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How much does Nuclear Engineer make?
Total pay range
$120K - $191K/yr
$151K/yrMedian total pay
Pay breakdown
$96K - $145K/yrBase pay
$24K - $46K/yrAdditional pay
About our data
Confident
Last updated Apr 10, 20251.1K Salaries submitted
How accurate is a total pay range of $120K-$191K/yr?
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Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Engineering?
Engineering jobs are in high demand with workers receiving generous compensation packages and bonuses. Engineering offers ample opportunity for growth and development with transferable skills across an array of fields from software, supply chain and logistics to aerospace. Most roles require at least a bachelor’s degree. To remain competitive, job-seekers should consider specialization or skill-specific programs such as coding boot-camps or certifications.
Recent salaries shared by Nuclear Engineer
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Job Title | Years of Experience
Location
Date submitted
Total Pay
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Top paying industries
The top 5 paying industries for Nuclear Engineer in United States are Management & Consulting with a median total pay of $132,066, Government & Public Administration with a median total pay of $131,390, Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services with a median total pay of $131,324, Energy, Mining & Utilities with a median total pay of $128,127, and Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $126,143.
Frequently asked questions about Nuclear Engineer salaries
The average salary for Nuclear Engineer is $150,608 per year or $72 per hour, with top earners making up to $234,210 (90th percentile). Typically, pay ranges from $120,477 (25th percentile) to $190,659 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 1090 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Nuclear Engineer employees.
The highest salary for Nuclear Engineer is $190,659 per year, $15,888 per month or $92 per hour.
The lowest salary for Nuclear Engineer is $120,477 per year, $10,040 per month or $58 per hour.
Glassdoor's anonymous ratings indicate that around 70% of nuclear engineers feel fulfilled with their salary. Specialist qualifications, advanced education, and the possibility of an extra $32,588.88 per year through factors such as bonuses and profit sharing may qualify a nuclear engineer role as well-paid.
Are you hoping to increase your nuclear engineer salary? To progress in your nuclear engineer career, you'll generally need to complete an advanced degree, such as a Master of Science or Engineering. Depending on your specialization, you should also consider obtaining additional training and certification in core design, medical nuclear engineering, thermal hydraulics, safety analysis, or radiation transport. Some states and companies require nuclear engineers to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and later the licensed professional engineers (PE) exam to advance their career. Where these exams aren't mandatory, they can add weight when you're seeking a higher salary.
If you're starting a new job as a nuclear engineer, highlighting valuable experience gained during your internships, such as field and lab work, might help you to negotiate higher remuneration. You should also mention sought-after skills, such as communication, technology, problem-solving, and leadership. If you're seeking a higher salary than in your existing job, detail additional training, education, and research you've conducted, discuss major projects you've worked on, and provide examples of supervisory or project management roles. Membership in professional organizations, such as the Royal Institute of Chartered Engineers (RICE) USA or the American Nuclear Society, may also be useful.
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