Nuclear Engineers · Illinois

Nuclear Engineers Salary in Illinois

Nuclear Engineers in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $134,510 —0.4% above the national median of $133,970. That ranks IL #8 of 19 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$134,510
Median hourly
$64.67
Entry level (P10)
$102,890
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$171,060
90th percentile
Employment
1,040
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+0.4%
U.S. $133,970

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$102,890
$112,260
$134,510
$162,440
$102,890$134,510$171,060
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $134,510.

Employment is 1.74× as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for nuclear engineers

All 19 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$195,190$93.842303.32
2California$172,400$82.881,0700.60
3New Mexico$164,300$78.995005.88
4Maryland$157,960$75.941800.67
5Massachusetts$145,760$70.082100.60
6New York$141,200$67.881500.16
7Florida$135,400$65.101200.12
8Illinois$134,510$64.671,0401.74
9Idaho$133,970$64.41——
10Pennsylvania$133,250$64.063400.58

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

OccupationIllinois medianU.S. median
Civil Engineers$99,760$100,840
Industrial Engineers$100,540$102,440
Mechanical Engineers$102,680$104,110
Electrical Engineers$107,860$120,630
Engineers, All Other$111,930$122,930
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$81,780$99,280

Frequently asked questions

How much do nuclear engineers make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for nuclear engineers in Illinois is $134,510, or $64.67 per hour. That is 0.4% above the national median of $133,970.

What is the entry-level nuclear engineers salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $102,890 per year ($49.46/hour). The 25th percentile is $112,260.

How many people work as nuclear engineers in Illinois?

About 1,040 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for nuclear engineers?

Illinois ranks #8 of 19 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.74x as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays nuclear engineers the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $195,190 per year, followed by California ($172,400) and New Mexico ($164,300).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes