Nuclear Engineers Salary
In New York, nuclear engineers earn $141,200 at the median, or about $67.88 an hour. The range runs from $115K at the entry level to $205K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $143,774 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,917/month, or 23% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $141K get you in New York?
About nuclear engineers
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What this looks like in New York
Nuclear engineers pay in New York tracks closely to the national median, $141K locally vs. $134K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,917/month, 23% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) 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, New York
Entry-level nuclear engineers (10th percentile) start around $115K. Mid-career wages sit at $141K. Top earners bring in $205K or more, a $90K spread from bottom to top.
Nuclear Engineers salary by metro in New York
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | $141K | +0% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track nuclear engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
Yes — at the median salary of $141K, rent takes 23% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear engineers in New York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear engineers typically earn — is $115K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,877/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nuclear engineer a high-paying job in New York?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $141K locally vs. $134K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does New York compare to the national average for nuclear engineers?
New York pays $141K median vs. the U.S. average of $134K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $144K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nuclear engineers make in New York?
The median is $141,200 a year, that works out to about $68 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $114,610, and experienced nuclear engineers can clear $204,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $141K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,320/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 23% 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 New York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (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 $143,774 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.