Nuclear Engineers Salary
In Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL, nuclear engineers earn $138,220 at the median, or about $66.45 an hour. The range runs from $90K at the entry level to $194K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 114.16), so that salary is closer to $121,076 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,436/month, or 27.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $138K get you in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach’s Regional Price Parity (114.16). 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach
Nuclear engineers pay in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach tracks closely to the national median, $138K locally vs. $134K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $2,436/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 14% above the national average (BEA RPP 114.16), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for nuclear engineers in metros near Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County | $132K | $144K |
| Huntsville | $126K | $135K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $120K | $120K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
Entry-level nuclear engineers (10th percentile) start around $90K. Mid-career wages sit at $138K. Top earners bring in $194K or more, a $104K 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Yes — at the median salary of $138K, rent takes 27.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,436/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear engineers in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear engineers typically earn — is $90K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,400/month. At HUD’s $2,436/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $138K locally vs. $134K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach compare to the national average for nuclear engineers?
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach pays $138K median vs. the U.S. average of $134K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 114.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $121K — below the national median.
How much do nuclear engineers make in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL?
The median is $138,220 a year, that works out to about $66 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $90,000, and experienced nuclear engineers can clear $193,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $138K enough to live in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,769/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,436/month, which eats 27.8% 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach has a Regional Price Parity of 114.16 (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 $121,076 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.