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.
Also called: Atomic Process Engineer, Core Measures Abstractor, Engineer, Engineering Officer, Instrumentation and Controls Engineer, Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer
Median pay
$133,970
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$92,960 – $196,290
People employed
15,280
Holland code
IRC
Investigative · Realistic · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 2.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 3.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 4.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
The hard parts
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
- Tight deadlines are common
Nuclear Engineers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (18 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What nuclear engineers do
- 01Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.
- 02Monitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations.
- 03Initiate corrective actions or order plant shutdowns in emergency situations.
- 04Examine accidents to obtain data for use in design of preventive measures.
- 05Direct operating or maintenance activities of nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.
- 06Design or oversee construction or operation of nuclear reactors, power plants, or nuclear fuels reprocessing and reclamation systems.
Skills that matter most
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Mathematics
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
Knowledge
- Engineering and Technology
- Physics
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from nuclear engineers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers84% · group pay
- Materials Scientists81% · −12%
- Water Resource Specialists80% · group pay
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators76% · −8%
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists73% · group pay
Change into nuclear engineers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Materials Scientists82% · $117,790
- Water Resource Specialists80% · $167,220
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers77% · $171,270
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers77% · $101,920
- Hydrologists77% · $96,600
Majors that lead here
- Nuclear Engineering
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.