Nuclear Engineers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for nuclear engineerss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- District of Columbia$180,480
- New Mexico$180,290
- California$160,980
- Maryland$155,410
- New York$150,090
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Maine$123,290
- South Carolina$125,440
- Michigan$128,070
- Texas$129,220
- Virginia$132,710
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $180,480 | $195,190 | $87 | +28.5% | 230 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $180,290 | $164,300 | $87 | +28.4% | 500 |
| 3 | California | $160,980 | $172,400 | $77 | +14.6% | 1,070 |
| 4 | Maryland | $155,410 | $157,960 | $75 | +10.7% | 180 |
| 5 | New York | $150,090 | $141,200 | $72 | +6.9% | 150 |
| 6 | Illinois | $139,280 | $134,510 | $67 | -0.8% | 1,040 |
| 7 | Florida | $137,910 | $135,400 | $66 | -1.8% | 120 |
| 8 | Washington | $136,540 | $129,480 | $66 | -2.8% | 1,380 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $136,120 | $131,850 | $65 | -3.1% | 460 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $134,740 | $133,250 | $65 | -4% | 340 |
| 11 | Alabama | $134,480 | $132,570 | $65 | -4.2% | 290 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $134,020 | $145,760 | $64 | -4.6% | 210 |
| 13 | Idaho | $133,750 | $133,970 | $64 | -4.8% | — |
| 14 | Georgia | $133,010 | $132,440 | $64 | -5.3% | 200 |
| 15 | Virginia | $132,710 | $128,890 | $64 | -5.5% | — |
| 16 | Texas | $129,220 | $128,340 | $62 | -8% | 190 |
| 17 | Michigan | $128,070 | $129,940 | $62 | -8.8% | 330 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $125,440 | $126,570 | $60 | -10.7% | 1,440 |
| 19 | Maine | $123,290 | $123,780 | $59 | -12.2% | 420 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 27 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $180,360 | $169,110 | 840 |
| 2 | Knoxville, TN | $179,660 | $185,740 | 240 |
| 3 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $161,050 | $164,090 | 330 |
| 4 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $156,460 | $157,770 | 230 |
| 5 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $146,850 | $164,940 | 100 |
| 6 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $144,830 | $133,500 | 220 |
| 7 | Syracuse, NY | $141,200 | $144,690 | 110 |
| 8 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $140,590 | $138,720 | 230 |
| 9 | Richmond, VA | $140,460 | $146,900 | 350 |
| 10 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $138,220 | $136,380 | 30 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing nuclear engineerss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | $255,220 | $228,620 | 40 |
| 2 | Administrative and Support Services | $166,750 | $180,320 | — |
| 3 | Employment Services | $166,750 | $174,410 | 80 |
| 4 | Temporary Help Services | $166,750 | $176,870 | 70 |
| 5 | Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $165,400 | $181,470 | 510 |
| 6 | Scientific Research and Development Services | $146,760 | $150,550 | 3,370 |
| 7 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $146,760 | $150,550 | 3,370 |
| 8 | Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $144,490 | $146,340 | 90 |
| 9 | Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $144,490 | $146,340 | 90 |
| 10 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $143,600 | $152,570 | 6,410 |
| 11 | Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $143,600 | $152,570 | 6,410 |
| 12 | Sector 56 - Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $137,920 | $136,480 | 950 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nuclear engineers make in the U.S.?
The median nuclear engineers salary in the United States is $133,970 per year (mean $140,420), and about 80% earn between $92,960 and $196,290.
How much do nuclear engineers make per hour?
Roughly $68 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $140,420 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays nuclear engineers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest average pay for nuclear engineers at $180,480 per year (median $195,190).
What is the job outlook for nuclear engineers?
Employment is projected to change -1.1% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 800 openings per year.
What People Search
Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.