Nuclear engineers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Nuclear engineers in the United States earn a median salary of $133,970 per year — about $64 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 15K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of -1%.
AI & Automation Risk
Nuclear engineering is a high-level knowledge profession where core tasks—such as reactor design, dose calculations, and safety simulations—are performed using digital tools and complex mathematical modeling. While the high-stakes regulatory environment and the need for physical inspections at power plants provide a buffer, AI is rapidly advancing in its ability to optimize designs, analyze sensor data for predictive maintenance, and automate technical documentation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TNBEST VALUE | $179,660 | Below avg (92.6) | $194,082 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $180,360 | Above avg (108.9) | $165,644 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $146,850 | Below avg (91.5) | $160,555 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $156,460 | Average (100.1) | $156,336 |
| Syracuse, NY | $141,200 | Below avg (95.7) | $147,480 |
| Monroe, MI | $136,260 | Below avg (93.5) | $145,745 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $161,050 | Above avg (111.1) | $144,916 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $132,440 | Below avg (91.9) | $144,108 |
| Richmond, VA | $140,460 | Average (97.9) | $143,535 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $133,970 | Below avg (94.4) | $141,899 |
| Cleveland, OH | $132,340 | Below avg (93.9) | $140,903 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $133,250 | Below avg (94.7) | $140,751 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $140,590 | Average (102.6) | $137,089 |
| Columbia, SC | $128,340 | Below avg (93.7) | $137,025 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $131,850 | Average (97.3) | $135,442 |