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 (92.2) | $194,787 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $180,360 | Above avg (109.5) | $164,648 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $146,850 | Below avg (92.3) | $159,015 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $156,460 | Average (98.9) | $158,224 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $133,970 | Below avg (90.8) | $147,555 |
| Syracuse, NY | $141,200 | Below avg (95.7) | $147,518 |
| Monroe, MI | $136,260 | Below avg (93.3) | $146,025 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $132,440 | Below avg (91.2) | $145,149 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $161,050 | Above avg (112.7) | $142,862 |
| Richmond, VA | $140,460 | Average (98.3) | $142,835 |
| Cleveland, OH | $132,340 | Below avg (92.9) | $142,440 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $133,250 | Below avg (94.7) | $140,699 |
| Columbia, SC | $128,340 | Below avg (93.2) | $137,670 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $140,590 | Average (102.4) | $137,345 |
| Wilmington, NC | $129,710 | Below avg (95.4) | $135,905 |