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The differences between nuclear engineers and lead engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a nuclear engineer has an average salary of $99,677, which is higher than the $84,927 average annual salary of a lead engineer.
The top three skills for a nuclear engineer include security clearance, oversight and project management. The most important skills for a lead engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Nuclear Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,677 | $84,927 |
| Hourly rate | $47.92 | $40.83 |
| Growth rate | -11% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 8,747 | 301,777 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A nuclear engineer directs the operation and maintenance of operational nuclear power plants. Nuclear engineers make sure that the power plants are efficient and in conformity with the safety standards. They research and create instruments, systems, and processes to derive the benefits of nuclear radiation and energy. Their duties and responsibilities include finding the medical and industrial uses of radioactive materials. They also perform other tasks related to nuclear technology and radiation.
A lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for addressing issues and concerns, assessing risks, monitoring the budget, coordinating with clients and architects, and even training workers. Furthermore, as a lead engineer, it is crucial to conduct regular inspections to ensure the quality of work and maintain a safe environment for all workers.
Nuclear engineers and lead engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Nuclear Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average salary | $99,677 | $84,927 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $147,000 | Between $60,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Baker Hughes | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a nuclear engineer and a lead engineer in terms of educational background:
| Nuclear Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between nuclear engineers' and lead engineers' demographics:
| Nuclear Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 17.2% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |