Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Nuclear Engineer is a professional role in the Architecture and Engineering job family, focused on Nuclear Engineer work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Nuclear Engineers do
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree
Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.
Monitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations.
Initiate corrective actions or order plant shutdowns in emergency situations.
Examine accidents to obtain data for use in design of preventive measures.
Direct operating or maintenance activities of nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.
Top skills:ScienceCritical ThinkingWritingReading ComprehensionMonitoringMathematics
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Nuclear Engineer pay by experience level
Entry level$96,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$112,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$138,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$169,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$203,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-1.1%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
800
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Nuclear Engineer salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
6,410 workers
$158,000
Utilities
3,740 workers
$144,500
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution
3,730 workers
$144,500
Scientific Research and Development Services
3,370 workers
$156,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
2,820 workers
$128,500
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
2,710 workers
$128,000
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
2,480 workers
$154,000
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
510 workers
$188,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
340 workers
$147,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises
340 workers
$147,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Nuclear Engineer pays 35% above the average across 59 roles in the Architecture and Engineering job family (family average $108,000).
Similar-paying roles in Architecture and Engineering
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Nuclear Engineer make?
The average base salary for a Nuclear Engineer in the United States is $145,500 per year, or about $69.95 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $112,500 and $169,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Architecture and Engineering roles?
The Architecture and Engineering job family averages $108,000 across 59 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
