How much does a nuclear engineer make in Chicago?
$134,500a year
Median yearly pay for nuclear engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $64.67 an hour or $11,210 a month.
- Hourly
- $64.67
- Vs. national median
- +0%
- Rank among cities
- 12 of 26
- Jobs in the area
- 710
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $105,900Median: $134,500Highest 10%: $190,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $105,900 | $50.92 | |
| 25th | $108,700 | $52.25 | |
| Median | $134,500 | $64.67 | |
| 75th | $164,800 | $79.21 | |
| 90th | $190,800 | $91.73 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for nuclear engineers.
| No other city in the state with data. |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,500 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $133,900 |
| Electronics Engineer | $125,700 |
| Engineer | $121,900 |
| Health and Safety Engineer | $114,200 |
| Electrical Engineer | $113,500 |
| Chemical Engineer | $110,800 |
| Environmental Engineer | $110,700 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,100 |
| Industrial Engineer | $101,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nuclear engineer make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $64.67 ($134,500 a year).
Do nuclear engineers make more in Chicago than the national average?
Yes: $134,500 against $134,000 nationally, 0% more.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $134,500, so Chicago pays 0% more.
Where does Chicago rank for nuclear engineer pay?
12 of 26 metro areas with data.
How much does a nuclear engineer make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $105,900 or less a year; the top 10% make $190,800 or more.
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.