Nuclear Engineers
Nuclear Engineers (SOC 17-2161) earn a median $133,970 a year ($64.41 an hour) in the United States, with 15,280 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What nuclear engineers do
Nuclear engineers research and apply nuclear science to the release, control, and use of nuclear energy, and to the handling and disposal of nuclear waste. Typical tasks include designing or developing nuclear equipment such as reactor cores and radiation shielding, monitoring facility operations to spot problems in design, construction, or operating practice, and examining accidents to gather data that guides preventive measures. In an emergency, they may initiate corrective action or order a plant shutdown. Others conduct research on nuclear engineering projects. The occupation differs from nuclear technicians, who operate and monitor equipment in a supporting role rather than design it, and from nuclear power reactor operators, who run the controls at a plant. They also direct environmental compliance activities at nuclear plants and write operating instructions for plant operation and the handling of nuclear fuel and waste.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Nuclear Engineer, Atomic Process Engineer, Instrumentation and Controls Engineer, Nuclear Design Engineer, Core Measures Abstractor.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $44.69 | $52.26 | $64.41 | $78.67 | $94.37 | $67.51 | 15,280 |
| Annual | $92,960 | $108,690 | $133,970 | $163,630 | $196,290 | $140,420 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where nuclear engineers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $62.00 | $78.87 | $93.84 | $98.53 | $99.75 | $86.77 | 230 | 0.33 | 3.32 |
| Annual | $128,960 | $164,050 | $195,190 | $204,940 | $207,480 | $180,480 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $52.88 | $65.09 | $82.88 | $84.81 | $99.87 | $77.39 | 1,070 | 0.06 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $109,990 | $135,400 | $172,400 | $176,390 | $207,740 | $160,980 | ||||
| New Mexico | Hourly | $60.95 | $64.60 | $78.99 | $95.68 | $116.70 | $86.68 | 500 | 0.58 | 5.88 |
| Annual | $126,780 | $134,370 | $164,300 | $199,020 | $242,730 | $180,290 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $50.00 | $61.48 | $75.94 | $91.57 | $99.75 | $74.71 | 180 | 0.07 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $103,990 | $127,870 | $157,960 | $190,470 | $207,480 | $155,410 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $32.57 | $49.90 | $70.08 | $77.70 | $83.99 | $64.43 | 210 | 0.06 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $67,750 | $103,790 | $145,760 | $161,620 | $174,710 | $134,020 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | $40.37 | $50.35 | $60.85 | $66.47 | $76.80 | $60.31 | 1,440 | 0.62 | 6.35 |
| Annual | $83,970 | $104,730 | $126,570 | $138,250 | $159,740 | $125,440 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $39.95 | $52.67 | $62.25 | $74.02 | $96.60 | $65.64 | 1,380 | 0.39 | 3.97 |
| Annual | $83,100 | $109,550 | $129,480 | $153,960 | $200,930 | $136,540 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $52.88 | $65.09 | $82.88 | $84.81 | $99.87 | $77.39 | 1,070 | 0.06 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $109,990 | $135,400 | $172,400 | $176,390 | $207,740 | $160,980 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $49.46 | $53.97 | $64.67 | $78.10 | $82.24 | $66.96 | 1,040 | 0.17 | 1.74 |
| Annual | $102,890 | $112,260 | $134,510 | $162,440 | $171,060 | $139,280 | ||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 720 | 0.22 | 2.24 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $55.52 | $70.93 | $86.71 | $94.37 | $98.53 | $81.30 | 840 | 0.27 | 2.71 |
| Annual | $115,490 | $147,520 | $180,360 | $196,290 | $204,940 | $169,110 | ||||
| Knoxville, TN | Hourly | $46.49 | $57.41 | $86.38 | $119.21 | $144.39 | $89.30 | 240 | 0.56 | 5.74 |
| Annual | $96,700 | $119,420 | $179,660 | $247,960 | $300,340 | $185,740 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $61.92 | $61.92 | $77.43 | $79.96 | $115.05 | $78.89 | 330 | 0.16 | 1.59 |
| Annual | $128,790 | $128,790 | $161,050 | $166,330 | $239,310 | $164,090 | ||||
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | Hourly | $50.73 | $61.19 | $75.22 | $83.33 | $101.73 | $75.85 | 230 | 1.77 | 18.02 |
| Annual | $105,530 | $127,270 | $156,460 | $173,320 | $211,590 | $157,770 | ||||
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | Hourly | $54.21 | $60.67 | $70.60 | $84.95 | $134.72 | $79.30 | 100 | 0.38 | 3.91 |
