How Much Does a Nuclear Engineer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$133,970
Nuclear engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $133,970 a year, or $64.41 an hour. Half of nuclear engineers earn more than $133,970 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $196,290.
Pay percentiles for nuclear engineers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44.69 | $92,960 |
| 25th | $52.26 | $108,690 |
| 50th (median) | $64.41 | $133,970 |
| 75th | $78.67 | $163,630 |
| 90th | $94.37 | $196,290 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Nuclear Engineers (SOC 17-2161). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for nuclear engineers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $195,190 | $93.84 | +46% |
| California | $172,400 | $82.88 | +29% |
| New Mexico | $164,300 | $78.99 | +23% |
| Maryland | $157,960 | $75.94 | +18% |
| Massachusetts | $145,760 | $70.08 | +9% |
| New York | $141,200 | $67.88 | +5% |
| Florida | $135,400 | $65.10 | +1% |
| Illinois | $134,510 | $64.67 | 0% |
| Idaho | $133,970 | $64.41 | 0% |
| Pennsylvania | $133,250 | $64.06 | −1% |
| United States | $133,970 | $64.41 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many nuclear engineers are there?
BLS counts about 15,280 nuclear engineers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). The most jobs are in South Carolina (1,440), Washington (1,380) and California (1,070).
The mean (average) annual wage is $140,420, higher than the median of $133,970.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $11,164
- Biweekly
- $5,153
- Weekly
- $2,576
- Daily (8 hours)
- $515
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do nuclear engineers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for nuclear engineers is $64.41. The middle 50% earn between $52.26 and $78.67 an hour.
Which state pays nuclear engineers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for nuclear engineers at $195,190, +46% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for nuclear engineers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of nuclear engineers earn less than $92,960 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.