Average Salary for Nuclear Engineers
SOC 17-2161 · Architecture and Engineering Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Nuclear Engineers in the United States is $127,520 ($61.31/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $88,290 at the 10th percentile to $187,430 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 14,740 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 26.9% since 2014.
Median Annual
$127,520
Mean Annual
$134,980
10th Pct
$88,290
75th Pct
$157,600
Employment
14,740
Salary Distribution
$88k
10th
$103k
25th
$128k
Median
$158k
75th
$187k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $189,770 |
| Knoxville, TN | $174,380 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $150,950 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $150,260 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $142,640 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $141,520 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $138,050 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $136,590 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $135,870 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $135,040 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $134,580 |
| Monroe, MI | $131,860 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $130,210 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $130,160 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $129,820 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $189,800 |
| California | $167,660 |
| New York | $159,290 |
| Maryland | $150,340 |
| Minnesota | $150,260 |
| Nebraska | $149,280 |
| Alabama | $144,410 |
| Massachusetts | $141,520 |
| New Mexico | $140,070 |
| Michigan | $137,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $134,580 |
| Idaho | $130,210 |
| Illinois | $130,160 |
| Georgia | $129,820 |
| Florida | $129,230 |
| North Carolina | $128,150 |
| Missouri | $126,010 |
| Washington | $125,130 |
| Ohio | $122,820 |
| Maine | $120,700 |
| Virginia | $108,740 |
| South Carolina | $107,880 |
| Texas | $100,000 |
| Wisconsin | $93,080 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Nuclear Engineers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Administrative and Support Services | $158,080 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $143,540 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $143,540 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $143,040 |
| Construction | $143,030 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $141,810 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $140,070 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $140,070 |
| Facilities Support Services | $140,060 |
| Nuclear Electric Power Generation | $135,760 |
| Utilities | $134,580 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $134,580 |
| Utilities | $134,580 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | $133,460 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $133,460 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $130,480 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $130,160 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $130,160 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $127,540 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $127,540 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $127,540 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | $125,920 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $116,830 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $116,830 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $116,230 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $116,230 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $115,770 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $110,060 |
| Engineering Services | $110,060 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $99,780 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $90,670 |
| Educational Services | $85,580 |
| Educational Services | $85,580 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $85,580 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $127,520 |
| 2023 | $125,460 |
| 2022 | $122,480 |
| 2021 | $120,380 |
| 2020 | $116,140 |
| 2019 | $113,460 |
| 2018 | $107,600 |
| 2017 | $105,810 |
| 2016 | $102,220 |
| 2015 | $102,950 |
| 2014 | $100,470 |