Nuclear Engineers
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.
Also called: Engineer · Nuclear Design Engineer · Nuclear Engineer · Nuclear Licensing Engineer · Nuclear Process Engineer · Nuclear Reactor Engineer
Median pay (national)
$127,520
$88,290–$187,430 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
14,740
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-1.1%
~800 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for nuclear engineers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $187,430 versus $88,290 at the bottom 10% — 2.1x. The median of $127,520 leaves roughly 47% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -1.1% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 800 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 24 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $189,800, +49% vs the national median), while Wisconsin sits lowest at $93,080 — a 104% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Science, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags ANSYS simulation software, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Python as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Speaking
- Learning Strategies
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.
- Monitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations.
- Initiate corrective actions or order plant shutdowns in emergency situations.
- Examine accidents to obtain data for use in design of preventive measures.
- Direct operating or maintenance activities of nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.
- Design or oversee construction or operation of nuclear reactors, power plants, or nuclear fuels reprocessing and reclamation systems.
- Direct environmental compliance activities associated with nuclear plant operations or maintenance.
- Write operational instructions to be used in nuclear plant operation or nuclear fuel or waste handling and disposal.
- Prepare technical reports of findings or recommendations, based on synthesized analyses of test results.
- Prepare environmental impact statements, reports, or presentations for regulatory or other agencies.
Tools & technology
- ANSYS simulation software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Python
- C++
- Linux
- Oracle Java
- Salesforce software
- SAP software
- SAS
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- UNIX
- ANISN dose assessment computer code
- BERMUDA nuclear transport computer codes
- Discrete ordinates DORT dose assessment computer codes
- FOLLOW code
Knowledge areas
- Engineering and Technology
- Physics
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Chemistry
- Computers and Electronics
- Design