| Annual | $112,760 | $126,190 | $146,850 | $176,700 | $280,220 | $164,940 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | Hourly | $37.27 | $46.92 | $53.13 | $62.03 | $77.22 | $55.36 | 1,260 | 1.65 | 16.75 |
| Annual | $77,520 | $97,580 | $110,510 | $129,030 | $160,620 | $115,140 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $55.52 | $70.93 | $86.71 | $94.37 | $98.53 | $81.30 | 840 | 0.27 | 2.71 |
| Annual | $115,490 | $147,520 | $180,360 | $196,290 | $204,940 | $169,110 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $50.92 | $52.26 | $64.67 | $79.21 | $91.73 | $68.09 | 710 | 0.16 | 1.60 |
| Annual | $105,920 | $108,690 | $134,510 | $164,750 | $190,800 | $141,630 | ||||
| Portland-South Portland, ME | Hourly | $37.71 | $51.47 | $57.90 | $65.03 | $68.85 | $57.03 | 370 | 1.28 | 13.03 |
| Annual | $78,440 | $107,060 | $120,430 | $135,260 | $143,210 | $118,620 | ||||
| Richmond, VA | Hourly | $48.98 | $62.24 | $67.53 | $81.40 | $84.16 | $70.63 | 350 | 0.53 | 5.40 |
| Annual | $101,870 | $129,450 | $140,460 | $169,320 | $175,040 | $146,900 | ||||
Top industries employing nuclear engineers
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution employ 24.4% of nuclear engineers nationally (3,730 jobs) at a median $134,250 a year ($64.54 an hour), followed by Scientific Research and Development Services (22.1%) and Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) (17.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution NAICS 221100 | 3,730 | 24.4% | $134,250 | $64.54 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 3,370 | 22.1% | $146,760 | $70.56 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 2,710 | 17.7% | $118,440 | $56.94 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 2,480 | 16.2% | $136,580 | $65.66 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 510 | 3.3% | $165,400 | $79.52 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (15,280). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $120,380 for nuclear engineers in May 2021 and $133,970 in May 2025, with employment of 12,670 and 15,280.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $120,380 | $57.87 | 12,670 |
| May 2022 | $122,480 | $58.89 | 12,250 |
| May 2023 | $125,460 | $60.32 | 12,710 |
| May 2024 | $127,520 | $61.31 | 14,740 |
| May 2025 | $133,970 | $64.41 | 15,280 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
21 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $93.84 | $195,190 | $128,960 | $207,480 | 230 | 0.33 | 3.32 |
| 2 | California profile | $82.88 | $172,400 | $109,990 | $207,740 | 1,070 | 0.06 | 0.60 |
| 3 | New Mexico profile | $78.99 | $164,300 | $126,780 | $242,730 | 500 | 0.58 | 5.88 |
| 4 | Maryland profile | $75.94 | $157,960 | $103,990 | $207,480 | 180 | 0.07 | 0.67 |
| 5 | Massachusetts profile | $70.08 | $145,760 | $67,750 | $174,710 | 210 | 0.06 | 0.60 |
| 6 | New York profile | $67.88 | $141,200 | $114,610 | $204,940 | 150 | 0.02 | 0.16 |
| 7 | Florida profile | $65.10 | $135,400 | $90,000 | $188,720 | 120 | 0.01 | 0.12 |
| 8 | Illinois profile | $64.67 | $134,510 | $102,890 | $171,060 | 1,040 | 0.17 | 1.74 |
| 9 | Idaho profile | $64.41 | $133,970 | $104,070 | $176,840 | ** | ** | ** |
| 10 | Pennsylvania profile | $64.06 | $133,250 | $83,250 | $167,110 | 340 | 0.06 | 0.58 |
| 11 | Alabama profile | $63.74 | $132,570 | $97,950 | $161,290 | 290 | 0.14 | 1.41 |
| 12 | Georgia profile | $63.68 | $132,440 | $81,800 | $173,100 | 200 | 0.04 | 0.41 |
| 13 | North Carolina profile | $63.39 | $131,850 | $96,300 | $166,200 | 460 | 0.09 | 0.94 |
| 14 | Michigan profile | $62.47 | $129,940 | $80,570 | $159,030 | 330 | 0.07 | 0.76 |
| 15 | Washington profile | $62.25 | $129,480 | $83,100 | $200,930 | 1,380 | 0.39 | 3.97 |
| 16 | Virginia profile | $61.97 | $128,890 | $81,480 | $192,350 | ** | ** | ** |
| 17 | Texas profile | $61.70 | $128,340 | $83,250 | $170,600 | 190 | 0.01 | 0.14 |
| 18 | South Carolina profile | $60.85 | $126,570 | $83,970 | $159,740 | 1,440 | 0.62 | 6.35 |
| 19 | Maine profile | $59.51 | $123,780 | $78,440 | $147,200 | 420 | 0.65 | 6.63 |
| – | Ohio profile | * | * | * | * | 190 | 0.04 | 0.36 |
| – | Tennessee profile | * | * | * | * | 720 | 0.22 | 2.24 |
Part of Architecture and Engineering Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 17-2161 Nuclear Engineers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 17-2161, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 17-2161.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.