Nuclear Engineers Salary
In Massachusetts, nuclear engineers earn $145,760 at the median, or about $70.08 an hour. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $175K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $145,629 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,347/month, or 26.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $146K get you in Massachusetts?
About nuclear engineers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Massachusetts
Nuclear engineers pay in Massachusetts tracks closely to the national median, $146K locally vs. $134K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $2,347/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level nuclear engineers (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $146K. Top earners bring in $175K or more, a $107K spread from bottom to top.
Nuclear Engineers salary by metro in Massachusetts
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $145K | -1% | 220 |
Compare to other states
Track nuclear engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
Yes — at the median salary of $146K, rent takes 27.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear engineers in Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear engineers typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,065/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 58% 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 Massachusetts?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $146K locally vs. $134K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for nuclear engineers?
Massachusetts pays $146K median vs. the U.S. average of $134K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $146K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nuclear engineers make in Massachusetts?
The median is $145,760 a year, that works out to about $70 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,750, and experienced nuclear engineers can clear $174,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $146K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,591/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 27.3% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (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 $145,629 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.