SOC 17-2161 · Architecture and Engineering Occupations
Nuclear Engineers wages by metro
National median annual wage
$133,970
- 10th percentile
- $92,960
- 25th percentile
- $108,690
- Median
- $133,970
- 75th percentile
- $163,630
- 90th percentile
- $196,290
- Mean
- $140,420
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.
National employment in May 2025: 15,280.
That median is 162.8% higher than the all-occupations national median of $50,980.
The metro and state figures below are the same May 2025 release. A blank wage means BLS did not publish it. See when a wage is not published.
Highest published medians
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 840 | $115,490 | $180,360 | $204,940 |
| Knoxville, TN | 240 | $96,700 | $179,660 | $300,340 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 330 | $128,790 | $161,050 | $239,310 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 230 | $105,530 | $156,460 | $211,590 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 100 | $112,760 | $146,850 | $280,220 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 220 | $67,750 | $144,830 | $174,710 |
| Syracuse, NY | 110 | $120,600 | $141,200 | $162,690 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 230 | $99,450 | $140,590 | $173,220 |
| Richmond, VA | 350 | $101,870 | $140,460 | $175,040 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 30 | $90,000 | $138,220 | $193,830 |
| Monroe, MI | 90 | $104,480 | $136,260 | $169,250 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 710 | $105,920 | $134,510 | $190,800 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | Not available | $104,070 | $133,970 | $176,840 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 170 | $83,250 | $133,250 | $177,920 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | Not available | $83,970 | $132,440 | $159,370 |
| Cleveland, OH | 60 | $92,130 | $132,340 | $160,730 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 240 | $95,880 | $131,850 | $164,100 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 70 | $97,250 | $130,300 | $166,200 |
| Wilmington, NC | 80 | $96,300 | $129,710 | $160,580 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | Not available | $80,360 | $129,590 | $159,780 |
Where employment is largest
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 1,260 | $77,520 | $110,510 | $160,620 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 840 | $115,490 | $180,360 | $204,940 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 710 | $105,920 | $134,510 | $190,800 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 370 | $78,440 | $120,430 | $143,210 |
| Richmond, VA | 350 | $101,870 | $140,460 | $175,040 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 330 | $128,790 | $161,050 | $239,310 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 240 | $95,880 | $131,850 | $164,100 |
| Knoxville, TN | 240 | $96,700 | $179,660 | $300,340 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 230 | $105,530 | $156,460 | $211,590 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 230 | $99,450 | $140,590 | $173,220 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 220 | $67,750 | $144,830 | $174,710 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 170 | $83,250 | $133,250 | $177,920 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 150 | $77,320 | $124,690 | $153,730 |
| Columbia, SC | 120 | $98,930 | $128,340 | $158,830 |
| Syracuse, NY | 110 | $120,600 | $141,200 | $162,690 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 100 | $112,760 | $146,850 | $280,220 |
| Monroe, MI | 90 | $104,480 | $136,260 | $169,250 |
| Huntsville, AL | 80 | $83,850 | $125,870 | $161,290 |
| Wilmington, NC | 80 | $96,300 | $129,710 | $160,580 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 70 | $97,250 | $130,300 | $166,200 |
States and territories
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 230 | $128,960 | $195,190 | $207,480 |
| California | 1,070 | $109,990 | $172,400 | $207,740 |
| New Mexico | 500 | $126,780 | $164,300 | $242,730 |
| Maryland | 180 | $103,990 | $157,960 | $207,480 |
| Massachusetts | 210 | $67,750 | $145,760 | $174,710 |
| New York | 150 | $114,610 | $141,200 | $204,940 |
| Florida | 120 | $90,000 | $135,400 | $188,720 |
| Illinois | 1,040 | $102,890 | $134,510 | $171,060 |
| Idaho | Not available | $104,070 | $133,970 | $176,840 |
| Pennsylvania | 340 | $83,250 | $133,250 | $167,110 |
| Alabama | 290 | $97,950 | $132,570 | $161,290 |
| Georgia | 200 | $81,800 | $132,440 | $173,100 |
| North Carolina | 460 | $96,300 | $131,850 | $166,200 |
| Michigan | 330 | $80,570 | $129,940 | $159,030 |
| Washington | 1,380 | $83,100 | $129,480 | $200,930 |
| Virginia | Not available | $81,480 | $128,890 | $192,350 |
| Texas | 190 | $83,250 | $128,340 | $170,600 |
| South Carolina | 1,440 | $83,970 | $126,570 | $159,740 |
| Maine | 420 | $78,440 | $123,780 | $147,200 |
| Ohio | 190 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Tennessee | 720 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
Other architecture and engineering occupations
- Civil Engineers
- Industrial Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
- Engineers, All Other
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
- Architectural and Civil Drafters
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
Questions this page answers
What is the national median wage for Nuclear Engineers?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, the national median annual wage for Nuclear Engineers is $133,970. Employment is 15,280.
How does Nuclear Engineers pay compare with all occupations?
The national median for Nuclear Engineers is 162.8% higher than the all-occupations median of $50,980.
Which metro has the highest published median for Nuclear Engineers?
Among metros with a published annual median in the May 2025 tables, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is highest on this page's list at $180,360.