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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Nuclear Engineer salaries in 2026 span a wider range than most people realize. The weighted national median is $139,667, but geography reshapes that number dramatically. In Sunnyvale, the median is $254,400. We analyzed BLS-sourced salary distributions across 288 U.S. cities and 46 states to map the complete compensation landscape.
Nuclear Engineer falls within the Engineering sector, specifically in Engineering. The typical education path involves Bachelor's degree. The career outlook? Steady. Work style is on-site — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
$154,800 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Nuclear Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $254,400 — $154,800 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($99,600). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Nuclear Engineers average $100,560, the median sits at $139,667, and senior earners pull in $198,327. That $97,767 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $59,300 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $237,600 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $100,400 (average of the bottom 3). That $137,200 delta is real money — $11,433/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Nuclear Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $254,400 — $154,800 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($99,600). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Nuclear Engineer is $100,560, while senior-level (P90) earners average $198,327. That $97,767 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Nuclear Engineers at $168,570 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $148,200) is $20,370.
At the 90th percentile, Nuclear Engineers pull in an average of $198,327. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $100,560 | $139,667 | $198,327 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £55,272 | £76,767 | £109,009 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$80,918 | CA$112,387 | CA$159,589 |
| Australia | 13 | A$93,550 | A$129,930 | A$184,500 |
| Sweden | 24 | 552,254 kr | 767,019 kr | 1,089,167 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $121,371 | $168,570 | $239,370 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $117,288 | $162,900 | $231,318 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $116,640 | $162,000 | $230,040 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $108,000 | $150,000 | $213,000 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $106,704 | $148,200 | $210,444 |
| Washington | 8 | $104,652 | $145,350 | $206,397 |
| New York | 5 | $98,496 | $136,800 | $194,256 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $98,496 | $136,800 | $194,256 |
| Florida | 22 | $97,750 | $135,764 | $192,784 |
| Colorado | 11 | $96,061 | $133,418 | $189,454 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $95,904 | $133,200 | $189,144 |
| Nevada | 5 | $95,731 | $132,960 | $188,803 |
| Arizona | 12 | $95,256 | $132,300 | $187,866 |
| Oregon | 5 | $95,040 | $132,000 | $187,440 |
| Idaho | 3 | $94,752 | $131,600 | $186,872 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $94,003 | $130,560 | $185,395 |
| Utah | 4 | $93,744 | $130,200 | $184,884 |
| Virginia | 7 | $92,201 | $128,057 | $181,841 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $91,008 | $126,400 | $179,488 |
| Alaska | 1 | $90,720 | $126,000 | $178,920 |
| Illinois | 5 | $89,683 | $124,560 | $176,875 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $87,456 | $121,467 | $172,483 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $86,400 | $120,000 | $170,400 |
| Montana | 1 | $86,400 | $120,000 | $170,400 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $86,112 | $119,600 | $169,832 |
| Texas | 40 | $85,687 | $119,010 | $168,994 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $85,536 | $118,800 | $168,696 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $85,104 | $118,200 | $167,844 |
| Georgia | 6 | $84,816 | $117,800 | $167,276 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $84,672 | $117,600 | $166,992 |
| Kansas | 4 | $84,240 | $117,000 | $166,140 |
| Michigan | 6 | $83,952 | $116,600 | $165,572 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $82,944 | $115,200 | $163,584 |
| Maryland | 1 | $82,944 | $115,200 | $163,584 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $82,080 | $114,000 | $161,880 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $82,080 | $114,000 | $161,880 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $79,920 | $111,000 | $157,620 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $79,488 | $110,400 | $156,768 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $78,408 | $108,900 | $154,638 |
| Missouri | 4 | $78,408 | $108,900 | $154,638 |
| Alabama | 5 | $78,106 | $108,480 | $154,042 |
| Indiana | 3 | $76,896 | $106,800 | $151,656 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $76,896 | $106,800 | $151,656 |
| Iowa | 2 | $76,032 | $105,600 | $149,952 |
| Ohio | 6 | $75,888 | $105,400 | $149,668 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $72,576 | $100,800 | $143,136 |
The state salary map for Nuclear Engineers: California at $168,570, Massachusetts at $162,900, Hawaii at $162,000 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($100,800), Ohio ($105,400), Iowa ($105,600) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $67,770.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($254,400 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $120,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $254,400 | 212 | $120,000 | $141,688 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $237,600 | 198 | $120,000 | $134,104 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $220,800 | 184 | $120,000 | $126,200 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $217,200 | 181 | $120,000 | $124,506 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $213,600 | 178 | $120,000 | $122,812 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $212,400 | 177 | $120,000 | $122,248 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $212,400 | 177 | $120,000 | $122,248 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $207,600 | 173 | $120,000 | $119,989 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $207,600 | 173 | $120,000 | $119,989 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $202,800 | 169 | $120,000 | $117,731 |
Career economics for Nuclear Engineers: entry level averages $100,560, mid-career hits $139,667, and experienced professionals reach $198,327. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Bachelor's degree, and the work is on-site. The outlook: steady. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The weighted national median salary for Nuclear Engineers is $139,667 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $100,560, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $198,327.
The highest-paying city for Nuclear Engineers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $254,400. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($254,400), Santa Clara ($237,600), Irvine ($220,800). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Nuclear Engineer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $99,600. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Nuclear Engineers (10th percentile) average $100,560 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $183,168. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Nuclear Engineers average $198,327 nationally — $97,767 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Nuclear Engineers can earn up to $361,248.
The top-paying states for Nuclear Engineers are California ($168,570 median), Massachusetts ($162,900 median), Hawaii ($162,000 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Nuclear Engineer involves Bachelor's degree. The field is in the Engineering sector (Engineering), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically on-site.
With a national median of $139,667 and representation across 288 metro areas, Nuclear Engineer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $97,767 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.