The average salary for a nuclear engineer in Illinois is around $134,510 per year.
Avg Salary
Nuclear engineers earn an average yearly salary of $134,510.
Wages typically start from $102,890 and go up to $171,060.
88% above national average Updated in 2025
Nuclear engineer earnings by seniority
Top-level nuclear engineer earnings begin at:
$82.24 per hour
$171,060 per year
Senior-level nuclear engineer earnings begin at:
$78.10 per hour
$162,440 per year
Mid-level nuclear engineer earnings begin at:
$64.67 per hour
$134,510 per year
Junior-level nuclear engineer earnings begin at:
$53.97 per hour
$112,260 per year
Starting level nuclear engineer earnings begin at:
$49.46 per hour
$102,890 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Nuclear engineer salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | $98,270 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $172,400 |
| New Mexico | $164,300 |
| Maryland | $157,960 |
| Massachusetts | $145,760 |
| New York | $141,200 |
| Florida | $135,400 |
| Illinois | $134,510 |
| Idaho | $133,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $133,250 |
| Alabama | $132,570 |
| Georgia | $132,440 |
| North Carolina | $131,850 |
| New Hampshire | $131,140 |
| Michigan | $129,940 |
| Washington | $129,480 |
| Virginia | $128,890 |
| Texas | $128,340 |
| South Carolina | $126,570 |
| Wisconsin | $124,120 |
| Maine | $123,780 |
| Tennessee | $120,570 |
| Connecticut | $112,010 |
| Kansas | $109,440 |
| Louisiana | $107,020 |
| Nebraska | $104,750 |
| Missouri | $102,450 |
| New Jersey | $100,930 |
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 6% more than similar careers in Illinois.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Computer hardware engineer salary | $133K |
| Software engineer salary | $132K |
| Aerospace engineer salary | $109K |
| Chemical engineer salary | $122K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)