Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Nuclear Physicist in Illinois is $74,788 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.
However, a Nuclear Physicist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
Recruit with AI
Nuclear Physicist Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $81,586 | $6,799 | $1,569 | $39 |
| Average | $74,788 | $6,232 | $1,438 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,785 | $5,565 | $1,284 | $32 |
Intermountain Health - SPRING VALLEY, NV
Kettering Health - MILLVILLE, OH
Carle Health - VETS ROW, IL
Carle Health - URBANA, IL
A Nuclear Physicist'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Nuclear Physicist'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Nuclear P... Level Nuclear Physicist | $74,288 |
| Physicist... Level Nuclear Physicist | $93,374 |
| Physicist... Level Nuclear Physicist | $109,541 |
| Physicist... Level Nuclear Physicist | $142,549 |
| Physicist... Level Nuclear Physicist | $159,134 |
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 Physicists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Nuclear Physicist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 150% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 60% above the average. In contrast, Nuclear Physicist positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Nuclear Physicist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & Networking | $119,660 | $58.0 | 60% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $104,703 | $50.0 | 40% |
| Biotechnology | $97,224 | $47.0 | 30% |
| Energy & Utilities | $89,745 | $43.0 | 20% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $82,267 | $40.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Nuclear Physicist'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $81,586 | $6,799 | $1,569 | $39 |
| Average | $74,788 | $6,232 | $1,438 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,785 | $5,565 | $1,284 | $32 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Nuclear Physicist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
HCA Healthcare
WHITE SPRINGS, FL
HCA Healthcare | WHITE SPRINGS, FL
Join HCA Florida Lake City Hospital, a premier emergency care facility serving Lake City and the surrounding communities, as a PRN Nuclear Med Technologist... more
5 Days Ago
HCA Healthcare
MARICAMP, FL
HCA Healthcare | MARICAMP, FL
HCA Florida Putnam Hospital is looking for a dedicated and skilled Nuclear Med Tech PRN to join our dynamic healthcare team. In this role, you'll operate n... more
5 Days Ago
Methodist Healthcare
OLMOS PARK, TX
Methodist Healthcare | OLMOS PARK, TX
Methodist Hospital Metropolitan, a vital part of SA Health, is seeking a dedicated and skilled Nuclear Medicine Technologist (PRN) to join our innovative t... more
5 Days Ago
Methodist Healthcare
LEON VALLEY, TX
Methodist Healthcare | LEON VALLEY, TX
Methodist Hospital Texsan invites applications for the position of Nuclear Med Tech PRN. This role is pivotal in providing superior nuclear medical technol... more
5 Days Ago
Methodist Healthcare
SAN ANTONIO, TX
Methodist Healthcare | SAN ANTONIO, TX
Join our dedicated team at Methodist Hospital Texsan, a cornerstone in cardiovascular services and emergency care within the San Antonio community, recogni... more
5 Days Ago
Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center
SPRING VALLEY, NV
Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center | SPRING VALLEY, NV
Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas is seeking a Nuclear Med Technologist to perform high‑quality nuclear medicine imaging and therapie... more
5 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
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.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
