Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Nuclear Engineer I Salary in the United States

How much does a Nuclear Engineer I make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Nuclear Engineer I in the United States is $81,828 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $92,691
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $75,511 to $87,514
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $69,760
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Nuclear Engineer I Salaries

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.

How Experience Level Affects Nuclear Engineer I Salaries?

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:

  • Nuclear Engineer I (0-2 years): $81,828
  • Nuclear Engineer II (2-4 years): $95,656
  • Nuclear Engineer III (4-7 years): $116,015
  • Nuclear Engineer IV (7+ years): $140,158
  • Nuclear Engineer V (7-10 years): $161,822
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Nuclear Engineer I0-2 years$81,828
Nuclear Engineer II2-4 years$95,656
Nuclear Engineer III4-7 years$116,015
Nuclear Engineer IV7+ years$140,158
Nuclear Engineer V7-10 years$161,822
View as Graph

How Do Nuclear Engineer I Salaries Vary from State to State?

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:
  • District of Columbia: $90,600.
  • California: $90,256.
  • Massachusetts: $89,053.

Top Paying Cities for Nuclear Engineer Is

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: $103,210
  • San Francisco: $102,080
  • Oakland: $99,928

What Skills Can Increase a Nuclear Engineer I'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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 18.57%
Construction Management 0.34%
Python 0.34%
See More Skills

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 a Nuclear Engineer I'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 $113,741
39%
Test Plans $112,104
37%
Consulting $111,286
36%
Get Latest Data

Nuclear Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Nuclear Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $90,632. While startup companies pay approximate $76,817.

Nuclear Engineer I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $76,817
Growth Stage 51~500 $81,194
Established 501~5000 $87,561
Enterprise 5000+ $90,632

Nuclear Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Nuclear Engineer I 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, Nuclear Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Nuclear Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Nuclear Engineer I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$114,559$55.040%
Energy & Utilities$106,376$51.030%
Aerospace & Defense$102,285$49.025%
MFG Durable$85,919$41.05%

How Education impacts a Nuclear Engineer I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Nuclear Engineer I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Nuclear Engineer I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $86,983 and $91,840.

Nuclear Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Nuclear Engineer I
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%
View as Graph

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

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 September 01, 2026
$75,511
Average $81,828/year
$87,514
$6,293
Average $6,819/month
$7,293
$1,452
Average $1,574/week
$1,683
$36
Average $39/hour
$42
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $87,514 $7,293 $1,683 $42
Average $81,828 $6,819 $1,574 $39
25th Percentile $75,511 $6,293 $1,452 $36

Nuclear Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path

Nuclear Engineer I

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Nuclear Engineer I, 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.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Aeronautical Engineer II $95,651 17%
Airport Engineer $73,311 -10%
Aerospace Engineer II $95,651 17%
Engineer II $92,118 13%

Most common benefits for Nuclear Engineer I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Nuclear Engineer I

Here are companies hiring for Nuclear Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Nuclear Engineer I Job

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

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Nuclear Engineer I

1. Where can a Nuclear Engineer I earn the most?

A Nuclear Engineer I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Nuclear Engineer I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Nuclear Engineer I is $103,210.

2. What is the highest pay for Nuclear Engineer I?

The highest pay for Nuclear Engineer I is $92,691.

3. What is the lowest pay for Nuclear Engineer I?

The lowest pay for Nuclear Engineer I is $69,760.

4. What are the responsibilities of Nuclear Engineer I?

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.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Nuclear Engineer I?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Nuclear Engineer I roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst