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Conduct research on nuclear engineering projects or apply principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Nuclear Engineers:
Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
12,250 | 2.2 % | $ 59.88 | $ 124,540 | 1.7 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Nuclear Engineers:
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Wage | $ 38.19 | $ 47.27 | $ 58.89 | $ 66.26 | $ 81.53 |
Annual Wage (2) | $ 79,440 | $ 98,320 | $ 122,480 | $ 137,810 | $ 169,580 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Nuclear Engineers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Nuclear Engineers, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Nuclear Engineers:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 4,180 | 1.11 | $ 57.13 | $ 118,820 |
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | 2,590 | 0.12 | $ 51.73 | $ 107,590 |
Scientific Research and Development Services | 2,120 | 0.24 | $ 64.85 | $ 134,890 |
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 1,120 | 0.07 | $ 67.92 | $ 141,280 |
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 460 | 0.03 | $ 84.79 | $ 176,350 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Nuclear Engineers:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 4,180 | 1.11 | $ 57.13 | $ 118,820 |
Scientific Research and Development Services | 2,120 | 0.24 | $ 64.85 | $ 134,890 |
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | 2,590 | 0.12 | $ 51.73 | $ 107,590 |
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 1,120 | 0.07 | $ 67.92 | $ 141,280 |
Facilities Support Services | 90 | 0.05 | $ 64.52 | $ 134,200 |
Top paying industries for Nuclear Engineers:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Employment Services | 30 | (7) | $ 94.61 | $ 196,780 |
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 460 | 0.03 | $ 84.79 | $ 176,350 |
Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | (8) | (8) | $ 77.67 | $ 161,550 |
Waste Treatment and Disposal | (8) | (8) | $ 77.48 | $ 161,160 |
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 1,120 | 0.07 | $ 67.92 | $ 141,280 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Nuclear Engineers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Nuclear Engineers, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in Nuclear Engineers:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Virginia | 1,480 | 0.38 | 4.62 | $ 52.43 | $ 109,060 |
New Mexico | 1,010 | 1.24 | 14.94 | $ 70.39 | $ 146,420 |
Washington | 980 | 0.29 | 3.46 | $ 53.37 | $ 111,010 |
South Carolina | 780 | 0.36 | 4.36 | $ 48.64 | $ 101,180 |
Tennessee | 630 | 0.20 | 2.45 | $ 63.88 | $ 132,880 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Nuclear Engineers:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Mexico | 1,010 | 1.24 | 14.94 | $ 70.39 | $ 146,420 |
Idaho | 590 | 0.75 | 9.00 | $ 71.68 | $ 149,100 |
Virginia | 1,480 | 0.38 | 4.62 | $ 52.43 | $ 109,060 |
South Carolina | 780 | 0.36 | 4.36 | $ 48.64 | $ 101,180 |
Washington | 980 | 0.29 | 3.46 | $ 53.37 | $ 111,010 |
Top paying states for Nuclear Engineers:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kentucky | 40 | 0.02 | 0.25 | $ 92.81 | $ 193,040 |
Arizona | (8) | (8) | (8) | $ 75.54 | $ 157,120 |
California | 300 | 0.02 | 0.21 | $ 74.47 | $ 154,890 |
District of Columbia | 180 | 0.26 | 3.19 | $ 73.36 | $ 152,580 |
Idaho | 590 | 0.75 | 9.00 | $ 71.68 | $ 149,100 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Nuclear Engineers:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | 840 | 1.16 | 14.02 | $ 47.74 | $ 99,300 |
Idaho Falls, ID | 580 | 7.65 | 92.37 | $ 71.15 | $ 147,980 |
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 530 | 0.42 | 5.06 | $ 50.80 | $ 105,670 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 460 | 0.15 | 1.83 | $ 68.35 | $ 142,180 |
Knoxville, TN | 380 | 0.96 | 11.59 | $ 64.50 | $ 134,150 |
Portsmouth, NH-ME | 350 | 3.89 | 46.98 | $ 51.79 | $ 107,730 |
Albuquerque, NM | 340 | 0.90 | 10.81 | (8) | (8) |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 290 | 0.10 | 1.24 | $ 64.37 | $ 133,890 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 170 | 0.04 | 0.47 | (8) | (8) |
Richmond, VA | 150 | 0.25 | 2.97 | $ 56.18 | $ 116,850 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Nuclear Engineers:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Idaho Falls, ID | 580 | 7.65 | 92.37 | $ 71.15 | $ 147,980 |
Portsmouth, NH-ME | 350 | 3.89 | 46.98 | $ 51.79 | $ 107,730 |
Monroe, MI | 120 | 3.03 | 36.54 | $ 47.98 | $ 99,810 |
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | 840 | 1.16 | 14.02 | $ 47.74 | $ 99,300 |
Knoxville, TN | 380 | 0.96 | 11.59 | $ 64.50 | $ 134,150 |
Lynchburg, VA | 90 | 0.94 | 11.38 | $ 49.71 | $ 103,390 |
Albuquerque, NM | 340 | 0.90 | 10.81 | (8) | (8) |
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 530 | 0.42 | 5.06 | $ 50.80 | $ 105,670 |
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 70 | 0.29 | 3.49 | (8) | (8) |
Richmond, VA | 150 | 0.25 | 2.97 | $ 56.18 | $ 116,850 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for Nuclear Engineers:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 50 | 0.02 | 0.30 | $ 75.89 | $ 157,840 |
Idaho Falls, ID | 580 | 7.65 | 92.37 | $ 71.15 | $ 147,980 |
Kennewick-Richland, WA | (8) | (8) | (8) | $ 70.23 | $ 146,080 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 460 | 0.15 | 1.83 | $ 68.35 | $ 142,180 |
Knoxville, TN | 380 | 0.96 | 11.59 | $ 64.50 | $ 134,150 |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 290 | 0.10 | 1.24 | $ 64.37 | $ 133,890 |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 60 | 0.01 | 0.12 | $ 62.40 | $ 129,800 |
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | (8) | (8) | (8) | $ 58.54 | $ 121,760 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 100 | 0.04 | 0.44 | $ 57.68 | $ 119,970 |
Cleveland-Elyria, OH | 80 | 0.08 | 1.03 | $ 57.55 | $ 119,710 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Nuclear Engineers:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 0.86 | 10.33 | $ 57.46 | $ 119,520 |
South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.25 | 3.07 | $ 55.56 | $ 115,560 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Nuclear Engineers:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 0.86 | 10.33 | $ 57.46 | $ 119,520 |
South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.25 | 3.07 | $ 55.56 | $ 115,560 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Nuclear Engineers:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $ 65.73 | $ 136,710 |
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 0.86 | 10.33 | $ 57.46 | $ 119,520 |
South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.25 | 3.07 | $ 55.56 | $ 115,560 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OEWS estimates and related information:
May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023