Nuclear Engineers
SOC 17-2161 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Nuclear Engineers is $125,460, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $126,950, and an estimated 12,710 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +8% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -8.2% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will shrink 1.1% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Nuclear Engineers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $125,460 | $125,460 | 12,710 |
| 2022 | $122,480 | $127,522 | 12,250 |
| 2021 | $120,380 | $135,366 | 12,670 |
| 2020 | $116,140 | $136,733 | 15,700 |
Nominal change
+8%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-8.2%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-1.1%
Declining
Employment 2024
15,400
Projected 2034
15,300
Annual Openings
800
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Nuclear Engineers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $125,460. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $174,390 | +39% | 260 |
| Oregon | $137,530 | +9.6% | 60 |
| Utah | $134,740 | +7.4% | 40 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $133,290 | +6.2% | 40 |
| New Mexico | $132,320 | +5.5% | 1,190 |
| Tennessee | $132,320 | +5.5% | 280 |
| Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $132,320 | +5.5% | — |
| Alabama | $129,460 | +3.2% | 220 |
| New York | $128,200 | +2.2% | 290 |
| Maryland | $127,070 | +1.3% | 330 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$82,150
25th Pct
$100,500
Median
$125,460
75th Pct
$142,700
90th Pct
$174,020
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY) | TN | 5 | $119,274 |
| University of Michigan | MI | 2 | $76,200 |
| UChicago Argonne LLC | IL | 2 | $181,626 |
| Triad National Security, LLC | NM | 2 | $150,554 |
| Holtec International | NJ | 1 | $120,000 |
| Purdue University | IN | 1 | $75,000 |
| Oregon State University | OR | 1 | $118,500 |
| The Trustees of Princeton University | NJ | 1 | $120,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Architecture & Engineering
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