Nuclear Engineer earn $133,970 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $108,690 and $163,630. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
Conduct research on nuclear engineering projects or apply principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.
Also known as:
Nuclear Engineer earn $133,970 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $108,690 and $163,630. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Well above average for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Nuclear Engineer roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
The BLS projects -1.1% employment change for Nuclear Engineer through 2034, a declining trend, below the national average of +5%. About 800 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
Declining employment projected.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Nuclear Engineer professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $133,970 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 1,470 | $100,000 | -25.4% |
| 2 | Washington | 1,370 | $125,130 | -6.6% |
| 3 | Virginia | 1,300 | $108,740 | -18.8% |
| 4 | South Carolina | 1,280 | $107,880 | -19.5% |
| 5 | New Mexico | 1,160 | $140,070 | +4.6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Nuclear Engineer positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nuclear Engineering | 885 | $99,297 | 39 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | 97 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 4 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 5 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA | 91 | $12,116 | $102,772 |
| 6 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
Once you've sized up Nuclear Engineer, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Nuclear Engineer pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Nuclear Engineer has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 2 upsides and 2 concerns below are all data-sourced.
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