How to Become a Nuclear Engineer
Apply nuclear science to power generation, medicine, and safety, managing the release and control of nuclear energy. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $133,970 per year and declining projected job growth.
Median pay
$133,970/yr
Middle half
$108,690 to $163,630
Job growth
Declining
Openings / yr
800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Reactor Physics
- Radiation Safety
- Science
- Mathematics
- Monitoring
Helpful certifications
- FE/PE (Professional Engineer)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
17/100
Work-life balance
50/100
Stress level
52/100
Related careers
- Computer Hardware Engineer$161,740 median
- Petroleum Engineer$144,910 median
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960 median
- Chemical Engineer$125,040 median
- Electrical Engineer$120,630 median
- Materials Engineer$112,860 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Nuclear Engineer make?
The median pay for a Nuclear Engineer is $133,970 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $108,690 and $163,630 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Nuclear Engineer?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics.
Is Nuclear Engineer a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is declining (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Nuclear Engineer use most?
Common skills for this role are Reactor Physics, Radiation Safety, Science, Mathematics, and Monitoring.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).