Nuclear Engineers Salary
In Portland-South Portland, ME, nuclear engineers earn $120,430 at the median, or about $57.9 an hour. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.86), that's roughly $118,231 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,130/month, or 30% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $120K get you in Portland-South Portland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-South Portland’s Regional Price Parity (101.86). 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 Portland-South Portland
Nuclear engineers pay in Portland-South Portland tracks closely to the national median, $120K locally vs. $134K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $2,130/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 101.86) 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, Portland-South Portland, ME
Entry-level nuclear engineers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $120K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $65K 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
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 Portland-South Portland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Portland-South Portland?
Yes — at the median salary of $120K, rent takes 29.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,130/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear engineers in Portland-South Portland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear engineers typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,706/month. At HUD’s $2,130/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 Portland-South Portland?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $120K locally vs. $134K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Portland-South Portland compare to the national average for nuclear engineers?
Portland-South Portland pays $120K median vs. the U.S. average of $134K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $118K — below the national median.
How much do nuclear engineers make in Portland-South Portland, ME?
The median is $120,430 a year, that works out to about $58 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,440, and experienced nuclear engineers can clear $143,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $120K enough to live in Portland-South Portland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,164/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,130/month, which eats 29.7% 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 Portland-South Portland?
Portland-South Portland has a Regional Price Parity of 101.86 (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 $118,231 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.