Nuclear Engineers Salary
In Kennewick-Richland, WA, nuclear engineers earn $156,460 at the median, or about $75.22 an hour. The range runs from $106K at the entry level to $212K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.08), that's roughly $156,335 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,538/month, or 15.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $156K get you in Kennewick-Richland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kennewick-Richland’s Regional Price Parity (100.08). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About nuclear engineers
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What this looks like in Kennewick-Richland
Kennewick-Richland sits well above the national pay line for nuclear engineers, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $134K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,538/month, 15.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.08) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Kennewick-Richland offers a genuinely strong financial position for nuclear engineerss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for nuclear engineers in metros near Kennewick-Richland, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $161K | $145K |
| Idaho Falls | $134K | $142K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kennewick-Richland, WA
Entry-level nuclear engineers (10th percentile) start around $106K. Mid-career wages sit at $156K. Top earners bring in $212K or more, a $106K spread from bottom to top.
Nuclear Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Nuclear Engineers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $195K | +46% | 230 |
| California | $172K | +29% | 1,070 |
| New Mexico | $164K | +23% | 500 |
| Maryland | $158K | +18% | 180 |
| Massachusetts | $146K | +9% | 210 |
| New York | $141K | +5% | 150 |
| Florida | $135K | +1% | 120 |
| Illinois | $135K | +0% | 1,040 |
| Idaho | $134K | +0% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $133K | -1% | 340 |
| Alabama | $133K | -1% | 290 |
| Georgia | $132K | -1% | 200 |
| North Carolina | $132K | -2% | 460 |
| Michigan | $130K | -3% | 330 |
| Washington | $129K | -3% | 1,380 |
| Virginia | $129K | -4% | N/A |
| Texas | $128K | -4% | 190 |
| South Carolina | $127K | -6% | 1,440 |
| Maine | $124K | -8% | 420 |
Showing 1–10 of 19 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track nuclear engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kennewick-Richland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kennewick-Richland?
Yes — at the median salary of $156K, rent takes 15.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,538/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear engineers in Kennewick-Richland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear engineers typically earn — is $106K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,332/month. At HUD’s $1,538/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nuclear engineer a high-paying job in Kennewick-Richland?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $156K here vs. $134K nationally.
How does Kennewick-Richland compare to the national average for nuclear engineers?
Kennewick-Richland pays $156K median vs. the U.S. average of $134K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.08), the purchasing-power equivalent is $156K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nuclear engineers make in Kennewick-Richland, WA?
The median is $156,460 a year, that works out to about $75 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $105,530, and experienced nuclear engineers can clear $211,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $156K enough to live in Kennewick-Richland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,808/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,538/month, which eats 15.7% 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 Kennewick-Richland?
Kennewick-Richland has a Regional Price Parity of 100.08 (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 $156,335 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.