How much does a nuclear engineer make in California?
$172,400a year
Median yearly pay for nuclear engineers in California. That is $82.88 an hour or $14,370 a month.
- Hourly
- $82.88
- Vs. national median
- +29%
- Rank among states
- 2 of 19
- Jobs in the state
- 1,070
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $110,000Median: $172,400Highest 10%: $207,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $110,000 | $52.88 | |
| 25th | $135,400 | $65.10 | |
| Median | $172,400 | $82.88 | |
| 75th | $176,400 | $84.80 | |
| 90th | $207,700 | $99.88 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| No city data for this job. |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for nuclear engineers.
| 1. District of Columbia | $195,200 |
| 2. California | $172,400 |
| 3. New Mexico | $164,300 |
| 4. Maryland | $158,000 |
| 5. Massachusetts | $145,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nuclear engineer make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $82.88 ($172,400 a year).
Do nuclear engineers make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $172,400 against $134,000 nationally, 29% more.
Where does California rank for nuclear engineer pay?
California ranks 2 of 19 states.
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.