Reactor Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Reactor Engineer make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Reactor Engineer in the United States is $112,143 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $54.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $125,453
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $103,923 to $119,110
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $96,439
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View as table View as graph 25% $103,923 10% $96,439 90% $125,453 75% $119,110 $112,143 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Reactor Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $119,110 $9,926 $2,291 $57
Average $112,143 $9,345 $2,157 $54
25th Percentile $103,923 $8,660 $1,999 $50
Check out Reactor Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Lead Engineer Reactor Thermal

GE Vernova - New Bremen, OH

Test Engineer

RNR Industries - ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL

Nuclear Engineer

U.S. Navy - NEWPORT COUNTY, RI

Nuclear Engineer

U.S. Navy - VOLGA, SD

Search More Reactor Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Reactor Engineer Salaries

A Reactor 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Reactor Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Reactor 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-Level (less than 1 year): $80,311
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $93,877
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $113,855
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $137,537
  • Expert (over 8 years): $158,836
Levels Salary
Nuclear E... Level Reactor Engineer$80,311
Nuclear E... Level Reactor Engineer$93,877
Reactor E... Level Reactor Engineer$113,855
Nuclear E... Level Reactor Engineer$137,537
Nuclear E... Level Reactor Engineer$158,836
$80,311 0 yr
$93,877 < 2 yrs
$113,855 2-4 yrs
$137,537 5-8 yrs
$158,836 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Reactor 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: $141,446
  • San Francisco: $140,055
  • Oakland: $136,949

What Skills Can Increase a Reactor 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 a Reactor Engineer's salary.
  • SOW: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Cybersecurity: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
SOW
$132,329
18%
Cybersecurity
$127,843
14%
Written Communication
$126,722
13%
Storage Systems
$125,600
12%
Consulting
$124,479
11%
Customer Service
$123,357
10%
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How Education impacts a Reactor Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Reactor Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor'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 Reactor Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $123,288 and $130,001).

Reactor Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Reactor Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.6%
High School 2.6%
Associates 2.6%
Bachelors 17.9%
Masters 56.4%
Doctorate 20.5%
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Reactor Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Reactor 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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Reactor Engineer

Salaries for a Reactor Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $115,716 in 2023 to around $114,619 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Reactor Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Reactor Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$115,716
2024
$115,870
2025
$114,619
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $115,716
2024 $115,870
2025 $114,619
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Reactor Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Reactor Engineer

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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.

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