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Nuclear plant inspectors earn less than some OC jail guards
August 21st, 2008, 7:00 am · 22 Comments · posted by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer
They are the public’s eyes and ears at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
They must understand basic nuclear technology and radiological safety.
They must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering - nuclear, chemical, mechanical, electrical.
Their job: Keep a watchful eye on the folks operating San Onofre, to make sure everything is as safe as it can possibly be.
Yet they earn less than some of the high school graduates manning Orange County jails.
Two inspectors from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission are stationed full-time at San Onofre:
- The resident inspector earns about $117,219 (not including benefits)
- The senior resident inspector earns about $131,910 (not including benefits).
Yes, the 2008 pay range for sworn employees of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department tops out at about $106,000; but more than 100 sheriff’s deputies earned in excess of $150,000 in 2007, thanks to overtime (read more about that gravy train here). One earned nearly $221,000; another earned nearly $209,000; another $197,000; etc.
All due respect, sheriff’s deputies don’t have to know much about nuclear science. A college degree isn’t a necessity.
Shouldn’t the people policing America’s nuclear reactors earn as much as those policing Theo Lacy Jail? Given the considerable problems with human error owner/operator Southern California Edison had had as of late (and the subsequent special inspections), one could easily argue that at least as much - and perhaps a good deal more - rides on their work.
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22 Comments
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the sheriff and police are overpaid for their education, knowlege and skills. they are like glorified welfare mothers.
That’s horrible. Maybe they can quit their jobs and get hired by the OCSD.
It’s called a weaker union.
While that does sound somewhat unbalanced, you can’t just add in overtime to the prison guards’ pay as if it’s free money for them- they’re working extra hours. So technically, on an hourly wage basis, even the highest paid guard still makes less than a resident inspector.
Oh please! OCR get a new punchline. The bashing of OCSD is getting old. Seriously. Don’t try to hide your bashing of OCSD behind a headline about nuclear plant inspectors. Plus, you’re comparing apples and oranges. No disrespect to nuclear plant inspectors, I’m sure they earn their way to becoming inspectors through many years of schooling to do an important job. Based upon the salaries listed for the inspectors, it’s hard to feel sorry for them, which is the slant put upon this story. (That’s what this is, a story, not good journalism)
The “gravy train” you write about was deputies working overtime because if a position is vacant, it MUST be filled, whether the deputy wants the overtime or not. Usually the position will be offered to someone who wants it first, but if no one does, then someone gets stuck with it. Unlike the position of a OCR writer, a deputy’s position can not be left vacant.
I guess the so-called “reporters” are mad that they make so little…
NEXT STORY PLEASE….. this is getting old !!
Must not be much news in the OC today. Keep up the good work OCSD!
This is a terrible premise for a story. It’s more of what you’d see in a high school paper in Arkansas than in a major daily on the West Coast. I’m afraid with the demise of the newspaper business this is what we have to look forward to. I think I’ll remove the Register from my home page and add the LA Times. They’re going down they same road though more slowly.
The OC Register must have a serious problem with OC Sheriffs Department. Can’t the Register just let go and find something more interesting to report?
By the way, there are Jailguards with Bachelor Degrees, even Masters! Do you know why? Or have you not looked into it this deep?
The OCSD requires Jail Time from any new Deputy, as much as 5 years, and again there are lots of deputies that have a college degree.
Why don’t you spend time checking on the deputies education. That would keep you reports busy!
Is it also news that trash collectors make more than OCR staff reporters?
This cheap article is a bad hit piece at best. OCR get some REAL news up.
OCR getting really low to compare the deputies pay. Have you heard about a Nuclear Inspector getting killed on the job?….don’t think so, OCR, very disrespectfull towards the men and women killed in the line of duty along with their love ones! Yes, some or even most Deputies making that amount are out on patrol keeping the peace and putting their lives on the line. (Remember how much the board of Sups make) which was not metioned. OCR, blatant disrespect for Law Enforcement.
I don’t like this one. OCR shouod hire a compensation expert to do the job, not a reporter.
Hey Teri Sforza…it looks like your little scheme to bash OCSD backfired on ya! The readers obviously see right through your b.s. You know what they say about karma!
[...] Nuclear plant inspectors earn less than some OC jail guards [...]
Who gives a rat a$$?
Ms. Sforza, how about using some facts when making a comparison between jobs? And, how about sticking to one job classification. You headline “Jail Guards” who are most often entry level, then talk about “sworn” people topping-out at $106,000. That would be Captains, before benefits, and after 20plus years of service. The “Jail Guards” start about $60,000 and to get to that $157,000 they need a couple of promotions, several years of service and 800-1000 hours of overtime, all of it weekends, holidays and in the middle of the night. I believe the Nuclear Inspectors you are referring to are federal, 40 hour week employees, and they understandably are payed TWIICE AS MUCH as a “jail guard” according to your own story. By the way, have you read the paper lately? Apparently these two Nuclear Inspectors have been slacking oof badly, with San Onofre getting the lowest saftey rating of any US nuclear plant!
Do you research this stuff? Do you proof-read it before you submit ?
Thanks for the feedback, Oldski. As a matter of fact, the pay schedules I’m talking about are only for deputies covered by the union contract - the highest pay grade is sgt., not cptn. And one could argue that it’s not the fault of the NRC inspectors that San Onofre is having trouble - the plant is run, after all, by Southern California Edison, not the NRC. And yes, we do research and proof-read before we submit.
If the inspectors are not responsible for the poor safety record at the plant, why are they there? What is the NRC for? Where’s the comparison between officers who are to be held responsible for their actions in every instance, including assuming the responsibility from every person who calls with a problem, and the nuclear inspectors who are responsible for…. What? Where’s the comparison of 40 hours Mon-Fri. 8-5, and the 60 hour weeks needed for the officer to get anywhere near $$$ you talk about?
[...] Nuclear plant inspectors earn less than some OC jail guards [...]
[...] Nuclear plant inspectors earn less than some OC jail guards [...]
[...] Nuclear plant inspectors earn less than some OC jail guards [...]