SOC 17-2161.00

    Nuclear Engineers

    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
    Growth
    +0.4%
    Little or no change
    Openings a year
    800
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $92,960
    Median
    $133,970
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $196,290
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    15,280 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Nuclear engineers research and develop systems to safely release, control, and utilize nuclear energy and manage waste disposal. This career offers a median annual pay of $133,970, with opportunities in research, safety, and power generation.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What nuclear engineers do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    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.

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    Nuclear engineers focus on the safe and efficient use of nuclear materials. On a daily basis, they analyze data, evaluate information to ensure compliance with strict safety standards, and solve complex problems related to nuclear energy. These professionals spend significant time working with computers, processing technical information, and monitoring processes or surroundings to maintain public safety and security.

    Succeeding in this field requires strong investigative interests and a deep knowledge of engineering, technology, physics, mathematics, and chemistry. Engineers must apply critical thinking and active listening to design systems and make critical decisions. Because they deal with hazardous materials, work styles like extreme cautiousness, attention to detail, integrity, and stress tolerance are vital. They must also communicate their findings clearly, interpreting complex technical meaning for supervisors, peers, and external stakeholders.

    How to get there

    Entering this field typically requires a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering. Most professionals also need several years of related work experience to prepare for the responsibilities of the role, aligning with O*NET Job Zone 4 preparation standards.

    While a university degree provides the foundational knowledge in physics, design, and mathematics, practical experience is highly valued. Additionally, some states list a license for this work, which may require passing specific engineering exams and completing supervised practice. Aspiring engineers can also look into related roles, such as nuclear technicians or chemical engineers, to build relevant experience.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for nuclear engineers is $133,970. Earnings vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% earning less than $92,960 and the highest 10% earning more than $196,290.

    There are 15,280 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to experience little or no change, with a growth rate of 0.4%. Despite this flat growth, about 800 job openings are projected to emerge each year to replace workers who retire or transfer to other fields.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    65 / 100
    Investigative (I) · strongest
    91 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    17 / 100
    Social (S)
    15 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    25 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    58 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code IRC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    96
    Working with Computers
    88
    Analyzing Data or Information
    86
    Getting Information
    85
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    85
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    83
    Processing Information
    81
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    80
    Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
    75
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    75
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Critical Thinking
    • Science
    • Active Listening
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Mathematics
    • Monitoring
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Writing
    • Active Learning

    Knowledge

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Physics
    • Mathematics
    • English Language
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Chemistry
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Design
    • Mechanical
    • Education and Training

    Abilities

    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Expression
    • Category Flexibility
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Information Ordering
    • Mathematical Reasoning
    • Oral Expression
    • Written Comprehension
    • Near Vision

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Integrity
    • Cautiousness
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Self-Control
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Perseverance
    • Innovation

    Also called

    Atomic Process Engineer · Core Measures Abstractor · Engineer · Engineering Officer · Instrumentation and Controls Engineer · Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer · Nuclear Design Engineer · Nuclear Electrician · Nuclear Engineer · Nuclear Equipment Design Engineer

    Career pathway

    From your interests to nuclear engineers

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Nuclear Engineers$133,970 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Main Campus logo
      University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Main Campus

      Champaign, IL · Nuclear Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $82,743
      4 yrs after
      $116,047
      Median debt
      $21,000
    2. 2Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Tech logo
      Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Tech

      Atlanta, GA · Nuclear Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $114,772
      Median debt
      Not reported
    3. 3Texas A & M University-College Station logo
      Texas A & M University-College Station

      College Station, TX · Nuclear Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $75,747
      4 yrs after
      $103,438
      Median debt
      $19,000
    4. 4University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus logo
      University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus

      Madison, WI · Nuclear Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $102,449
      Median debt
      Not reported
    5. 5North Carolina State University at Raleigh logo
      North Carolina State University at Raleigh

      Raleigh, NC · Nuclear Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $100,212
      Median debt
      $20,000
    6. 6The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Main Campus logo
      The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Main Campus

      Knoxville, TN · Nuclear Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $90,657
      4 yrs after
      $99,139
      Median debt
      $18,642
    7. 7University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus logo
      University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus

      Ann Arbor, MI · Nuclear Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $94,330
      Median debt
      Not reported
    8. 8Oregon State University logo
      Oregon State University

      Corvallis, OR · Nuclear Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $94,105
      Median debt
      $19,500

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What nuclear engineers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Nuclear Engineering

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    51 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about nuclear engineers

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for nuclear engineers?

    Professionals in this field are also called atomic process engineers, nuclear criticality safety engineers, nuclear design engineers, and instrumentation and controls engineers.

    What is the projected job growth for this career?

    Employment is projected to grow by 0.4% from 2025 to 2035, which represents little or no change. However, there are still 800 projected openings each year.

    What college major is most relevant for this career?

    The most direct academic path to this career is majoring in nuclear engineering at the undergraduate level.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.