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Nuclear engineer salary
Average nuclear engineer salary
$99,677
Nuclear Engineer Salary Insights
The average salary for a nuclear engineer stands at $99,677 as of October 2025. This figure reflects a well-compensated profession, particularly in sectors like energy and defense. Entry-level positions generally start lower, while seasoned professionals can earn significantly more, particularly in high-demand states such as California, Texas, and Florida.
In terms of experience, nuclear engineers with over ten years in the field can see salaries exceeding $120,000. The variation in salary also depends on the specific industry segment, with roles in research and development often commanding higher wages. For instance, positions focusing on regulatory compliance or safety enhancements tend to offer competitive compensation.
In addition to base salaries, many nuclear engineers receive benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and bonuses based on project performance. To maximize earning potential, consider pursuing advanced degrees or certifications, which can lead to roles with greater responsibility and higher pay.
Job Opportunities
With the growing focus on sustainable energy solutions, the demand for nuclear engineers is expected to rise. Explore job boards and company websites for openings that match your skills and career goals. Networking within professional associations can also provide valuable insights and job leads in this specialized field.
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Where can a Nuclear Engineer earn more?
Nuclear engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average nuclear engineer salary by state
The highest-paying states for nuclear engineers are Nevada, Idaho, and Maryland. The lowest average nuclear engineer salary states are Minnesota, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for nuclear engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $125,005 | $60.10 |
| 2 | Delaware | $109,814 | $52.80 |
| 3 | Nevada | $124,641 | $59.92 |
| 4 | Idaho | $117,473 | $56.48 |
| 5 | Maryland | $117,335 | $56.41 |
| 6 | Utah | $107,344 | $51.61 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $108,230 | $52.03 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $109,009 | $52.41 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $104,129 | $50.06 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $105,918 | $50.92 |
| 11 | Alaska | $108,015 | $51.93 |
| 12 | California | $108,530 | $52.18 |
| 13 | Ohio | $107,867 | $51.86 |
| 14 | Indiana | $104,904 | $50.43 |
| 15 | Vermont | $102,318 | $49.19 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $108,682 | $52.25 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $105,058 | $50.51 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $104,858 | $50.41 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $104,638 | $50.31 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $98,659 | $47.43 |
| 21 | South Carolina | $100,515 | $48.32 |
| 22 | Kansas | $102,009 | $49.04 |
| 23 | Colorado | $98,365 | $47.29 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $100,516 | $48.33 |
| 25 | Illinois | $99,467 | $47.82 |
| 26 | Washington | $97,906 | $47.07 |
| 27 | Iowa | $98,757 | $47.48 |
| 28 | Montana | $99,242 | $47.71 |
| 29 | Alabama | $92,861 | $44.64 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $101,562 | $48.83 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $93,400 | $44.90 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $93,713 | $45.05 |
| 33 | New York | $95,967 | $46.14 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $93,715 | $45.06 |
| 35 | Florida | $93,280 | $44.85 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $95,116 | $45.73 |
| 37 | Maine | $94,106 | $45.24 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $94,792 | $45.57 |
| 39 | Oregon | $91,507 | $43.99 |
| 40 | Texas | $89,777 | $43.16 |
| 41 | Massachusetts | $93,133 | $44.78 |
| 42 | Arizona | $87,979 | $42.30 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $83,188 | $39.99 |
| 44 | Michigan | $88,048 | $42.33 |
| 45 | Virginia | $78,316 | $37.65 |
| 46 | Missouri | $93,681 | $45.04 |
| 47 | Georgia | $89,774 | $43.16 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $80,974 | $38.93 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $84,534 | $40.64 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $86,913 | $41.79 |
| 51 | Minnesota | $87,525 | $42.08 |
Highest paying cities for nuclear engineers
The highest-paying cities for nuclear engineers are Washington, DC, Germantown, MD, and Campbell, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $125,073 | $60.13 |
| 2 | Germantown, MD | $117,142 | $56.32 |
| 3 | Campbell, CA | $114,426 | $55.01 |
| 4 | Idaho Falls, ID | $112,731 | $54.20 |
| 5 | Wilmington, DE | $109,901 | $52.84 |
| 6 | Clearfield, UT | $106,334 | $51.12 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $104,865 | $50.42 |
| 8 | Camden, NJ | $101,982 | $49.03 |
| 9 | Burlington, VT | $101,512 | $48.80 |
| 10 | Jackson, MS | $101,459 | $48.78 |
| 11 | Columbia, SC | $100,238 | $48.19 |
| 12 | Colorado Springs, CO | $99,500 | $47.84 |
| 13 | Bremerton, WA | $98,666 | $47.44 |
| 14 | New York, NY | $96,263 | $46.28 |
| 15 | Monroeville, PA | $93,230 | $44.82 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $93,148 | $44.78 |
| 17 | Corvallis, OR | $92,436 | $44.44 |
| 18 | Jupiter, FL | $91,997 | $44.23 |
| 19 | Birmingham, AL | $91,962 | $44.21 |
| 20 | Houston, TX | $90,093 | $43.31 |
Nuclear engineer salary details
A nuclear engineer's salary ranges from $67,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $147,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a nuclear engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $147,000 | $12,250 | $71 |
| 75th Percentile | $122,000 | $10,167 | $59 |
| Average | $99,677 | $8,306 | $48 |
| 25th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
| 10th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
Highest paying nuclear engineer jobs
The highest paying types of nuclear engineers are principal engineer, senior engineer, and radiation officer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiation Engineer | $95,529 | $7,961 | $45.93 | 25,305 |
| Principal Engineer | $130,213 | $10,851 | $62.60 | 312,683 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Reactor Engineer | $98,752 | $8,229 | $47.48 | 3,227 |
| Lead Engineer | $84,927 | $7,077 | $40.83 | 301,777 |
Which companies pay nuclear engineers the most?
