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The differences between nuclear engineers and senior engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior engineer has an average salary of $108,743, which is higher than the $99,677 average annual salary of a nuclear engineer.
The top three skills for a nuclear engineer include security clearance, oversight and project management. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Nuclear Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,677 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $47.92 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | -11% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 8,747 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Nuclear engineers and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Nuclear Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $99,677 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $147,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | California |
| Best paying company | Baker Hughes | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a nuclear engineer and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Nuclear Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between nuclear engineers' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Nuclear Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| 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, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |