeline is 2+ years, and underway hours in the plant are grueling. Civilian options are excellent but you earn every penny.
🫡 Recruiter says
“ETN has guaranteed fast promotion.”
💀 Reality
Source: sailor forumsNuclear rates do tend to promote faster, but it is not guaranteed. You still need to perform well on advancement exams and evaluations. The pipeline attrition also means some never make it to the fleet.
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Horror Stories
Real stories people have shared about this rate. Swipe to browse.
“As an ETN, the culture was cancerous and the hours were almost unbearable. You could be looking at eighty-hour weeks as a baseline, with working days stretching up to thirty-six hours every four days when the ship needed it. The leadership operated through attrition — anyone worth anything got out as soon as they could, leaving the less capable ones in charge, and the cycle fed on itself. Pay was terrible when you broke it down by actual hours worked. For the first four years, you were earning below the poverty line for the kind of work they demanded. The nuclear program took the smartest people the Navy could recruit and then ground them down until they could not wait to leave.”
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0 charsRelated Reading
Guides on picking a rate, ASVAB, bonuses, promotion, and life after the Navy.
Getting Started
How do you choose the right Navy rate for you?
Choosing a Navy rate means weighing your ASVAB scores, lifestyle preferences, civilian career goals, and willingness to deploy or go to sea. Start by identifying which ratings you qualify for, then narrow the list by what matters most to you.
Getting Started
What is the ASVAB and what scores do you need?
The ASVAB is a multi-aptitude test that determines which Navy ratings you qualify for. Your sub-test scores combine into line scores, and each rating has minimum line-score requirements. Higher scores open more options.
Career & Pay
Which Navy rates have the biggest enlistment bonuses in 2026?
Active Component (Active Duty) only. Per the CNRC GENADMIN dated 24 July 2026, the biggest source-rate bonus is $40,000 — Nuclear Field on FY26 ship dates ($75,000 EB cap). Special Warfare Boat Operator (SB) follows at $35,000, then EOD and SEAL (SO) at $30,000, and Aviation Rescue Swimmer (AIRR) and Cryptologic Technician Maintenance (CTM) at $25,000. Special Operations Future Sailors who clear the elevated PST standards add a flat $20,000 EBPST. Most rates cap at $50,000 total EB. The Loan Repayment Program adds up to $65,000 on top, separately. Reserve component (SELRES) bonuses are governed by a different message and are not covered here.
