Nuclear Engineers Salary
In Alabama, nuclear engineers earn $132,570 at the median, or about $63.74 an hour. The range runs from $98K at the entry level to $161K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $150,034 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 13.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $133K get you in Alabama?
About nuclear engineers
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What this looks like in Alabama
Nuclear engineers pay in Alabama tracks closely to the national median, $133K locally vs. $134K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,085/month, 13.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level nuclear engineers (10th percentile) start around $98K. Mid-career wages sit at $133K. Top earners bring in $161K or more, a $63K spread from bottom to top.
Nuclear Engineers salary by metro in Alabama
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $126K | -5% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track nuclear engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $133K, rent takes 13.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear engineers in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear engineers typically earn — is $98K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,877/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 18% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nuclear engineer a high-paying job in Alabama?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $133K locally vs. $134K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for nuclear engineers?
Alabama pays $133K median vs. the U.S. average of $134K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $150K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nuclear engineers make in Alabama?
The median is $132,570 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $97,950, and experienced nuclear engineers can clear $161,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $133K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,908/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 13.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a nuclear engineers salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median nuclear engineers salary is worth about $150,034 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do nuclear engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.