How to Become a Nuclear Engineer in North Carolina: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median nuclear engineer salary in North Carolina is $131,850 per year - 2% 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 North Carolina
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| North Carolina entry level (10th percentile) | $96,300 |
| North Carolina 25th-75th percentile | $123,720 - $161,310 |
| North Carolina median | $131,850 |
| North Carolina top earners (90th percentile) | $166,200 |
| U.S. median | $133,970 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 460.
The North Carolina Job Market: Nuclear Engineer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in North Carolina | 460 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.09 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.94 |
| Mean annual wage in North Carolina | $136,120 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.94, North Carolina’s demand for nuclear engineers tracks close to the national average.
Requirements in North Carolina
The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in nuclear or mechanical engineering - while licensing runs through North Carolina’s own boards: PE license for some roles; NRC licensing applies to operator positions. Verify current requirements with the North Carolina 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
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $92,960 |
| 25th | $108,690 |
| 50th (median) | $133,970 |
| 75th | $163,630 |
| 90th | $196,290 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 15,400 |
| 2034 projected | 15,300 |
| Percent change | -1.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a nuclear engineer make in North Carolina?
The median annual wage for nuclear engineers in North Carolina is $131,850 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 2% below the national median of $133,970.
How do I become a nuclear engineer in North Carolina?
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 North Carolina?
BLS counts about 460 nuclear engineers employed in North Carolina (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Nuclear Engineer in Nearby States
- Nuclear Engineer in New Mexico
- Nuclear Engineer in New York
- Nuclear Engineer in Pennsylvania
- Nuclear Engineer in South Carolina
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Nuclear Engineers (SOC 17-2161), North Carolina 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.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / 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) |