Nuclear Engineer salary

Q: How much does a nuclear engineer make?

The median nuclear engineer salary in the U.S. is about $127,520 per year. Most nuclear engineers earn between $88,290 and $187,430, and top earners (90th percentile) make $187,430 or more. These national figures come from published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS) wage data.

Q: What is the highest nuclear engineer salary?

Top-earning nuclear engineers (90th percentile) make about $187,430 or more nationally. In the highest-paying metros, estimated nuclear engineer pay can run even higher — for example around $189,770 (median) in Washington, D.C.. Metro figures are cost-of-labor estimates, not direct BLS metro data.

Q: How much do entry-level nuclear engineers make?

Entry-level nuclear engineers (0–2 years) earn about $99,500 per year, rising to roughly $137,500 at mid-level and $172,000+ at the principal/staff level. These by-experience figures are modeled estimates based on typical engineering career progression.

Q: Do nuclear engineers make good money?

Yes. The median nuclear engineer salary of $127,520 is 6% above the roughly $120,395 median across engineering occupations, and experienced nuclear engineers can earn $187,430 or more.

Q: Which cities pay nuclear engineers the most?

Estimated nuclear engineer pay is highest in Washington, D.C. ($189,770), Knoxville ($174,380), Kennewick ($150,950). These are cost-of-labor estimates that adjust the national baseline by local wage levels — not direct BLS metro wages.

Verified

Updated March 2025

Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes, instruments, and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation.

Median pay

$127,520

U.S. typical

Top earners

$187,430

90th percentile

Entry level

$99,500

0–2 yrs

Senior

$172,000

15+ yrs

The median nuclear engineer salary in the U.S. is about $127,520 per year. Entry-level pay starts near $88,290, while top earners (90th percentile) make $187,430 or more. Add your city and experience for a sharper, local number.

Median annual wage

$127,520

Mean

$134,980

10th pct · $88,29090th pct · $187,430

What nuclear engineers do

Design nuclear equipment and reactor cores, monitor facility operations, and ensure compliance with safety standards.

Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes, instruments, and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation.

What affects nuclear engineer pay

▹Utilities vs. national labs vs. defense
▹Security clearance
▹Years of experience
▹Reactor operations vs. R&D
▹Location (limited number of sites)

Nuclear Engineer salary by experience

Pay typically climbs from about $99,500 for entry level engineers to $172,000+ at the principal / staff level.

Entry level 0–2 yrs

$99,500

Early career 3–5 yrs

$120,000

Mid level 6–9 yrs

$137,500

Senior 10–14 yrs

$155,500

Principal / Staff 15+ yrs

$172,000

Your actual offer depends on company, location, and specialization — run the calculator for a tailored range.

Highest-paying cities for nuclear engineers

Published nuclear engineer pay in the top-paying U.S. metro areas, vs the national benchmark.

8results

Metro	State	Median	90th pct	vs U.S.	Data
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia	DC	$189,770	$203,990	+49%	Verified
Knoxville Tennessee	TN	$174,380	$239,200	+37%	Verified
Kennewick Washington	WA	$150,950	$225,440	+18%	Verified
Philadelphia Pennsylvania	PA	$136,590	$171,150	+7%	Verified
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania	PA	$134,580	$173,150	+6%	Verified
Chicago Illinois	IL	$130,160	$174,080	+2%	Verified
Charlotte North Carolina	NC	$128,150	$172,430	0%	Verified
Dallas Texas	TX	$110,060	$110,060	-14%	Verified

Nuclear Engineer salary by state

All 24 states with published nuclear engineer wage data, ranked highest to lowest. Open a state for its full metro-level breakdown.

Rank	State	Median	90th pct
1	District of Columbia	$189,800	$203,990
2	California	$167,660	$201,910
3	New York	$159,290	$204,840
4	Maryland	$150,340	$203,990
5	Minnesota	$150,260	$203,950
6	Nebraska	$149,280	$170,390
7	Alabama	$144,410	$176,150
8	Massachusetts	$141,520	$164,540
9	New Mexico	$140,070	$227,280
10	Michigan	$137,890	$163,890
11	Pennsylvania	$134,580	$173,150
12	Idaho	$130,210	$175,380
13	Illinois	$130,160	$165,520
14	Georgia	$129,820	$200,730
15	Florida	$129,230	$172,310
16	North Carolina	$128,150	$167,320
17	Missouri	$126,010	$158,960
18	Washington	$125,130	$183,120
19	Ohio	$122,820	$158,820
20	Maine	$120,700	$140,170
21	Virginia	$108,740	$147,430
22	South Carolina	$107,880	$154,220
23	Texas	$100,000	$110,060
24	Wisconsin	$93,080	$159,960

Figures are published state wage data, not modeled. States without published data for this occupation are not listed. See Source details for provenance.

Nuclear Engineer salary — frequently asked questions

How much does a nuclear engineer make?

The median nuclear engineer salary in the U.S. is about $127,520 per year. Most nuclear engineers earn between $88,290 and $187,430, and top earners (90th percentile) make $187,430 or more. These national figures come from published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS) wage data.

What is the highest nuclear engineer salary?

Top-earning nuclear engineers (90th percentile) make about $187,430 or more nationally. In the highest-paying metros, estimated pay can run even higher — for example around $189,770 in Washington, D.C.. Metro figures are cost-of-labor estimates, not direct BLS metro data.

How much do entry-level nuclear engineers make?

Entry-level nuclear engineers (0–2 years) earn about $99,500 per year, rising to roughly $137,500 at mid-level and $172,000+ at the principal/staff level. These by-experience figures are modeled estimates based on typical engineering career progression.

Do nuclear engineers make good money?

Yes. The median nuclear engineer salary of $127,520 is 6% above the roughly $120,395 median across engineering occupations, and experienced nuclear engineers can earn $187,430 or more.

Which cities pay nuclear engineers the most?

Estimated nuclear engineer pay is highest in Washington, D.C. ($189,770), Knoxville ($174,380), and Kennewick ($150,950). These are cost-of-labor estimates that adjust the national baseline by local wage levels — not direct BLS metro wages.

How can a nuclear engineer earn more?

Nuclear Engineer pay rises most with utilities vs. national labs vs. defense, security clearance, and years of experience. Moving to a higher-cost metro, specializing, and taking on senior or lead scope are the biggest levers — the salary calculator lets you model each one.

Source details

Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2161 (Nuclear Engineers), national.

Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →