Nuclear Engineers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for nuclear engineers is $133,970, or $64.41 per hour. About 15,280 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $195,190 in District of Columbia to $123,780 in Maine.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 19 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $195,190 | $93.84 | 230 | 3.32 |
| 2 | California | $172,400 | $82.88 | 1,070 | 0.60 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $164,300 | $78.99 | 500 | 5.88 |
| 4 | Maryland | $157,960 | $75.94 | 180 | 0.67 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $145,760 | $70.08 | 210 | 0.60 |
| 6 | New York | $141,200 | $67.88 | 150 | 0.16 |
| 7 | Florida | $135,400 | $65.10 | 120 | 0.12 |
| 8 | Illinois | $134,510 | $64.67 | 1,040 | 1.74 |
| 9 | Idaho | $133,970 | $64.41 | — | — |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $133,250 | $64.06 | 340 | 0.58 |
| 11 | Alabama | $132,570 | $63.74 | 290 | 1.41 |
| 12 | Georgia | $132,440 | $63.68 | 200 | 0.41 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $131,850 | $63.39 | 460 | 0.94 |
| 14 | Michigan | $129,940 | $62.47 | 330 | 0.76 |
| 15 | Washington | $129,480 | $62.25 | 1,380 | 3.97 |
| 16 | Virginia | $128,890 | $61.97 | — | — |
| 17 | Texas | $128,340 | $61.70 | 190 | 0.14 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $126,570 | $60.85 | 1,440 | 6.35 |
| 19 | Maine | $123,780 | $59.51 | 420 | 6.63 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do nuclear engineers make?
The median annual wage for nuclear engineers in the United States is $133,970, or $64.41 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $92,960, and the top 10% earn $196,290.
How many nuclear engineers are employed in the U.S.?
About 15,280 people work as nuclear engineers nationwide.
Which state pays nuclear engineers the most?
District of Columbia pays the most at a median of $195,190, followed by California ($172,400) and New Mexico ($164,300).
Which state pays nuclear engineers the least?
Maine has the lowest median at $123,780.
Where are nuclear engineers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Maine at 6.63×.