Nuclear Engineers · Washington

Nuclear Engineers Salary in Washington

Nuclear Engineers in Washington earn a median annual wage of $129,480 —3.4% below the national median of $133,970. That ranks WA #15 of 19 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$129,480
Median hourly
$62.25
Entry level (P10)
$83,100
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$200,930
90th percentile
Employment
1,380
0.4 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-3.4%
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
$83,100
$109,550
$129,480
$153,960
$83,100$129,480$200,930
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $129,480.

Employment is 3.97× as concentrated as the national average, making Washington a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for nuclear engineers

All 19 states ranked by median annual wage. Washington 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 Washington

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Washington.

OccupationWashington medianU.S. median
Civil Engineers$110,000$100,840
Industrial Engineers$129,050$102,440
Mechanical Engineers$110,430$104,110
Electrical Engineers$132,710$120,630
Engineers, All Other$134,570$122,930
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$100,190$99,280

Frequently asked questions

How much do nuclear engineers make in Washington?

The median annual wage for nuclear engineers in Washington is $129,480, or $62.25 per hour. That is 3.4% below the national median of $133,970.

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

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $83,100 per year ($39.95/hour). The 25th percentile is $109,550.

How many people work as nuclear engineers in Washington?

About 1,380 people work in this occupation in Washington, or 0.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Washington a good state for nuclear engineers?

Washington ranks #15 of 19 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 3.97x as concentrated as the national average, making Washington 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