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

Q: "How much does a nuclear engineer make in Washington?"

"The median annual wage for nuclear engineers in Washington is $129,480 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 3% below the national median of $133,970."

Q: "How do I become a nuclear engineer in Washington?"

"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."

Q: "How many nuclear engineers work in Washington?"

"BLS counts about 1,380 nuclear engineers employed in Washington (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Washington nuclear engineers earn a median annual wage of $129,480 ($62.25/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,380 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -3.4% below the national median of $133,970 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $129,480 ($62.25/hr)
25th percentile: $109,550 per year
75th percentile: $153,960 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $200,930 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $83,100 per year
Workers employed in Washington: 1,380
Versus national median: -3.4% below the U.S. median of $133,970
Job concentration: Location quotient 3.97 - this occupation is more concentrated in Washington than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.

Quick answer: The median nuclear engineer salary in Washington is $129,480 per year - 3% 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 Washington

Wage level	Annual salary
Washington entry level (10th percentile)	$83,100
Washington 25th-75th percentile	$109,550 - $153,960
Washington median	$129,480
Washington top earners (90th percentile)	$200,930
U.S. median	$133,970

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 1,380.

The Washington Job Market: Nuclear Engineer

Metric	Value
Employed in Washington	1,380
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	0.39
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	3.97
Mean annual wage in Washington	$136,540

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 3.97, Washington employs nuclear engineers at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.

Requirements in Washington

The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in nuclear or mechanical engineering - while licensing runs through Washington’s own boards: PE license for some roles; NRC licensing applies to operator positions. Verify current requirements with the Washington 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

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Nuclear Engineers annual wage percentiles
Percentile	Annual 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

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034

Nuclear Engineers employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year	Employment
2024	15,400
2034 projected	15,300
Percent change	-1.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a nuclear engineer make in Washington?

The median annual wage for nuclear engineers in Washington is $129,480 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 3% below the national median of $133,970.

How do I become a nuclear engineer in Washington?

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 Washington?

BLS counts about 1,380 nuclear engineers employed in Washington (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), Washington 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)