Nuclear Engineers
Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed
Conduct research on nuclear engineering projects or apply principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.
Median pay: $133,970/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: -1.1% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.
About 800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.
• Monitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations.
• Initiate corrective actions or order plant shutdowns in emergency situations.
• Examine accidents to obtain data for use in design of preventive measures.
• Direct operating or maintenance activities of nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.
• Design or oversee construction or operation of nuclear reactors, power plants, or nuclear fuels reprocessing and reclamation systems.
• Direct environmental compliance activities associated with nuclear plant operations or maintenance.
• Write operational instructions to be used in nuclear plant operation or nuclear fuel or waste handling and disposal.
What's the median pay for Nuclear Engineers?
The median pay for Nuclear Engineers is $133,970 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Nuclear Engineers?
Employment for Nuclear Engineers is projected to change -1.1% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.
What education is typically required for Nuclear Engineers?
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
How many job openings are there each year for Nuclear Engineers?
About 800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.