California Median
$172,400
per year
Hourly Rate
$82.88
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+29% vs US median
US median $133,970
State Rank
#2 of 19
1,070 employed here
How much does a Nuclear Engineer make in California?
A Nuclear Engineer working in California earns a median salary of $172,400 per year, or about $82.88 per hour. That is 29% above the national median of $133,970 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $109,990 while the top 10% make $207,740 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $135,400 and $176,390 a year.
Nuclear Engineer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $109,990 | $52.88 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $135,400 | $65.10 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $172,400 | $82.88 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $176,390 | $84.80 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $207,740 | $99.88 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 2nd out of 19 states and territories for Nuclear Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Nuclear Engineer salary in other states
District of Columbia $195,190New Mexico $164,300Maryland $157,960Massachusetts $145,760New York $141,200Florida $135,400Illinois $134,510Idaho $133,970Pennsylvania $133,250Alabama $132,570Georgia $132,440North Carolina $131,850Michigan $129,940Washington $129,480Virginia $128,890Texas $128,340South Carolina $126,570Maine $123,780
Working as a Nuclear Engineer in California
Nationally, about 15,000 people work as Nuclear Engineers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($172,400) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Nuclear Engineer make in California?
The median Nuclear Engineer salary in California is $172,400 per year, or about $82.88 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $109,990 at the entry level to $207,740 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Nuclear Engineers about 29% more than the national median of $133,970. California ranks 2nd out of 19 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Nuclear Engineers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $172,400 a year. About 1,070 Nuclear Engineers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Nuclear Engineer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.