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Hourly Wage for Nuclear Engineer V Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Nuclear Engineer V?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Nuclear Engineer V in the United States is $78, which translates to an annual salary of about $161,827.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $84 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $74 to $81 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $70 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Nuclear Engineer V Salaries

A Nuclear Engineer V'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 V Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Nuclear Engineer V'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): $81,829
  • Nuclear Engineer II (2-4 years): $95,656
  • Nuclear Engineer III (4-7 years): $116,014
  • Nuclear Engineer IV (7+ years): $140,155
  • Nuclear Engineer V (7-10 years): $161,827
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Nuclear Engineer I0-2 years$81,829
Nuclear Engineer II2-4 years$95,656
Nuclear Engineer III4-7 years$116,014
Nuclear Engineer IV7+ years$140,155
Nuclear Engineer V7-10 years$161,827
View as Graph

How Do Nuclear Engineer Vs 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 Vs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $179,175.
  • California: $178,495.
  • Massachusetts: $176,116.

Top Paying Cities for Nuclear Engineer V

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: $204,112
  • San Francisco: $201,878
  • Oakland: $197,623

What Skills Can Increase a Nuclear Engineer V's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 7.69% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Hydraulics (Mentioned in 5.13% Job Postings): Hydraulics is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids.
  • SOW (Mentioned in 5.13% Job Postings): Sow is A statement of work is a document routinely employed in the field of project management. It is the narrative description of a project's work requirement
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 7.69%
Hydraulics 5.13%
SOW 5.13%
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 V's salary.

  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 29%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Consulting $208,757
29%
Analysis $166,682
3%
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Nuclear Engineer V Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Nuclear Engineer V salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $180,872. While startup companies pay approximate $153,305.

Nuclear Engineer V Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $153,305
Growth Stage 51~500 $162,046
Established 501~5000 $174,746
Enterprise 5000+ $180,872

Nuclear Engineer V Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Nuclear Engineer V roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 130% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Nuclear Engineer positions in Transportation or MFG Durable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Nuclear Engineer V as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Nuclear Engineer V

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$242,740$117.050%
Energy & Utilities$226,558$109.040%
Biotechnology$210,375$101.030%
Aerospace & Defense$194,192$93.020%

How Education impacts an Nuclear Engineer V's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Nuclear Engineer V 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 V with a Bachelor's Degree is between $174,162 and $183,479.

Nuclear Engineer V Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Nuclear Engineer V
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.6%
High School 1.6%
Associates 25.4%
Bachelors 25.4%
Masters 34.9%
Doctorate 36.5%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Nuclear Engineer V'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
$153,238
Average $161,827/year
$169,037
$12,770
Average $13,486/month
$14,086
$2,947
Average $3,112/week
$3,251
$74
Average $78/hour
$81
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $169,037 $14,086 $3,251 $81
Average $161,827 $13,486 $3,112 $78
25th Percentile $153,238 $12,770 $2,947 $74

Most common benefits for Nuclear Engineer V

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

Common company salaries for Nuclear Engineer V

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

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FAQ about Nuclear Engineer V

1. What are the responsibilities of Nuclear Engineer V?

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. May require a master's degree in nuclear engineering or related field. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Nuclear Engineer V

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.

1.)

Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.

2.)

Hydraulics: Hydraulics is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids.

3.)

SOW: Sow is A statement of work is a document routinely employed in the field of project management. It is the narrative description of a project's work requirement

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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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