Jobs Similar to Nuclear Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to nuclear engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Chemical Engineers, Materials Scientists and Materials Engineers.
Nuclear Engineers: $133,970 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Nuclear Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemical EngineersSame group | 84% | $125,040−7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Materials Scientists | 82% | $117,790−12% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Materials EngineersSame group | 82% | $112,860−16% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Aerospace EngineersSame group | 81% | $134,960+1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Fire-Prevention and Protection EngineersSame group | 81% | $115,160Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Nanosystems EngineersSame group | 81% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Water/Wastewater EngineersSame group | 81% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Validation EngineersSame group | 80% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Water Resource Specialists | 80% | $167,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Automotive EngineersSame group | 80% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Mechanical EngineersSame group | 80% | $104,110−22% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Environmental EngineersSame group | 80% | $107,110−20% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Microsystems EngineersSame group | 79% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Fuel Cell EngineersSame group | 79% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Wind Energy EngineersSame group | 79% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Agricultural EngineersSame group | 79% | $98,590−26% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Electrical EngineersSame group | 79% | $120,630−10% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and SolarSame group | 78% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Marine Engineers and Naval ArchitectsSame group | 78% | $112,230−16% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety EngineersSame group | 78% | $106,220−21% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Chemical Engineers
84% similar · $125,040 (−7%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Materials Scientists
82% similar · $117,790 (−12%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Materials Engineers
82% similar · $112,860 (−16%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Aerospace Engineers
81% similar · $134,960 (+1%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
81% similar · $115,160 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Nanosystems Engineers
81% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Water/Wastewater Engineers
81% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 8Validation Engineers
80% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Water Resource Specialists
80% similar · $167,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Automotive Engineers
80% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Mechanical Engineers
80% similar · $104,110 (−22%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Environmental Engineers
80% similar · $107,110 (−20%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Microsystems Engineers
79% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 14Fuel Cell Engineers
79% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 15Wind Energy Engineers
79% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Agricultural Engineers
79% similar · $98,590 (−26%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 17Electrical Engineers
79% similar · $120,630 (−10%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 18Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
78% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 19Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
78% similar · $112,230 (−16%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
78% similar · $106,220 (−21%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than nuclear engineers.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for nuclear engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where nuclear engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Materials Scientists (82)
- Water Resource Specialists (80)
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers (77)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (77)
- Hydrologists (77)
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists (76)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (75)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (74)
- Food Scientists and Technologists (74)
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians (74)
Questions about jobs like nuclear engineers
What jobs are most similar to nuclear engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Chemical Engineers (84% similar), Materials Scientists (82% similar), Materials Engineers (82% similar), Aerospace Engineers (81% similar) and Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers (81% similar).
Which jobs like nuclear engineers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Aerospace Engineers ($134,960, +1%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with nuclear engineers ($133,970). Without more preparation than nuclear engineers usually need: Aerospace Engineers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.