How much does a nuclear engineer make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $64.41 an hour or $11,160 a month.
- Hourly
- $64.41
- Average (mean)
- $140,400
- Jobs
- 15,280
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $92,960 | $44.69 | |
| 25th | $108,700 | $52.25 | |
| Median | $134,000 | $64.41 | |
| 75th | $163,600 | $78.67 | |
| 90th | $196,300 | $94.37 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| District of Columbia | $195,200 |
| California | $172,400 |
| New Mexico | $164,300 |
| Maryland | $158,000 |
| Massachusetts | $145,800 |
| New York | $141,200 |
| Florida | $135,400 |
| Illinois | $134,500 |
| Idaho | $134,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $133,300 |
| Alabama | $132,600 |
| Georgia | $132,400 |
| North Carolina | $131,900 |
| Michigan | $129,900 |
| Washington | $129,500 |
| Virginia | $128,900 |
| Texas | $128,300 |
| South Carolina | $126,600 |
| Maine | $123,800 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Washington, DC | $180,400 |
| Knoxville, TN | $179,700 |
| Seattle, WA | $161,100 |
| Kennewick, WA | $156,500 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $146,900 |
| Boston, MA | $144,800 |
| Syracuse, NY | $141,200 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $140,600 |
| Richmond, VA | $140,500 |
| Miami, FL | $138,200 |
| Monroe, MI | $136,300 |
| Chicago, IL | $134,500 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $134,000 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $133,300 |
| Augusta, GA | $132,400 |
In other countries
Nuclear Engineer belongs to the international group "Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Health and Safety Engineer$115,200
- Industrial Engineer$102,400
- Marine Engineer and Naval Architect$112,200
- Materials Engineer$112,900
- Mechanical Engineer$104,100
- Mining and Geological Engineer$106,200
- Petroleum Engineer$144,900
- Engineer$122,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nuclear engineer make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $64.41 ($134,000 a year).
How much does a nuclear engineer make a month?
About $11,160 a month before tax, based on a median of $134,000 a year.
How much does a nuclear engineer make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $92,960 or less a year ($44.69 an hour); the top 10% make $196,300 or more.
Which state pays nuclear engineers the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $195,200 a year, followed by California ($172,400) and New Mexico ($164,300).
Which city pays nuclear engineers the most?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, with a median of $180,400 a year.
How many nuclear engineers are there in the United States?
About 15,280 people work as nuclear engineers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.