Average Nuclear Engineer Salary - Payscale

United StatesJobNuclear EngineerAverage Nuclear Engineer SalaryPayJob DetailsSkillsJob ListingsEmployersHow should I pay?Price a JobWhat am I worth?Find market worth$101,041/ yearAvg. Base Salary (USD)10%$72kMEDIAN$101k90%$151k

The average salary for a Nuclear Engineer is $101,041 in 2025

Base Salary$72k - $151kBonus$1k - $21kProfit Sharing$119 - $22kCommission$0 - $5kTotal Pay$72k - $159kBased on 468 salary profiles (last updated Dec 10 2025)Is Average Nuclear Engineer Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paidUse our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?Location:United States (change)Years in Field/Career:How it works:1Enter city & years of experience2Add pay factors like skills & education3Find your market worth with a report tailored to youEXPLORE BY:CitySeattle, WARichland, WAOak Ridge, TNChicago, ILPittsburgh, PAAiken, SCNewport News, VAPortsmouth, VAWashington, DCCranberry Township, PASee All CitiesDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »ExperienceEntry LevelEarly CareerMid CareerExperiencedLate CareerDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »SkillNuclear Energy / Nuclear PowerTechnical AnalysisEngineering DesignTechnical WritingData AnalysisProject ManagementSimulationWriting Procedures & DocumentationPythonFORTRANSee All SkillsDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »EmployerExelon CorporationNextEra Energy, Inc.General Dynamics Electric BoatU.S. NavyWestinghouse Electric CompanyArevaOak Ridge National LaboratoryFramatome Technologies GroupHuntington Ingalls IndustriesNuScale PowerSee All EmployersDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »JobMechanical EngineerProject Manager, (Unspecified Type / General)Project EngineerData AnalystElectrical EngineerSenior Mechanical EngineerCivil EngineerData ScientistSoftware EngineerSenior Systems EngineerDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »

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What is the Pay by Experience Level for Nuclear Engineers?

Entry Level▼22%Early Career▼11%Mid Career▲9%Late Career▲27%Experienced▲41%

An entry-level Nuclear Engineer with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $78,882 based on 70 salaries. An early career Nuclear Engineer with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $90,234 based on 209 salaries. A …Read more

What Do Nuclear Engineers Do?

Nuclear engineers are in charge of successfully completing nuclear engineering tasks for their organization. They develop and execute complex model interactions, use innovative computational methods to predict effects, and assess risks, as well as static and dynamic events. They must have advanced knowledge of nuclear engineering principles and their proper use while following strict safety laws when dealing with dangerous substances and materials. Nuclear engineers apply nuclear reactor …Read more

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How do Nuclear Engineers Rate Their Jobs?

3.6 out of 5(23)Highly Satisfied11ReviewsBased on 23 responses, the job of Nuclear Engineer has received a job satisfaction rating of 3.62 out of 5. On average, Nuclear Engineers are highly satisfied with their job. See all reviews

Common Health Benefits for a Nuclear Engineer

Medical95%Dental86%Vision80%None5%

Gender Breakdown for Nuclear Engineers

Male74.0%Female23.7%Prefer to self-define1.5%This data is based on 131 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.

FAQs About Nuclear Engineers

What is the highest pay for Nuclear Engineers?

Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Nuclear Engineer is $151k / year

What is the lowest pay for Nuclear Engineers?

Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Nuclear Engineer is $72k / year

How can Nuclear Engineers increase their salary?

Increasing your pay as a Nuclear Engineer is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Nuclear Engineer that oversees more junior Nuclear Engineers, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.

WHAT AM I WORTH?What your skills are worth in the job market is constantly changing.Job Title:Location:United States (change)