Nuclear Engineers Salary
In Michigan, nuclear engineers earn $129,940 at the median, or about $62.47 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $159K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $138,396 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 16.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $130K get you in Michigan?
About nuclear engineers
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What this looks like in Michigan
Nuclear engineers pay in Michigan tracks closely to the national median, $130K locally vs. $134K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,272/month, 16.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level nuclear engineers (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $130K. Top earners bring in $159K or more, a $78K spread from bottom to top.
Nuclear Engineers salary by metro in Michigan
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe | $136K | +5% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track nuclear engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
Yes — at the median salary of $130K, rent takes 16.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear engineers in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear engineers typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,834/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nuclear engineer a high-paying job in Michigan?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $130K locally vs. $134K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for nuclear engineers?
Michigan pays $130K median vs. the U.S. average of $134K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $138K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nuclear engineers make in Michigan?
The median is $129,940 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,570, and experienced nuclear engineers can clear $159,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $130K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,837/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 16.2% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $138,396 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.