Nuclear Engineers Salary
In Knoxville, TN, nuclear engineers earn $179,660 at the median, or about $86.38 an hour. The range runs from $97K at the entry level to $300K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $194,080 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,471/month, or 12.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $180K get you in Knoxville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Knoxville’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). 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 Knoxville
Knoxville sits well above the national pay line for nuclear engineers, local pay runs about 34% higher than the U.S. median of $134K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,471/month, 13.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.57 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Knoxville offers a genuinely strong financial position for nuclear engineerss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for nuclear engineers in metros near Knoxville, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $147K | $161K |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $132K | $144K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $111K | $113K |
| Richmond | $140K | $144K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Knoxville, TN
Entry-level nuclear engineers (10th percentile) start around $97K. Mid-career wages sit at $180K. Top earners bring in $300K or more, a $204K 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 Knoxville numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Knoxville?
Yes — at the median salary of $180K, rent takes 13.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear engineers in Knoxville?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear engineers typically earn — is $97K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,802/month. At HUD’s $1,471/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nuclear engineer a high-paying job in Knoxville?
Local pay is 34% above the national median — $180K here vs. $134K nationally.
How does Knoxville compare to the national average for nuclear engineers?
Knoxville pays $180K median vs. the U.S. average of $134K — that’s +34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $194K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nuclear engineers make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $179,660 a year, that works out to about $86 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $96,700, and experienced nuclear engineers can clear $300,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $180K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,148/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/month, which eats 13.2% 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 Knoxville?
Knoxville has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (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 $194,080 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.