Nuclear salary report 2026
What nuclear power jobs actually pay
Real wage data from BLS OES 2025 — the most complete survey of nuclear industry pay. Engineer median $134k, reactor operator $123k, technician $110k. Full percentile ranges, state breakdown, and 5-year trend.
Nuclear Engineer
$134k
median annual
Nuclear Power Reactor Operator
$123k
median annual
Nuclear Technician
$110k
median annual
By occupation
Salary by occupation
Nuclear Engineer
SOC 17-2161 · 15,400 workers
Design nuclear equipment, direct operating and maintenance activities, and research nuclear energy and radiation applications.
$133,970
median
$196,290
90th pct
10th$109k
25th$134k
median$164k
75th$196k
90th
Nuclear Power Reactor Operator
SOC 51-8011 · 5,700 workers
Control nuclear reactors, monitor control panels, and adjust controls to maintain safe and efficient power plant operation.
$122,890
median
$149,310
90th pct
10th$109k
25th$123k
median$130k
75th$149k
90th
Nuclear Technician
SOC 19-4051 · 6,000 workers
Assist nuclear physicists and engineers in research, operate nuclear test equipment, monitor radiation, and maintain reactor safety.
$110,240
median
$133,600
90th pct
10th$99k
25th$110k
median$124k
75th$134k
90th
Salary trend
Pay growth 2021 → 2025
All three nuclear occupations have grown faster than US wage inflation over the period, driven by retiring operators, new-build demand, and limited qualified candidate pools.
Source: BLS OEWS annual releases 2021–2025. 2025 figures confirmed via BLS public API.
By state
Nuclear engineer pay by state
Nuclear engineer wages vary by region — higher in states with large utility headquarters or new-build activity, lower where TVA and federal scale applies. Reactor operator wages are more uniform nationally due to NRC licensing requirements.
Source: BLS OEWS state-level data, nuclear engineer (SOC 17-2161). Reactor count from NRC operating unit list.
From current listings
What employers are advertising
Based on 70 job listings on Nuclear Hustle that disclosed a compensation range. Coverage is partial — most nuclear employers do not post salary ranges publicly. Rows marked * have fewer than 4 listings and should be treated as illustrative only.
Common questions
Nuclear salary FAQs
How much do nuclear engineers make?
Nuclear engineers earn a median annual salary of $133,970 according to BLS 2025 OES data, with the top 10% earning over $196,000. Entry-level roles typically start around $93,000–$109,000.
What is the salary for a nuclear reactor operator?
Nuclear power reactor operators earn a median of $122,890 per year. This reflects experienced, licensed operators — the range runs from $98,640 at the 10th percentile to $149,310 at the 90th. Senior reactor operators (SRO license holders) command higher pay.
How much do nuclear technicians earn?
Nuclear technicians — including health physics techs, instrumentation techs, and chemistry techs — earn a median of $110,240 annually. The range runs from $73,150 at the 10th percentile to $133,600 at the 90th.
Do nuclear power plant jobs pay well?
Yes. Nuclear industry wages are well above national medians. The median nuclear engineer salary ($133,970) is roughly 25% above the median for all engineers. Reactor operators ($122,890) earn nearly double the national median wage across all occupations.
Which nuclear jobs pay the most?
Nuclear engineers and senior reactor operators are the highest-paid nuclear plant roles. Engineering roles in new-build projects (SMRs, advanced reactors) at companies like TerraPower and X-energy are also commanding premium compensation.
Do nuclear plant jobs include benefits beyond salary?
Yes — nuclear utilities typically offer strong defined-benefit pension plans, comprehensive health insurance, shift differentials for rotating schedules, and relocation packages for hard-to-fill roles.
Are nuclear industry salaries growing?
Compensation is holding steady or rising modestly. The US nuclear renaissance — driven by SMR development and licence extensions on existing plants — is creating demand for qualified operators and engineers, supporting wages.
Methodology
BLS figures are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release, sourced directly from the BLS public API (series OEUN*). Wages are national figures across all industries and experience levels employing each occupation.
Listing ranges are extracted from job descriptions on Nuclear Hustle that explicitly stated a compensation or salary range. Only labeled ranges (e.g. "Compensation Range: $X – $Y") are included. Hourly rates are annualised at 2,080 hours.
Coverage is non-random: companies that post ranges tend to be larger utilities and new-build firms. Treat listing figures as directional, not representative of industry-wide pay.
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Engineering →Operations →Maintenance →Health Physics →Training & Licensing →Administrative →Data source
BLS figures are from the May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.
bls.gov/oes ↗