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Entry Nuclear Engineer Salary in Los Gatos, CA

How much does an Entry Nuclear Engineer make in Los Gatos, CA?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry Nuclear Engineer in Los Gatos, CA is $101,600 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $49.

However, an Entry Nuclear Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $115,164
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $93,800 to $108,700
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $86,699
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View as table View as graph 25% $93,800 10% $86,699 90% $115,164 75% $108,700 $101,600 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Entry Nuclear Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $108,700 $9,058 $2,090 $52
Average $101,600 $8,467 $1,954 $49
25th Percentile $93,800 $7,817 $1,804 $45
Check out Entry Nuclear Engineer Job Openings in Los Gatos, CA
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Key Factors That Influence Entry Nuclear Engineer Salaries

An Entry Nuclear Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, skills, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Entry Nuclear Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Entry Nuclear Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry Nuclear Engineer (0-2 years): $101,587
  • Engineer, Experienced - Nuclear (2-4 years): $118,753
  • Radiological Engineer III (4-7 years): $144,027
  • Engineer, Specialist - Nuclear (7+ years): $173,997
  • Engineer, Lead/Master - Nuclear (7-10 years): $200,902
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Entry Nuclear Engineer0-2 years$101,587
Engineer, Experienced - Nuclear2-4 years$118,753
Radiological Engineer III4-7 years$144,027
Engineer, Specialist - Nuclear7+ years$173,997
Engineer, Lead/Master - Nuclear7-10 years$200,902
$101,587 Entry Nuc...
$118,753 Engineer,...
$144,027 Radiologi...
$173,997 Engineer,...
$200,902 Engineer,...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Entry Nuclear Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $103,300
  • San Francisco: $102,100
  • Oakland: $100,000

What Skills Can Increase an Entry Nuclear Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 18.57% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Construction Management (Mentioned in 0.34% Job Postings): Construction management (CM) is a professional service that uses specialized, project management techniques to oversee the planning, design, and construction of a project, from its beginning to its end. The purpose of CM is to control a project's time / delivery, cost and quality—sometimes referred to as a project management triangle or "triple constraints." CM is compatible with all project delivery systems, including design-bid-build, design-build, CM At-Risk and Public Private Partnerships. Professional construction managers may be reserved for lengthy, large-scale, high budget undertakings (commercial real estate, transportation infrastructure, industrial facilities, and military infrastructure), called capital projects.
  • Python (Mentioned in 0.34% Job Postings): Applying the concepts and algorithms of Python to design, develop and maintain software applications to comply with business requirements.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 18.57%
Construction Management 0.34%
Python 0.34%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Entry Nuclear Engineer's salary.
  • Cybersecurity: Can increase your salary by up to 39%.
  • Test Plans: Can increase your salary by up to 37%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 36%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Cybersecurity
$141,224
39%
Test Plans
$139,192
37%
Consulting
$138,176
36%
Analytical Skills
$137,160
35%
Hydraulics
$130,048
28%
Analysis
$127,000
25%
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Entry Nuclear Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Entry Nuclear Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $112,713. While startup companies pay approximate $95,540.

Entry Nuclear Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$95,540
Growth Stage51~500$100,986
Established501~5000$108,898
Enterprise5000+$112,713

Entry Nuclear Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Entry Nuclear Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 110% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Entry Nuclear Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Entry Nuclear Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Entry Nuclear Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$142,240$68.040%
Energy & Utilities$132,080$64.030%
Aerospace & Defense$127,000$61.025%
MFG Durable$106,680$51.05%

Entry Nuclear Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Entry Nuclear Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Entry Nuclear Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Entry Nuclear Engineer, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Entry Nuclear Engineer Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Aviation Engineer II $118,800 17%
Airport Design Engineer $90,901 -11%
Aerospace Aviation Engineer II $118,790 17%
Intermediate Engineer $114,400 13%

Find Your Next Entry Nuclear Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Entry Nuclear Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
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