Nuclear Engineers Salary
In Pennsylvania, nuclear engineers earn $133,250 at the median, or about $64.06 an hour. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $140,307 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 16.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $133K get you in Pennsylvania?
About nuclear engineers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Nuclear engineers pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $133K locally vs. $134K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 16.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level nuclear engineers (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $133K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $84K spread from bottom to top.
Nuclear Engineers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $141K | +6% | 230 |
| Pittsburgh | $133K | +0% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track nuclear engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $133K, rent takes 16.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear engineers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear engineers typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,995/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nuclear engineer a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $133K locally vs. $134K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for nuclear engineers?
Pennsylvania pays $133K median vs. the U.S. average of $134K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $140K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nuclear engineers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $133,250 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,250, and experienced nuclear engineers can clear $167,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $133K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,145/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 16.6% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $140,307 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.