As of May 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Nuclear Engineer I in the United States is $39, which translates to an annual salary of about $81,832.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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A Nuclear Engineer I'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Nuclear Engineer I'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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Engineer I | 0-2 years | $81,832 |
| Nuclear Engineer II | 2-4 years | $95,656 |
| Nuclear Engineer III | 4-7 years | $116,013 |
| Nuclear Engineer IV | 7+ years | $140,147 |
| Nuclear Engineer V | 7-10 years | $161,841 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Nuclear Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Troubleshooting | 18.57% |
| Construction Management | 0.34% |
| Python | 0.34% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Cybersecurity
|
$113,746 |
39%
|
|
Test Plans
|
$112,110 |
37%
|
|
Consulting
|
$111,292 |
36%
|
|
Analytical Skills
|
$110,473 |
35%
|
|
Hydraulics
|
$104,745 |
28%
|
|
Analysis
|
$102,290 |
25%
|
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Nuclear Engineer Is enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Nuclear Engineer I with a Associate's Degree is between $85,860 and $89,841).
Nuclear Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 3.8% |
| High School | 3.8% |
| Associates | 1.3% |
| Bachelors | 58.2% |
| Masters | 27.8% |
| Doctorate | 8.9% |
Understanding how a Nuclear Engineer I'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 May 01, 2026Salaries for a Nuclear Engineer I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $81,458 in 2023 to around $79,797 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Nuclear Engineer I salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $81,458 |
| 2024 | $81,168 |
| 2025 | $79,797 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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Designs and initiates processes to gain benefit from nuclear energy and radiation. Conducts research into problems of nuclear energy systems. Designs and develops nuclear equipment. Monitors testing, operation, and maintenance of nuclear reactors. Requires a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering or related field. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Troubleshooting: 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: 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: Applying the concepts and algorithms of Python to design, develop and maintain software applications to comply with business requirements.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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