Nuclear Engineer Salary: National and State-by-State Pay (2026)
Quick answer: The national median nuclear engineer salary is $133,970 per year, with entry-level pay near $92,960 and top earners above $196,290 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). BLS projects -1.1% employment change from 2024 to 2034.
Nuclear Engineer Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $92,960 |
| 25th percentile | $108,690 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $133,970 |
| 75th percentile | $163,630 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $196,290 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025, Nuclear Engineers (SOC 17-2161).
Salary Distribution
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $92,960 |
| 25th | $108,690 |
| 50th (median) | $133,970 |
| 75th | $163,630 |
| 90th | $196,290 |
Highest-Paying States
- District of Columbia - $195,190
- California - $172,400
- New Mexico - $164,300
- Maryland - $157,960
- Massachusetts - $145,760
Nuclear Engineer Salary by State
| State | Median salary | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $132,570 | -1% |
| California | $172,400 | +29% |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 | +46% |
| Florida | $135,400 | +1% |
| Georgia | $132,440 | -1% |
| Idaho | $133,970 | +0% |
| Illinois | $134,510 | +0% |
| Maine | $123,780 | -8% |
| Maryland | $157,960 | +18% |
| Massachusetts | $145,760 | +9% |
| Michigan | $129,940 | -3% |
| New Mexico | $164,300 | +23% |
| New York | $141,200 | +5% |
| North Carolina | $131,850 | -2% |
| Pennsylvania | $133,250 | -1% |
| South Carolina | $126,570 | -6% |
| Texas | $128,340 | -4% |
| Virginia | $128,890 | -4% |
| Washington | $129,480 | -3% |
States without published BLS medians for this occupation are omitted. Each state links to salary, requirements, and licensing details for that state.
What Moves the Number
Pay for nuclear engineers varies with experience, specialty, industry, and cost of living. The credential floor is constant: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in nuclear or mechanical engineering. For the full path, see How to Become a Nuclear Engineer, and for what the degree costs in time, the career guide’s cost section covers it.
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 15,400 |
| 2034 projected | 15,300 |
| Percent change | -1.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average nuclear engineer salary?
The national median annual wage for nuclear engineers is $133,970 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle 50% earn between $108,690 and $163,630.
What do top nuclear engineers earn?
The 90th percentile is $196,290 nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2025); pay above that is common in the highest-paying states and specialties.
Which state pays nuclear engineers the most?
District of Columbia, at a median of $195,190 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). See the full state table on this page.
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025: Nuclear Engineers (SOC 17-2161), national and state
- 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) |