How to Become a Nuclear Engineer in Maine: Salary & Requirements (2026)

Quick answer: The median nuclear engineer salary in Maine is $123,780 per year - 8% below the national median of $133,970 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in nuclear or mechanical engineering.

Nuclear Engineer Salary in Maine

Wage levelAnnual salary
Maine entry level (10th percentile)$78,440
Maine 25th-75th percentile$110,410 - $139,240
Maine median$123,780
Maine top earners (90th percentile)$147,200
U.S. median$133,970

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 420.

The Maine Job Market: Nuclear Engineer

MetricValue
Employed in Maine420
Jobs per 1,000 in the state0.65
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)6.63
Mean annual wage in Maine$123,290

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 6.63, Maine employs nuclear engineers at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.

Requirements in Maine

The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in nuclear or mechanical engineering - while licensing runs through Maine’s own boards: PE license for some roles; NRC licensing applies to operator positions. Verify current requirements with the Maine licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Nuclear Engineer.

Salary Nationwide

Annual Wage by Percentile - Nuclear Engineers
Nuclear Engineers annual wage percentiles, BLS OEWS May 2025P10 $92960, P25 $108690, P50 $133970, P75 $163630, P90 $196290.10th$92,96025th$108,69050th (median)$133,97075th$163,63090th$196,290
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Nuclear Engineers annual wage percentiles
PercentileAnnual wage
10th$92,960
25th$108,690
50th (median)$133,970
75th$163,630
90th$196,290

Job Outlook

Projected employment growth, Nuclear Engineers, 2024-2034
Nuclear Engineers employment 2024 vs 2034 projection, BLS Employment Projections2024 employment 15400; 2034 projected employment 15300; percent change -1.1%.202415,400 jobs2034 (proj.)15,300 jobsChange: -1.1%
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034
Nuclear Engineers employment projection 2024 to 2034
YearEmployment
202415,400
2034 projected15,300
Percent change-1.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a nuclear engineer make in Maine?

The median annual wage for nuclear engineers in Maine is $123,780 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 8% below the national median of $133,970.

How do I become a nuclear engineer in Maine?

The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in nuclear or mechanical engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: PE license for some roles; NRC licensing applies to operator positions. See the steps below.

How many nuclear engineers work in Maine?

BLS counts about 420 nuclear engineers employed in Maine (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Nuclear Engineer in Nearby States

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Nuclear Engineers (SOC 17-2161), Maine and national
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)