Nuclear engineer salaries at Baker Hughes and Battelle are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average nuclear engineer salary at companies like Huntington Ingalls Industries and Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station LLC are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baker Hughes | $112,769 | $54.22 |
| 2 | Battelle | $105,178 | $50.57 |
| 3 | Huntington Ingalls Industries | $104,575 | $50.28 |
| 4 | Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station LLC | $104,575 | $50.28 |
| 5 | Framatome Technologies Inc | $104,575 | $50.28 |
| 6 | Us Navy | $104,449 | $50.22 |
| 7 | GSE Holding | $102,952 | $49.50 |
| 8 | Brookhaven National Laboratory | $102,629 | $49.34 |
| 9 | Strategic Management Partners | $101,392 | $48.75 |
| 10 | Argonne National Laboratory | $101,259 | $48.68 |
| 11 | General Atomics | $100,824 | $48.47 |
| 12 | Westinghouse Appliances Australia | $100,764 | $48.44 |
| 13 | General Electric | $100,094 | $48.12 |
| 14 | NuTech Energy Resources | $99,701 | $47.93 |
| 15 | System One | $99,622 | $47.90 |
| 16 | UChicago Argonne | $99,325 | $47.75 |
| 17 | Oak Ridge National Laboratory | $99,022 | $47.61 |
| 18 | Kratos Defense & Security Solutions | $97,022 | $46.65 |
| 19 | Holtec International | $96,865 | $46.57 |
| 20 | Indian Health Service | $96,786 | $46.53 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Nuclear engineer salary trends
The average nuclear engineer salary has risen by $12,196 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average nuclear engineer earned $87,481 annually, but today, they earn $99,677 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for nuclear engineers over the last decade.
Compare nuclear engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average nuclear engineer salary over time
Compare nuclear engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Nuclear engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $99,700 | $47.92 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $97,400 | $46.82 | +5.2% |
| 2023 | $92,300 | $44.40 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $90,800 | $43.66 | +3.4% |
| 2021 | $87,700 | $42.18 | -0.7% |
Recently added nuclear engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amentum | Nuclear Engineer | Washington, DC | 06/28/2025 | $120,000 |
| Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. | Nuclear Engineer | Washington, DC | 06/27/2025 | $77,600 |
| Actalent | Nuclear Engineer | San Diego, CA | 06/27/2025 | $190,000 |
| Energynorthwest | New Nuclear-Engineer (Electrical, I&C or Digital) | Richland, WA | 06/25/2025 | $119,107 |
| Huntington Ingalls Industries | Nuclear Engineer (Engineering Technician | Newport News, VA | 06/21/2025 | $54,109 |
| Bechtel | Senior Nuclear Engineer | Richland, WA | 06/20/2025 | $105,060 |
| Public Service Enterprise Group | Associate Nuclear Engineer | Hancocks Bridge, NJ | 06/13/2025 | $63,500 |
| Parsons Corporation | Nuclear Engineer | Centreville, VA | 06/11/2025 | $62,300 |
| Shine Technologies | Nuclear Engineer-Radiological Waste Systems | Janesville, WI | 05/26/2025 | $76,000 |
| X-Energy | Nuclear Engineer, II (Reactor Dynamics) | Rockville, MD | 05/23/2025 | $106,200 |
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