SOC 17-2161 · Architecture and Engineering Occupations
Nuclear Engineers
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries
Nationally, nuclear engineers earned a median of $133,970 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 15,280 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.
National pay distribution
Pay by state
Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.
| State | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $195,190 | $93.84 | 230 | 0.3 |
| California | $172,400 | $82.88 | 1,070 | 0.1 |
| New Mexico | $164,300 | $78.99 | 500 | 0.6 |
| Maryland | $157,960 | $75.94 | 180 | 0.1 |
| Massachusetts | $145,760 | $70.08 | 210 | 0.1 |
| New York | $141,200 | $67.88 | 150 | 0.0 |
| Florida | $135,400 | $65.10 | 120 | 0.0 |
| Illinois | $134,510 | $64.67 | 1,040 | 0.2 |
| Idaho | $133,970 | $64.41 | Not published | Not published |
| Pennsylvania | $133,250 | $64.06 | 340 | 0.1 |
| Alabama | $132,570 | $63.74 | 290 | 0.1 |
| Georgia | $132,440 | $63.68 | 200 | 0.0 |
| North Carolina | $131,850 | $63.39 | 460 | 0.1 |
| Michigan | $129,940 | $62.47 | 330 | 0.1 |
| Washington | $129,480 | $62.25 | 1,380 | 0.4 |
| Virginia | $128,890 | $61.97 | Not published | Not published |
| Texas | $128,340 | $61.70 | 190 | 0.0 |
| South Carolina | $126,570 | $60.85 | 1,440 | 0.6 |
| Maine | $123,780 | $59.51 | 420 | 0.7 |
| Ohio | Not published | Not published | 190 | 0.0 |
| Tennessee | Not published | Not published | 720 | 0.2 |
Pay by metro area
All 26 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.
Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.
| Metro area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $180,360 | $86.71 | 840 | 0.3 |
| Knoxville, TN | $179,660 | $86.38 | 240 | 0.6 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $161,050 | $77.43 | 330 | 0.2 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $156,460 | $75.22 | 230 | 1.8 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $146,850 | $70.60 | 100 | 0.4 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $144,830 | $69.63 | 220 | 0.1 |
| Syracuse, NY | $141,200 | $67.88 | 110 | 0.4 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $140,590 | $67.59 | 230 | 0.1 |
| Richmond, VA | $140,460 | $67.53 | 350 | 0.5 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $138,220 | $66.45 | 30 | 0.0 |
| Monroe, MI | $136,260 | $65.51 | 90 | 2.2 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $134,510 | $64.67 | 710 | 0.2 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $133,970 | $64.41 | Not published | Not published |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $133,250 | $64.06 | 170 | 0.2 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $132,440 | $63.68 | Not published | Not published |
| Cleveland, OH | $132,340 | $63.62 | 60 | 0.1 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $131,850 | $63.39 | 240 | 0.2 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $130,300 | $62.65 | 70 | 0.1 |
| Wilmington, NC | $129,710 | $62.36 | 80 | 0.4 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $129,590 | $62.30 | Not published | Not published |
| Columbia, SC | $128,340 | $61.70 | 120 | 0.3 |
| Huntsville, AL | $125,870 | $60.52 | 80 | 0.3 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $124,690 | $59.95 | 150 | 0.4 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $120,430 | $57.90 | 370 | 1.3 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $119,580 | $57.49 | 50 | 0.0 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $110,510 | $53.13 | 1,260 | 1.6 |
About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.