Architecture & Engineering

Nuclear Engineers

SOC 17-2161

Design nuclear systems and ensure reactors operate safely.

The job

Median pay

$134k

$109k to $164k typical range

Outlook, 2025 to 2035

Stable

+0.4% projected

Openings a year

800

BLS projection

Typical education

Bachelor's

Our model

AI displacement risk

High

How much of this job AI may do instead of the person

Works with AI

6/100

AI alongside the person rather than instead of them

AI exposure

84th pct

More exposed than 84% of occupations · modeled estimate · 72nd pct in Microsoft's data

Future-proof

53/100

Take the next step

Weigh it against Industrial EngineersPay, outlook, entry and AI exposure side by side See where it pays mostWashington DC leads at $195k; every state is below Find careers like itOpen the map at Nuclear Engineers and explore its neighbours See open jobsNuclear Engineers roles hiring now Learn the skillsCourses for Nuclear Engineers, who lean most on science Real pay & reviewsWhat Nuclear Engineers say they actually earn

Key skills

Science
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Writing
Mathematics

Pay and jobs by state

BLS OEWS May 2025, 51 states. Sorted by jobs; per 1,000 is jobs per thousand workers in the state; vs national compares that rate with the country's. A tilde marks a figure estimated from the parent occupation group where BLS publishes none.

State	Jobs	Per 1,000	vs national	Median pay
South Carolina	1,440	0.6	6.4×	$127k
Washington	1,380	0.4	4.0×	$129k
California	1,070	0.1	0.6×	$172k
Illinois	1,040	0.2	1.7×	$135k
Tennessee	720	0.2	2.2×	$115k~
New Mexico	500	0.6	5.8×	$164k
North Carolina	460	0.1	0.9×	$132k
Virginia	446	0.1	1.1×	$129k~
Colorado	426	0.1	1.5×	$139k~
Maine	420	0.7	6.7×	$124k

All 51 states

State	Jobs	Per 1,000	vs national	Median pay
Pennsylvania	340	0.1	0.6×	$133k
Minnesota	337	0.1	1.2×	$131k~
Michigan	330	0.1	0.8×	$130k
Arizona	310	0.1	1.0×	$131k~
Indiana	305	0.1	1.0×	$119k~
Wisconsin	297	0.1	1.0×	$113k~
Alabama	290	0.1	1.4×	$133k
New Jersey	283	0.1	0.7×	$139k~
Oregon	246	0.1	1.3×	$140k~
Washington DC	230	0.3	3.3×	$195k
Missouri	222	0.1	0.8×	$116k~
Massachusetts	210	0.1	0.6×	$146k
Connecticut	209	0.1	1.3×	$137k~
Utah	206	0.1	1.2×	$128k~
Georgia	200	0.0	0.4×	$132k
Ohio	190	0.0	0.3×	$128k~
Texas	190	0.0	0.1×	$128k
Maryland	180	0.1	0.7×	$158k
Louisiana	177	0.1	0.9×	$128k~
Kentucky	161	0.1	0.8×	$114k~
Kansas	152	0.1	1.1×	$115k~
New York	150	0.0	0.2×	$141k
Oklahoma	146	0.1	0.9×	$124k~
Iowa	122	0.1	0.8×	$113k~
Florida	120	0.0	0.1×	$135k
Nevada	109	0.1	0.7×	$127k~
Idaho	89	0.1	1.1×	$134k~
Mississippi	84	0.1	0.7×	$110k~
New Hampshire	83	0.1	1.2×	$130k~
Arkansas	77	0.1	0.6×	$105k~
Nebraska	77	0.1	0.8×	$109k~
West Virginia	56	0.1	0.8×	$114k~
Hawaii	54	0.1	0.9×	$132k~
Rhode Island	54	0.1	1.1×	$142k~
Montana	48	0.1	0.9×	$109k~
Alaska	38	0.1	1.2×	$143k~
South Dakota	38	0.1	0.8×	$110k~
North Dakota	35	0.1	0.8×	$115k~
Delaware	33	0.1	0.7×	$135k~
Vermont	33	0.1	1.1×	$120k~
Wyoming	27	0.1	1.0×	$129k~

Top metro areas

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC1,260 jobs · $111k median
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV840 jobs · $180k median
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN710 jobs · $135k median
Portland-South Portland, ME370 jobs · $120k median
Richmond, VA350 jobs · $140k median
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA330 jobs · $161k median
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC240 jobs · $132k median
Knoxville, TN240 jobs · $180k median

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Pay and outlook from BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills and work activities from O*NET 30.3. AI exposure and future-proof scores are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.