We discuss finite temperature quantum Monte Carlo methods in the framework of the interacting nuclear shell model. The methods are based on a representation of the imaginary-time many-body propagator as a superposition of one-body propagators describing non-interacting fermions moving in fluctuating auxiliary fields. Fermionic Monte Carlo calculations have been limited by a "sign" problem. A practical solution in the nuclear case enables realistic calculations in much larger configuration spaces than can be solved by conventional methods. Good-sign interactions can be constructed for realistic estimates of certain nuclear properties. We present various applications of the methods for calculating collective properties and level densities.