Nuclear Engineers Salary
In California, nuclear engineers earn $172,400 at the median, or about $82.88 an hour. The range runs from $110K at the entry level to $208K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $162,427 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 24.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of California. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $172K get you in California?
About nuclear engineers
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for nuclear engineers, local pay runs about 29% higher than the U.S. median of $134K. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level nuclear engineers (10th percentile) start around $110K. Mid-career wages sit at $172K. Top earners bring in $208K or more, a $98K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track nuclear engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $172K, rent takes 25.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear engineers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear engineers typically earn — is $110K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,599/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is nuclear engineer a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 29% above the national median — $172K here vs. $134K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for nuclear engineers?
California pays $172K median vs. the U.S. average of $134K — that’s +29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $162K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nuclear engineers make in California?
The median is $172,400 a year, that works out to about $83 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $109,990, and experienced nuclear engineers can clear $207,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $172K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,701/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 25.5% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median nuclear engineers salary is worth about $162,427 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.