Nuclear Engineers Salary
In Maine, nuclear engineers earn $123,780 at the median, or about $59.51 an hour. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $147K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $126,694 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,281/month, or 17.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maine. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $124K get you in Maine?
About nuclear engineers
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What this looks like in Maine
Nuclear engineers pay in Maine tracks closely to the national median, $124K locally vs. $134K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,281/month, 17.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maine
Entry-level nuclear engineers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $147K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Nuclear Engineers salary by metro in Maine
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland | $120K | -3% | 370 |
Compare to other states
Track nuclear engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maine numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maine?
Yes — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 17.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear engineers in Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear engineers typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,706/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nuclear engineer a high-paying job in Maine?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $124K locally vs. $134K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Maine compare to the national average for nuclear engineers?
Maine pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $134K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $127K — below the national median.
How much do nuclear engineers make in Maine?
The median is $123,780 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,440, and experienced nuclear engineers can clear $147,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,335/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 17.5% 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 Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $126,694 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.