The average salary for a nuclear engineer in California is around $136,000 per year.
Avg Salary
Nuclear engineers earn an average yearly salary of $136,000.
Wages typically start from $91,320 and go up to $169,480.
77% above national average Updated in 2018
Nuclear engineer earnings by seniority
Top-level nuclear engineer earnings begin at:
$81.48 per hour
$169,480 per year
Senior-level nuclear engineer earnings begin at:
$75.35 per hour
$156,730 per year
Mid-level nuclear engineer earnings begin at:
$65.39 per hour
$136,000 per year
Junior-level nuclear engineer earnings begin at:
$52.02 per hour
$108,200 per year
Starting level nuclear engineer earnings begin at:
$43.90 per hour
$91,320 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Nuclear engineer salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | $99,520 |
| Mississippi | $98,270 |
| Virginia | $83,070 |
| Texas | $65,290 |
| New Mexico | $136,940 |
| California | $136,000 |
| New Hampshire | $131,140 |
| Maryland | $130,660 |
| Idaho | $128,270 |
| Georgia | $126,610 |
| Wisconsin | $124,120 |
| Tennessee | $120,570 |
| Illinois | $118,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $115,760 |
| North Carolina | $115,590 |
| Connecticut | $112,010 |
| New York | $112,000 |
| Kansas | $109,440 |
| Louisiana | $107,020 |
| Alabama | $105,290 |
| Nebraska | $104,750 |
| Missouri | $102,450 |
| Florida | $102,330 |
| Michigan | $101,760 |
| New Jersey | $100,930 |
| Washington | $100,240 |
How much does a Nuclear Engineer earn?
James Madison, President of CoolHandNuke.com, a job site for nuclear professionals, says several factors help nuclear engineer salaries - the high caliber of nuclear engineering graduates, the sensitive nature of their work, and a decreasing number of people entering the field.
James Madison predicts an upswing in the need for nuclear engineers that could mean better salaries in the future. "Over the course of the next 10 plus years, these engineers will start being paid very, very well," he said. "And the benefits packages are already the best of any industry."
The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that nuclear engineers working for independent engineering agencies (such as scientific and consulting services and research and development) tended to earn the most.
How do nuclear engineer salaries compare to similar careers?
Nuclear engineers earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than software engineers but more than mining and geological engineers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Software engineer salary | $123K |
| Aerospace engineer salary | $123K |
| Nuclear engineer salary | $136K |
| Computer hardware engineer salary | $129K |
| Naval architect salary | $120K |
| Marine engineer salary | $120K |
| Mining and geological engineer salary | $135K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)